
THE ONBEAT LEADERS & LEGENDS FESTIVAL
BOLD MINDS CONFERENCE 2025
MONDAY 9 - TUESDAY 10 JUNE
The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, Scotland
HEADLINE ACTS
MAIN STAGE
While the theme is festivals, and all speakers have a connection to this world, the content is designed for everyone at any stage of their journey. There is something for everyone, with a focus on lessons learned, top tips, and the real, unfiltered stories of how these epic entrepreneurs navigated the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial adventure.
Craig Dewar
The Business of Money: Scaling and Selling a Global Payments Empire
Craig Dewar is a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his significant contributions to the fintech and payments industry. As the co-founder of Global Processing Services (GPS), he played a pivotal role in establishing the company as a leading issuer processor, supporting prominent fintech innovators and disruptors. Under his leadership, GPS expanded its services to over 100 clients across 60 countries, including notable names like Starling Bank, Revolut, and Curve. In 2018, GPS secured a £44 million investment from Dunedin, marking one of the UK’s largest B2B fintech financings that year. This investment facilitated further international expansion and solidified GPS’s position in the global payments landscape. Beyond GPS, Craig has founded and led multiple ventures, including Kani Payments, a SaaS technology service provider for the finance sector, and Crunch Payments, a program management company operating Mastercard and Visa branded products. At our event, Craig will share his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and successes of building and scaling a global payments business. He will offer insights into fostering innovation, navigating the complexities of the fintech industry, and maintaining resilience in a rapidly evolving market. His experiences underscore the importance of passion and purpose in building profitable enterprises, aligning seamlessly with our theme: “The Festival of Business: Building Companies with Passion, Purpose, and Profit.”
James Barton
Building Global Festival Brands: The Business of Live Entertainment
James Barton is a pioneering figure in the live music industry, renowned for his transformative impact on the global festival scene. As the co-founder and chairman of Superstruct Entertainment, established in 2017, he has been instrumental in building a portfolio of over 80 festivals and 100 events, including iconic brands like Wacken Open Air, Sónar, Boardmasters, and elrow. Before Superstruct, Barton founded the legendary Cream nightclub in Liverpool and developed the acclaimed Creamfields festival. In 2012, he sold Creamfields to Live Nation and served as their president of electronic music, based in Los Angeles. At our event, James will share his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and successes of leading large-scale festival enterprises. He will offer insights into fostering innovation, scaling entertainment brands, and maintaining resilience in the dynamic music industry. His experiences underscore the importance of passion and purpose in building profitable ventures, aligning seamlessly with our theme: “The Festival of Business: Building Companies with Passion, Purpose, and Profit.”
Kabir Mulchandani
The Art of The Experience: Building Iconic Brands in Hospitality & Real Estate
Kabir Mulchandani is a dynamic entrepreneur and the Founder & Chairman of FIVE Holdings, a leader in luxury hospitality and real estate. Expanding his vision beyond hotels, he recently acquired Pacha, one of the world’s most legendary nightclub brands, bringing its iconic nightlife experience into his portfolio. At our event, Kabir will share how he built a globally recognized brand by blending hospitality, entertainment, and experiential business models. He will discuss the challenges of scaling nightlife and luxury destinations, the power of brand-driven experiences, and how passion, purpose, and profit can fuel entrepreneurial success.
Guy Holmes
The Rhythm of Business: Scaling A Global Music & Entertainment Brand
Guy Holmes is a trailblazing music and entertainment entrepreneur with a track record of turning artists, labels, and brands into global sensations. As the founder of Gut Records and former CEO of Ministry of Sound, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the music industry, launching chart-topping artists, and pioneering innovative marketing strategies. His latest venture, Gut Creative, blends music, branding, and entertainment to create powerful cultural moments. At our event, Guy will share insights into building businesses that capture the energy of music and entertainment. He’ll discuss the secrets of creating viral success, the future of music-led branding, and how entrepreneurs can turn passion into a movement—proving that the right rhythm in business leads to long-term success.
