Nick Boyle, founder of one of the UK and Ireland’s fastest-growing renewable energy companies, has been announced as the keynote speaker at Belfast Chamber’s upcoming ‘Go Big or Go Home’ entrepreneurship event.
Delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council and Ulster Bank, and taking place at Ulster Bank’s city centre headquarters on 7th May, the event will bring together the city’s most ambitious founders, investors and innovation leaders for an insight-driven programme focused on scaling, investment and global growth.
As keynote speaker, Mr Boyle will draw on his experience of co-founding Lightsource and scaling it into one of the world’s leading solar energy developers, completing a multi-million pound full acquisition with BP in 2024. His address will offer a candid perspective on building at pace, securing investment and navigating the realities of high-growth entrepreneurship.
Darragh McCarthy, President of Belfast Chamber, said:
“Belfast has an incredibly strong and growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and ‘Go Big or Go Home’ is about harnessing that energy and ambition. Through my own experiences, I know how important it is to access the right insights and networks at the right time.
“Bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and advisers in one place creates the kind of connections that drive meaningful growth across our economy. This event is designed to be both inspiring and practical, and we are looking forward to welcoming Nick Boyle and a host of leading local entrepreneurs to share the firsthand insights and experiences necessary for founders to scale, secure investment and succeed on a global stage.”
The programme will explore the full entrepreneurial journey, from early-stage momentum through to Series B and beyond, offering a candid look at the strategies, decisions and leadership challenges that define each phase of growth.
Attendees will gain valuable insight into the funding landscape, from equity investment to traditional finance, alongside a clearer understanding of how investors assess opportunities and what makes a business stand out.
Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lord Mayor of Belfast, commented:
“Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation is central to Belfast’s economic strategy, and occasions such as this play a vital role in strengthening our business community by connecting people, ideas and opportunities.
“From pre-enterprise to businesses with high-growth and scaling potential, we engage directly with businesses to understand the barriers they may be facing to business start and growth development and tailor or support initiatives to address these. Key to the success of these initiatives is encouraging a pipeline of entrepreneurship within the City and services such as Go Succeed, and this event, play a vital role in this.”
A mix of keynote sessions and panel discussions will also spotlight startups, scale-ups and successful exits, while unpacking the evolving investor and funding ecosystem.
The evening will conclude with drinks and networking, providing a dynamic environment for high-value connections, idea-sharing and collaboration, alongside an exhibition space for businesses to showcase their products and services.
John Ferris, Accelerator Community Manager at Ulster Bank, added:
“Ulster Bank is committed to backing local businesses at every stage of their journey. ‘Go Big or Go Home’ reflects our focus on supporting ambition, innovation and sustainable growth.
“By opening up conversations around funding and investment, we hope to empower more entrepreneurs to take the next step with confidence.”
‘Go Big or Go Home’, which will take place from 4pm-7pm on 7th May, is open to all entrepreneurs, as well as advisers, intermediaries and investors. With a strong emphasis on insight, connection and opportunity, the event promises to be an upbeat and impactful event.
For further information and to register, please visit: belfastchamber.com/events/go-big-or-go-home-celebrating-local-entrepreneurs/
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