Private half-day · 10–14 places · By application

The hardest problems in scaling an agency group — solved in a room.

A private half-day at the Groucho Club for CEOs, COOs and CFOs running or acquiring multi-agency groups.

30 July 2026 · 9am–1pm The Groucho Club · Soho, London £299 per person
Apply for a place → See the day

Applications reviewed personally. They close 18 July.

Why this exists

Running an agency group is not the same as running an agency.

The M&A mechanics are different. The post-deal integration is different. Getting a succession team in place fast enough — before the culture fractures — is different. And the scaling approaches that work for a single agency tend to destroy value at group level.

Most of the thinking on these problems happens behind closed doors, between people who’ve already made the expensive mistakes.

This is a room where that thinking happens out loud.

The day · 9am–1pm · The Screening Room

Two short talks, two facilitated roundtables, and lunch.

No lectures. The value is in putting twelve senior practitioners in a room and working the real problems together.

9:00
Arrival, breakfast, introductions
9:30
The universal problems of scaling agency groupsFelix Velarde
10:00
What drives and destroys value in agency-group M&ADominic Hawes
10:45
Roundtable — testing team culture before LOIFacilitated discussion
11:30
Building a succession team fast, post-dealFelix Velarde
12:15
Roundtable — team buy-in to rapid scalingFacilitated discussion
12:50
Lunch & networking
What you leave with

Frameworks you can use the week after.

01

Pre-deal cultural DD

A tested framework for testing team culture before LOI — so you stop inheriting resistant teams.

02

Fast succession

A clear model for post-deal succession that moves in weeks, not months.

03

Scaling that holds

Practical scaling approaches that hold under group-level pressure, not just single-agency tactics.

04

The right room

Direct access to two practitioners who’ve done this — and a dozen peers facing the same decisions.

Your hosts

Two people who have actually done this.

Host

Felix Velarde

Founder of 2Y3X, the agency-growth programme. Felix has built, scaled and sold agencies for 25 years and worked with the leadership of more than 100 agencies on systematic, rapid scaling.

Host

Dominic Hawes

Former CEO of Selbey Anderson, now an M&A specialist working with agency groups. Dom advises on buying, building and integrating agency businesses at group level.

Who should apply

A room built for group leaders.

✓ This is for you

  • CEOs, COOs and CFOs of multi-agency businesses
  • Founders actively acquiring agencies
  • Leaders integrating recently acquired teams
  • Anyone building a group they intend to scale or sell

— Probably not yet

  • Single-agency owners — unless you’re in live M&A
  • Service providers looking to sell to the room
  • Early-stage founders without a group to scale
The offer
£299 per person

A commitment filter, not a revenue play — it keeps the room to the right twelve people.

  • Your place in a 10–14 person room
  • Two talks & two facilitated roundtables
  • Breakfast and lunch at the Groucho Club
  • The peer network that comes out of the day
Applications close 18 July 2026

Places are limited and reviewed personally by Felix. You’ll only be charged once your application is confirmed.

Apply for a place

Tell us a little about you and what you’re working on.

We review every application personally. No newsletter, no spam.

✓

Application received

Thank you — Felix reviews these personally and will be in touch before 18 July about your place.

Questions

Good to know.

Why is it an application rather than open booking?
With only 10–14 places, the value is in who’s in the room. Applying takes a minute and lets us keep it to senior group leaders facing the same decisions.
What’s included in the £299?
Your place in the room, both talks and roundtables, and breakfast and lunch at the Groucho Club. You’re only charged once your place is confirmed.
I run a single agency — should I come?
This day is built for group leaders. If you’re actively acquiring or in live M&A, you’ll get a lot from it — mention that in your application. Otherwise it may be early for you.
Where exactly is it?
The Screening Room at The Groucho Club, 45 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 4QB. Doors at 9am, finishing on lunch around 1pm.
Can I bring a colleague?
Yes — have them apply separately so we can keep the balance of the room right. Places are per person.

Twelve seats. One morning. The conversation you can’t have anywhere else.

If you’re running or acquiring an agency group, this is your room.

Apply for a place →