Avril Palmer-Baunack
The Festival of Business: Building Companies with Passion, Purpose, and Profit
Avril Palmer-Baunack is a distinguished British businesswoman with over two decades of executive experience in the automotive and logistics sectors. She has held pivotal leadership roles, including serving as the Executive Chairman of BCA Marketplace Ltd., where she oversaw the company’s expansion and integration of services such as vehicle auctions, inspections, and logistics. Throughout her career, Palmer-Baunack has demonstrated a remarkable ability to drive growth and innovation in traditional industries. Her leadership at BCA Marketplace transformed the company into a comprehensive automotive services provider, often referred to as the “Amazon of cars.” At our event, Avril will share her entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and successes of leading large-scale transformations in the automotive industry. She will offer insights into fostering innovation, embracing digital advancements, and maintaining resilience in business. Her experiences underscore the importance of passion and purpose in building profitable enterprises, aligning seamlessly with our theme: “The Festival of Business: Building Companies with Passion, Purpose, and Profit.”
OUR HEADLINE SPONSOR
OnBeat is the cashless payment system powering the Leaders & Legends festival. OnBeat aims to transform the payment sector for live events with its game changing tech, cutting edge user experince and tranformational business model. The business is now raissing its SERIES A investmet of £5m at £15m valuation to build a product for the global PRIDE event market. Pap the QR code on your wristband to finmd out more.
BUY YOUR TICKETS
VIP PASS
£869.00Attending the full day event from 10am until 6.00pm includes attending all speaker sessions, coffee, lunch and soft refreshments. Pre dinner drinks reception, 3 course dinner with wine & overnight accommodation at the Old Course for Monday 9 June with breakfast.QuantityComing soonSTART-UP VIP DAY PASS
£195.00Thanks to the people that are paying full price, the Bold Minds team are offsetting the margin against a limited number of discount packages for companies in their first three years of trading. NOTE if you buy this package someone from the Bold Minds team will contact you to confirm your start-up status (and being a seasoned entrepreneur who just created a company last year doesn't count) . Full refunds will be made for anyone that fails the test (less a booking & admin fee of £75). This package gets you access to the same as the full price VIP PASS.QuantityComing soonGOLFING PLATINUM EXPERIENCE
£3,950.00We have 5 places available for a round of golf on the world's most famous course (on either the Sunday or Tuesday after the conference / 5 each day). This packages comes with three nights accommodation at The Old Course Hotel in one of the hotels premier suites PLUS attending the full day event from 10am until 6.00pm includes attending all speaker sessions, coffee, lunch and soft refreshments. Pre dinner drinks reception, 3 course dinner with wine & overnight accommodation at the Old Course for Monday 9 June with breakfast. THESE PACKAGES ARE RESERVED FOR OUR DELEGATES WHO ARE FROM OUTSIDE THE UKQuantityComing soonVIP DAY PASS
£399.00Attending the full day event from 10am until 6.00pm includes attending all speaker sessions, coffee, lunch and soft refreshments
295.00 per personQuantityComing soonTHE WORLDS No1 GOLF COURSE
THE OLD COURSE HOTEL, ST ANDREWS
The Old Course at St. Andrews is the most famous golf course in the world, known as the “Home of Golf.” With records of play dating back to the 15th century, it is where golf was born. No other course carries the same historical significance. Its double greens, deep revetted bunkers, and the infamous Road Hole (17th) have challenged players for centuries. The Swilcan Bridge on the 18th fairway is an iconic landmark where legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have paused for farewell photos. Overlooking the course, the Old Course Hotel is one of the most luxurious golf hotels in the world. Sitting alongside the 17th fairway, it offers breathtaking views of golf’s most historic venue. Guests wake up to the sight of history in the making, with championship golf unfolding right outside their windows. The hotel has hosted world leaders, celebrities, and the sport’s greatest players. The Jigger Inn, attached to the hotel, is a legendary 19th hole, where golfers and visitors soak in the rich history over a pint. Every five years, the Old Course hosts The Open Championship, golf’s oldest and most prestigious tournament. The course has witnessed some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments, from Seve Ballesteros’ fist pump to Tiger Woods’ record-breaking win. With over 600 years of history, the Old Course and Old Course Hotel stand as symbols of golfing excellence, tradition, and luxury. To visit St. Andrews is to walk in the footsteps of legends, experiencing the magic of where golf truly began.
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