New ‘Sales and Scale’ event to share the secrets of winning sales
Sales and Scale, The MAC Theatre, Thursday 26th March, 2026 at 9am
Born out of a Software NI Working Group, Sales and Scale responds to a widely recognised challenge: the region produces top-class software engineers and technology companies, but many businesses still face barriers to developing scalable sales engines that maximise growth at home and abroad. The event is presented by Software NI with Kainos as Headline Sponsor, supported by partners including Options Technology, MCS, Catalyst, Ormeau Labs, Techstars Belfast, Raise Ventures and government.
Leaders from companies such as Options, SciLeads, Cloudsmith, First Derivative, Andor, Teamworks and TeamFeePay will take to the stage alongside local early-stage microbusinesses and global multinationals including AWS, Google and Salesforce. Investment firms will share how they assess and support commercial readiness and sales traction when backing technology businesses.
Sales and Scale is designed for companies at every stage of growth – from early-stage founders and teams transitioning away from founder-led sales, to established firms and those working on new routes to market, including procurement. The audience will include founders, leaders, sales teams and investors, with sessions focused on sales challenges and wins alongside the systems and processes required to scale, including the use of AI.
Neil Hutcheson, CEO of Software NI, said:
“Northern Ireland has proven it can build exceptional technology companies, and at the same time there is an opportunity to do more. As part of a range of measures to help accelerate the NI software industry, we are working to develop a sales culture with more world-class sales people, teams and processes to match our engineering capability.”
“Sales and Scale aims to build on the fantastic range of ecosystem events and is about creating a space for everyone involved in the technology ecosystem - from founders and directors to early-career sales professionals. If we want to grow our software companies and wider industry, sales is a core part of that conversation and we are lucky to have a series of people willing to share.”
The day will be hosted by leading broadcaster Jim Fitzpatrick. Headline speakers include Danny Moore, CEO of Options Technology, who will share how he has grown the company into a global financial technology leader, as well as lessons learned in developing high-performing teams and people along the way. Laura Haldane of SciLeads will outline tried and tested processes and a successful approach to training early sales talent.
As Headline Sponsor, Kainos demonstrates its ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen and accelerate the wider software ecosystem.
Conor Halpin, Chief Revenue Officer at Kainos, said:
“At Kainos, we know first-hand that sustainable growth in software depends on much more than great technology. Disciplined sales processes, leadership support and continued investment in people are critical to scaling successfully over the long term.”
“As a founding member of Software NI, we’re proud to support Sales and Scale and the shared learning it brings to companies at different stages of their growth, helping teams turn insight into action.”
Wider Economic Landscape
The event aligns closely with the Department for the Economy and NI Executive’s Economic Vision – including within priority sectors such as Software, Cyber and Fintech where good jobs, regional balance and increased productivity are natural outflows of a successful industry. By further enhancing sales capability, it directly supports policy ambitions to scale all homegrown companies, increase exports and attract international investment.
For tickets and further information, including agenda and speaker updates see: www.salesandscale.com
Photo
Left: Conor Halpin, Chief Revenue Officer, Kainos Right: Neil Hutcheson, CEO, Software NI
Software NI is a non-profit representative organisation founded in 2022, working to accelerate and double the size of the NI Software industry. To do this we are optimising school, skills and sales systems to create the maximum number of new software companies and ensure existing companies ride the waves of change, including AI. We work in partnership with others and do not duplicate.