The Buzz, the Talks, the Climb - A Look Back at Summit: Basecamp

It’s been over a month and we’re still buzzing from the incredible energy of our very first Summit: Basecamp. What a day it was! Hosted by our very own Tait Pollack, the event was packed with inspiration, ideas, and conversations that continue to spark across the Pivotal team.  

From the first coffee chat to the last song at the afterparty, the atmosphere was full of community. None of it would have been possible without our amazing sponsors, hospitality partners, and of course, the Pivotal crew.  

We were fortunate to hear from Will Butler-Adams, CEO of Brompton Bicycle, whose talk on innovation and leadership set the tone for the day. His message was bold, a perfect reminder that creativity and practicality can work together to achieve great things.  

Infinite Form created our custom event app, complete with the day’s agenda, digital business cards, and even dinner ordering at Yalm. They also brought their Quickfire VR experience, which quickly became one of the highlights of the day. Saxon Air added some adrenaline with their flight simulators, giving attendees a chance to test their pilot skills - or at least give it a go.  

A Look Back at the Day  

The day started at The Yard, where coffee flowed and conversations began. Lunch stayed true to the Basecamp theme with mess tins and metal sporks, serving food from the Climber’s Kitchen: dishes like the Alpine Meat Feast, Alpine Ploughman’s, and Summit Power Salad. 

Our sessions kept the room buzzing from start to finish. The opening panel, Everywhere Commerce, brought together Tait Pollack (Pivotal), Bojan Jakovljevic (Panda London), Sam Meadham (Linnworks), Paul Hillier (Inventory Planner), and Indre Kiskiene (Pivotal) to discuss how brands are adapting to today’s fast-evolving retail landscape. Each attendee received a copy of Tait’s book, Everywhere Commerce - a reminder that the future of eCommerce is already here. 

Ali Wood, Head of Partnerships at Mailchimp, shared her insights on building genuine, lasting partnerships in the world of eCommerce. Her talk on collaboration and trust resonated deeply with founders and brand leaders alike. 

Later, the Technology in Commerce panel featured Flo Broughton (Choc on Choc), James Burrows (Infinite Form), Jordan Smith (Saxon Air), and Andrej Judiak (Luigi’s Box). Together, they explored how technology continues to reshape the way we buy, sell, and connect. 

Dinner at Yalm brought everyone back together to unwind and connect over great food and conversation. Then it was back to The Yard for the afterparty, with cocktails like the Mountain Mule, Campfire Old Fashioned, and Alpine Breeze flowing as Joshua Roberts closed the night in style. 

The Moment Everyone’s Still Talking About  

One of the standout moments came from Will Butler-Adams’ keynote. As he shared his journey with Brompton Bicycle, he left us with one question that stuck with everyone:  

“What if the biggest lie ‘they’ told us is that you’re either ‘maths’ or ‘creative’?”  

That thought resonated across the room and continued online, sparking discussions on LinkedIn well after the event ended. It was a perfect reminder that the most innovative ideas happen when we combine logic with imagination.  

More Than Just Networking  

We wanted Summit: Basecamp to be more than a networking event, it was designed as a space for meaningful connections. Throughout the day, genuine conversations filled every corner, from morning coffees to mid-flight chats in Saxon Air’s simulators. The energy was warm and full of those “you had to be there” moments.  

Interactive sponsor demos, immersive tech experiences, and shared ideas made the event feel truly alive.  

Thank You  

We’re so grateful for the support from our attendees and partners. And a huge thank you to our sponsors who made the day possible: Intuit Mailchimp, Guavapay, Inventory Planner by Sage, Linnworks, Saxon Air Charter, Luigi’s Box, Infinite Form, and our drinks sponsor Humpty Dumpty Brewery. 

Most of all, thank you to everyone who showed up, shared their insights, and helped make Summit: Basecamp such a success. This was just the beginning of our climb, and we can’t wait to see where the journey takes us next. Maybe we’ll see you at the actual Summit.