Want to connect with like-minded people in business, technology and academia?

Join us for Nexus Connect: Failure is an Option, our panel and networking event, part of Leeds Digital Festival 2026. We’ll hear from tech leaders and entrepreneurs about the role resilience plays in building and growing successful businesses.

At Nexus, we’re no stranger to supporting businesses through their journey - from startup to scale-up - and we know success stories rarely follow a straight line. Our panel will share candid reflections on the realities of entrepreneurship, including lessons learned from failed ventures, tough decisions, unexpected setbacks and the pivots that helped shape their businesses.

Through honest conversations about what worked, what didn’t and what they wish they’d known sooner, we’ll explore the resilience needed to overcome challenges, adapt to change and keep moving forward.

Enjoy refreshments, a lively panel discussion and meaningful networking opportunities. Gain practical insights from people who’ve been through it themselves and discover how Nexus supports startups through digital innovation to navigate challenges, adapt and grow.

Keynote speaker and panel chair:

Sonya Barlow | Award Winning Author, Keynote Speaker & Tech Entrepreneur

About Sonya Barlow

Sonya Barlow is an award-winning BBC Presenter, Entrepreneur, Author and Keynote Speaker, alongside being named among Europe's Top 50 women in tech. Sonya’s background includes leading technology solutions across Europe, and is the Best-Selling author of Unprepared to Entrepreneur.

Panel speakers:

Pete Mills | Chief Executive officer at Crysp

Pete Mills is a Leeds University alumnus and proud Bradfordian. After selling his first business at the age of 25, he went on to found and lead Crysp Limited, a high growth health, safety and fire technology business that supports more than 350 public and private sector organisations across the UK.

Giles Tully | CEO at PinPoint Data Science

Giles Tully is CEO of PinPoint Data Science, the team behind the ‘PinPoint Test’ – an AI (Artificial Intelligence) driven blood test for cancer that aims to transform urgent cancer referrals in the NHS. Since becoming CEO in 2017, Giles has taken a largely part-time team of scientists with a great idea and grown PinPoint into a dynamic, professional team with a burgeoning reputation.

Dani Deane | Founder of Harmonai, Unpaid Carer Since 12 & Full-Time Parent

Dani Deane is the founder of Harmonai, an AI companion built specifically for unpaid carers. Grounded in neuroscience, not engagement metrics. With a background in law, business, and innovation strategy, she has spent the last few years combining that with lived experience to build something carers will actually use, not another wellness app chasing screen time.

Who's Nexus Connect for?

Nexus Connect is open to anyone with an interest in innovation and collaboration, regardless of role, seniority or sector.

We welcome:

All Nexus member businesses

Entrepreneurs and professionals, at all levels, from innovative and tech-led businesses

University academic and professional staff

About Nexus

Nexus is a vibrant community for innovators and entrepreneurs. We help turn your big ideas into reality, whether that’s developing a new product or growing a successful business. We bring together the brightest minds from business, technology and academia. Our community of high-growth businesses is located across the globe but has its physical base in a state-of-the-art innovation hub on the University of Leeds campus.

Description supplied by the event organiser.