Interceltic Business Forum brings Celtic founders together at Westminster during London Tech Week

During London Tech Week, the Interceltic Business Forum hosted a Founder Meetup at the Palace of Westminster, bringing together founders, operators, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem builders from across the Celtic nations and the wider diaspora.

Every year, London Tech Week attracts companies and innovation leaders from across the world, including many from the Celtic nations. For the Forum, it was a chance to turn that shared presence in London into something more intentional. Rather than letting Celtic founders arrive as isolated voices, the meetup created a space for them to connect, compare experiences, and build relationships that can continue beyond the week itself.

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“London Tech Week is full of events, but there was nothing quite like this. Many Celtic founders and companies come to London during the week, yet they often remain scattered across different rooms, panels, and conversations. We wanted to bring them together and show what becomes possible when the Celtic business community meets as a network.” — Charles Kergaravat, Founder, Interceltic Business Forum

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Hosted with the support of Perran Moon MP, the gathering focused on a practical question. How can founders from Celtic regions gain the visibility, support, and access they need to grow beyond their local markets? As a Cornish MP and a strong supporter of Cornwall’s voice in Westminster, including the case for Cornish devolution, he has consistently championed the idea that Cornwall should be recognised not only for its heritage and identity, but also for its economic ambition and future potential. He also spoke at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient in August 2025, where he called on attendees to help “unleash the Cornish Celtic Tiger” and affirmed Cornwall’s place in the wider Celtic economic resurgence

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A focused gathering at Westminster

The meetup brought together 20 participants representing Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Man, and the wider Celtic diaspora.

The setting mattered. In the heart of Westminster, during one of the UK’s most important technology weeks, the conversation moved quickly from shared identity to practical action. Participants discussed investment, founder support, public policy, and the role of trusted relationships in helping companies scale across borders.

The message from the room was clear. Celtic startups do not lack talent, ambition, or ideas. What they often need is greater access to the people, platforms, and partnerships that help companies travel further.

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Building practical bridges between ecosystems

For the Interceltic Business Forum, the London meetup was another step in a growing movement. From Lorient to Galway, Cardiff, Falmouth, the Isle of Man, and now Westminster, the Forum has been creating spaces where Celtic business communities can meet, collaborate, and support one another.

SQR, represented by Shelley Langan-Newton, highlighted the importance of interoperability between ecosystems. The future of entrepreneurship depends on seamless, cross-border collaboration that breaks traditional boundaries. From the Isle of Man, SQR has seen first-hand that the talent and ambition across Interceltic regions are undeniable, and that stronger networks can help change the narrative.

Jonathan Prescott captured the spirit of the meetup from a Welsh founder’s perspective. Despite travel disruption on the route from Wales, he made it to Westminster and described the value of the gathering as the chance to meet fellow Celts, old and new, and strengthen the bond of mutual support that helps entrepreneurs navigate the maze of building a business.

His post also pointed ahead to the next major Interceltic gathering in Lorient on August 3, a reminder that this network is not built around a single event. It is taking shape through a growing calendar of relationships, opportunities, and shared ambition.

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Join us in Lorient

The conversation continues on August 3 in Lorient, Brittany, for the next Interceltic Business Forum.

Lorient has become a natural home for this movement, bringing together Celtic culture, economic ambition, innovation, and international connection in one of Europe’s most distinctive Celtic gatherings.

After Westminster, the message is simple. This network is growing, and there is room for more founders, investors, policymakers, ecosystem builders, and partners who want to help shape the future of Celtic entrepreneurship.

Whether you are building a company, backing founders, supporting regional innovation, or looking to connect with the wider Celtic business community, Lorient is the next place to be.

Join us on August 3 and be part of what comes next.

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