Party conference season 2026: what does it mean for founders and VCs?

Growth was a recurring ambition this conference season. How to achieve it was rather less agreed upon. Each party offered competing visions for Britain’s economic future: Labour argued for a more active state, while the Conservatives sought to rebuild their business credentials, and the Liberal Democrats proposed targeted support for innovation.

For founders and investors, there was plenty to chew over – especially with the budget fast approaching. But which policy proposals would make it easier to build and scale a business in Britain? Here are a few key takeaways from this year’s party conference season:

Labour: encouraging signs, with delivery still to prove

Labour’s conference set out a more active role for the government in supporting growth. Jonathan Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pledged a refreshed focus on turning university research into products manufactured and scaled in Britain – an encouraging sign for the UK’s early-stage ecosystem. The UK’s ability to produce innovative ideas has rarely been the problem, but helping businesses commercialise them is where the challenge lies.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s proposed Great British Grid aims to make it quicker and easier for businesses to connect to the grid. Greater competition, a national energy plan and stronger roles for mayors and local leaders formed part of the pitch to businesses. For technology companies whose growth depends on reliable power, the test will be whether these plans lead to faster and cheaper connections. Chancellor John Healey added commitments on AI skills, procurement and the National Wealth Fund’s role in attracting private investment.

There were plenty of positives for businesses, yet many founders and investors will think they have been here before with Labour. If the economy is to grow, entrepreneurs will be at the heart of it. What they need now from the government is action, not more words.

Conservatives: a £10bn pitch for defence

The Conservatives left Birmingham with a clear message: lower taxes, less regulation and stronger national security. Proposals to simplify taxes and remove barriers to development addressed familiar business concerns. The proposed Britannia Shield, a £10bn, decade-long investment plan for missile and drone defence, also gave technology companies something more specific to look out for.

For founders and investors, these tax proposals are also worth watching. The Conservatives’ pledge to simplify the tax code could reduce time and money businesses spend on compliance, leaving more to invest in growth. Beyond this, the broader appeal of lower taxes is clear: depending where the cuts fall, founders could retain more of their proceeds when selling, while investors could keep more of their returns.

The immediate challenge is to demonstrate how its promises could work in practice and convince the public – including business leaders – that the Conservatives are the right party to deliver them.

Liberal Democrats: targeted proposals for innovation

The Liberal Democrats offered several proposals aimed directly at the challenges faced by early-stage businesses. These included reviewing the SEIS limit, introducing scientist-led upfront clearance for R&D tax relief and increasing proof-of-concept funding to £200m over five years.

Alongside strategic procurement to support British technology, the party called for local AI sandboxes, stronger domestic computing capabilities and an adult AI training guarantee. Its digital sovereignty proposals and expanded remit for the AI Security Institute reflected an emphasis on building trust alongside technological capability.

Reform and the Greens: influence brings scrutiny

Reform and the Greens aimed to turn their higher profiles into a stronger claim for political influence. Both also faced questions about what their ambitions would mean in practice, with controversies and internal tensions competing with their policy messages.

For businesses, the relevance of these two parties extends beyond whether either party enters government. The ability of Reform and the Greens to shape debate and put pressure on the larger parties makes them worth watching. The test is whether they can turn that influence into economic programmes that stand up to closer scrutiny.

What comes next?

Conference season has given founders and investors plenty to consider. There were encouraging signals on commercialisation, infrastructure and support for early-stage businesses, alongside recurring promises on tax and regulation.

With the budget fast approaching, Labour faces an early test of ambitions for growth. Can it turn conference promises into practical support that gives businesses the confidence to invest and founders more reason to build and scale in Britain?