Ideas Fest 2026, lived up the the hype, with a refreshing lack of corporate bullsh*t

“Like Glastonbury for business” is a pretty bold statement. So, when we headed off to Ideas Fest for the first time, we were intrigued to see if it lived up to the hype. Our first observation? There was a distinct lack of corporate bullshit.

And we loved it.

Ideas Fest felt refreshingly honest. Less polished corporate speak, more grit, straight talking and the reality of what it actually takes to build something. People showed up as their authentic selves; founders talking openly about the highs, the lows, the uncertainty, the mistakes and the sheer hard work, but also the real beauty of being an entrepreneur. There was a genuine willingness to share rather than sell. And perhaps because of that, conversations felt incredibly easy. You could strike up a conversation with pretty much anyone — a founder, a marketer, an investor or someone from a completely different industry — and there was an openness to swapping ideas and experiences.

Ideas Fest 2026

The agenda was equally eclectic. One minute we were talking about brands and growth, the next AI, wellbeing, sustainability, B Corp, purpose or the future of work. On the surface, they might seem like very different conversations. But there was a common thread running through the whole festival: positive intent. People genuinely wanted to make things better, whether that was building a better business, creating a stronger brand, tackling a social or environmental challenge, or simply finding a better way of doing things.

We went to Ideas Fest with a pretty simple objective: listen, learn and see what made us think differently.

And we came away with plenty.

A few of our highlights…

AI is everywhere (in case you hadn’t noticed). One thing that was impossible to miss was just how quickly AI is moving into every part of business. From finance and bookkeeping through to marketing, design and content, it felt like everyone at the event was ahead of the curve and already embracing it in ways that if we’re honest blew our minds a little but also inspired us to make sure we don’t get left behind.

Sustainability and B Corp took to the stage

We were particularly proud to see Catherine, alongside friend of The Good Crowd Laura Slack, take to the stage to talk about sustainability and B Corp. It was a great opportunity to have a much bigger conversation about what it actually means to run a business that wants to have a positive impact and, importantly, how that can become part of the way a business operates rather than something bolted on afterwards. It was also a good reminder of why we're so passionate about this space at The Good Crowd. We don't see sustainability as a separate conversation from brand and growth. The interesting question is how businesses can use sustainability to innovate, differentiate, build trust and find new opportunities for growth.

From sushi to skincare: the power of a good founder story

Some of our favourite sessions were simply the ones where people told their stories. Hearing Simon Woodroffe and Ideas Fest co-founder Frankie talk about how YO! Sushi was founded was a brilliant reminder of just how much ambition, conviction and sheer bloody-mindedness can sit behind a brand that eventually becomes part of everyday life.

And there was something particularly enjoyable about hearing the story from the people who were actually there at the beginning. Day two brought more great founder stories, including Bio&Me, Absolute Collagen and Fresh Wipes, alongside medical devices that are quite literally saving lives. Different businesses. Different categories. But a common thread running through many of them: values, purpose and a desire to have a positive impact.

Perhaps the biggest thing we learnt at Ideas Fest was that the conversations around brand, growth, sustainability, technology and people are becoming increasingly interconnected. You can't really talk about growth without talking about brand. You can't talk about sustainability without asking how it creates value and where it can unlock opportunity. You can't talk about AI without considering how it will change the way businesses work and consumers behave. And you can't build a future-facing business without understanding what people actually need from it. But perhaps the biggest takeaway was simpler. There is a great community out there. And being an entrepreneur is quite the superpower when it comes to driving change. The ambition, resilience, creativity and sheer determination we saw across the two days was infectious. We went to Ideas Fest looking for ideas. We came away with some new ones, plenty to think about, some brilliant conversations and a renewed sense that good things happen when people are prepared to back themselves, challenge the norm and have a go at something bigger.

We'll definitely be back.