Entrepreneurs from across Coventry and Warwickshire gathered at Coventry Conferences, part of Coventry University Technology Park, for the highly anticipated “Founders Unpacked: The Trunki Story” event—part of the Coventry Investment Readiness Programme.

Delivered by C&W Business Solutions on behalf of Business Growth West Midlands, the morning event featured keynote speaker Rob Law MBE, founder of the internationally successful children’s travel brand, Trunki. Attendees were treated to a rare behind-the-scenes account of Rob’s journey, from the setbacks of early rejections, including a memorable appearance on Dragons’ Den, and copycat battles, to ultimately selling his company in a multimillion-pound deal.

Rob Law’s central message “setbacks are superpowers” resonated deeply with the businesses in the room. He urged founders and entrepreneurs to embrace rejection as redirection, turn adversity into momentum, and focus their energy where it counts.

The programme included expert panels and real-life testimonials from local entrepreneurs currently on their investment journeys. Speakers shared how the Coventry Investment Readiness Programme helps business owners understand funding landscapes, strengthen leadership credibility, and create compelling investment propositions.

Craig McVoy, CEO of Turnkey, who are delivery partners on the programme, said: “Rob’s story is exactly the kind of entrepreneurial grit and honesty that founders need to have as they move from an idea through to product launch, and then onto scaling. No one sees the struggles, they just see the success, so events like this help founders to see that it is ok to work through challenges on the journey. It was great to hear from 4 of the founders in previous cohorts that have seen growth and successfully added investment into their plans since completing the programme. We are now actively recruiting for our next cohort to start in September, and I urge local SME businesses not to miss this hugely valuable opportunity. The support on offer is significant, but spaces are extremely limited.”

Craig Humphrey, CEO of Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub Group, of which C&W Business solutions is a part, said: “This programme is not just about getting businesses investment-ready. It’s about building a stronger innovation ecosystem here in Coventry. We’re proud to support this initiative and encourage ambitious entrepreneurs to take advantage of this expert-led, fully funded programme.”

The Coventry Investment Readiness Programme offers up to 24 hours of tailored mentoring, pitch development, investor introductions, and strategic support—valued at over £7,500, fully funded for eligible businesses. The aim is to improve investment quality and leadership capability across the region’s SME community.

With Cohort 4 launching in Autumn 2025, expressions of interest are now being accepted. Spaces on the cohort are limited and demand is high.

To register your interest and arrange a 1:1 meeting with a specialist, visit https://bit.ly/covinvestmentreadiness or email investmentreadiness@cwgrowthhub.co.uk. 

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News