Scale-Up Leadership Series: Capital Strategy for the Next Stage
Session 2: Capital Strategy for the Next Stage – Funding, Valuation & Exit Readiness
LSE Generate are proud to announce a brand new partnership with BDO. The Scale-Up Leadership Series is a high-impact programme designed for later-stage founders ready to move from growth momentum to sustained scale. Tailored for LSE students and alumni building established ventures, the series combines strategic insight, practical frameworks, and peer-to-peer exchange.
The programme launches with a curated networking reception bringing together founders, BDO advisers, selected investors, and members of the LSE entrepreneurial community. Designed to spark peer learning from day one, the evening will include facilitated introductions and informal discussion around common scaling challenges.
Session two covers "Capital Strategy for the Next Stage - Funding, Valuation & Exit Readiness". Raising capital at later stages requires sharper strategy and stronger positioning. This session dives into funding routes (growth equity, debt, secondary transactions), valuation drivers, investor expectations, and preparing for potential exits. Founders will gain insight into structuring deals, protecting equity, and building businesses that are both investable and resilient.
Meet Your Speakers:
LORNA HOPKINSON- Managing Director, M&A at BDO
Lorna is a Managing Director in BDO’s Consumer and Retail M&A Team. She has led some of the most significant BDO retail and consumer transactions and is driven by her relationships with her clients. Lorna has over 18 years of advisory experience working with founder owned, private equity and trade companies across the UK and Europe. She has a proven ability to lead and manage complex projects and teams where organisation, process and timetable are fundamental and has significant experience in complex deal structures both with UK, global and institutional investors. She also has direct in-house finance experience as Finance Director of clothing retailer, Karen Millen.
KYRK MACMILLAN- Director, Scale-Up Consulting at BDO
Kyrk is a senior growth and transformation leader with 18 years of international industry experience. At BDO, he leads consultancy activity focused on accelerating revenue and profitability growth for ambitious businesses. Having held chief executive roles across consumer, retail, manufacturing and construction sectors in the UK and Europe, Kyrk has delivered revenue growth of over 300% and led complex business transformation programmes. Kyrk also serves as Chairman of Motherwell Football Club, where he has driven strong commercial performance and sustainable community growth.
To receive your certificate of completion, you must have participated in the full series.