Join our last Direct To Culture Annual Event!
DIRECT TO
CULTURE 2025
Come link up with creators, founders and dreamers for a powerful day of talks, networking and workshops where you get to learn, connect and grow.
📍 Woolwich Works, London
🗓️ Friday, July 18th · 11am – 9pm BST
A celebration of culture, business and community.
Join us on July 18th for a powerful gathering where culture and commerce come together to help you grow your brand and walk fully in your purpose.
A Celebration of Culture, Business, and the Creative Hustle
Join us on July 18th for a powerful gathering where culture and commerce come together to help you grow your brand and walk fully in your purpose.
Are you ready for Investment?
Last year, we gave £25,000 as part of our "Build to sell" competition.
What To Expect At
Direct To Culture 2025
We’ve seen it every single year — something powerful happens when the
culture is given a platform to develop skills and a network.
We’ve seen it every single year — something powerful happens when the culture is given a platform to develop skills and a network.
This isn’t just another event — It’s a Movement.
Because when the right people get in the right room, everything changes.
Direct To Culture 2025 isn’t about hype or handshakes — it’s about equipping underrepresented creators and brand builders with what they’ve always deserved: access, clarity, and a clear next step.
This is the space for founders, side hustlers, creatives, and culture-shifters who are done guessing and ready to grow with purpose.
No more figuring it out alone. You’ll leave with strategy, direction, and real community behind you.
This is where tactics replace theory and conversations turn into collaborations — and you’ll know exactly what to do next.
Looking back at Direct To Culture 2024
And guess what? In 2025 we are pushing the culture even further Forward.
Last year, attendees left with clients, cash prizes, partnerships and clarity. This year, we’re levelling up the game again.
From £38.62
What's the Plan for Direct To Culture 2025?
10:00 - 11:30 | Welcome & Registration
10:00 - 11:30 | Welcome & Registration
11:30 - 12:00 | Sticky: How to Build for the Future
Mas has been involved in the growth of some of the biggest platforms in the culture.
From Mixtape Madness to helping the UK fastest growing consumer brands, he has not only showed staying power over 15 years but has been ahead of the curve in identifying and capturing opportunities online.
On this talk, Mas will share his tools and process for taking luck out of the equation.
Presented By: Mas Manima
12:05 - 12:50 | Mama I Made: Helping Women Get to the Bag
A conversation with four women who have built diverse revenue streams through freelancing, Agency, AirBnB and TikTok Shop.
To think 20 years ago AirBnB, TikTok and freelance hiring platforms like Upwork didn't exist. Yet, so many people are able to build new careers and businesses on top of these platforms.
Presented By: Sabrina Kwaa, Denee T Seaton, Mazarine Ayina, Charlotte Stavrou (Host)
12:55 - 13:40 | Break
Break
13:45 - 14:30 | Let Em Cook: How to get a piece of the £140Bn UK Food & Drinks Industry
A survey at the last Direct To Culture event highlighted that the community would like to see more Black-owned restaurants, food and drinks brands.
Four entrepreneurs discuss how to spot an opportunity, build and market your brand in one of the UK's biggest industries. View Less
Presented By: Segun Akinwoleola, Gregory Lowe, IIIfeyinwa Frederick, Nana Darko
13:45 - 14:30 | As Scene On Screen: Non-traditional pathways into Mainstream Media
In 2012 Brothers With No Game's YouTube channel had more subscribers than Mr Beast.
The popular blog turned YouTube series, went from an idea between 4 friends to generating 6 figures in global licensing and careers for team members in companies like the BBC, C4 and Netflix.
This discussion is how to creatives can take non traditional pathways to accelerate their careers.
Presented By: Sheila Nortley, Zeze Millz, Michelle Owusu, Leon Mayne (Host)
14:30 - 15:40 | Lunch & Networking
Lunch & Networking
15:45 - 16:25 | Make The Ting: From DIY to Doing it for the Culture
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Elijah has been on a mission to challenge the ways we think and share valuable knowledge from his career to fellow creators in the community.
Simultaneously Michael Berhane, a software developer was building POCIT - a leading platform for the underrepresented in tech to share, grow, and get hired, alongside co-hosting Techish podcast discussing all things in the intersection of tech and pop culture.
This conversation is about the parallels and differences in building in the music/creative industry and tech.
Presented By: DJ Elijah, Michael Berhane
16:30 - 17:30 | Bread & Butter Podcast: The Great Debate
With the boom of financial expertise online, there are conflicting views on how the community should build wealth.
On this segment Eman and Tayo from the Bread & Butter podcast facilitate around the topics around entrepreneurship, homeownership, investing and frivolous spending.
Presented By: Emmanuel Asuquo, Tayo Oguntonade, Kelly Upstage
17:30 - 19:30 | Networking, Workshops & Drinks
Networking, Workshops & Drinks
19:30 - 19:45 | Close
Close
You’ve seen the lineup — now it’s time to Pull Up.
From £38.62
Hear why these Founders showed up — And why you should too
Get a glimpse of what happened last year — and why this year, you can’t afford to miss the room where it all happens.
Jamelia Donaldson
Founder Of Treasure Tress
Mary Ann Mensi
Founder Of Farai London
Elfried Samba
Founder Of Butterfly Effect
Natalie Manima
Co-founder Of Direct To Culture
Meet our Speakers
Mas Manima
Zeze Mills
Emmanuel Asuquo
Kelly Upstaged
DJ Elijah
Sabrina Kwaa
Tayo Oguntonade
Sheila Nortley
Michael Berhane
Denee T Seaton
Gregory Lowe II
Mazarine Ayina
Ifeyinwa Frederick
Nana Darko
Charlotte Stavrou
Michelle Owusu
Leon Mayne
Segun Akinwoleola
Hear Why These Founders Showed Up — And Why You Should Too
Get a glimpse of what happened last year — and why this year, you can’t afford to miss the room where it all happens.
Jamelia Donaldson
Founder Of Treasure Tress
Mary Ann
Founder Of Farai London
Elfried Samba
Founder Of Butterfly Effect
Natalie Manima
Co-founder Of Direct To Culture
Meet Our Speakers
Mas Manima
Zeze Mills
Emmanuel Asuquo
Kelly Upstage
DJ Elijah
Sabrina Kwaa
Tayo Oguntonade
Sheila Nortley
Michael Berhane
Denee T Seaton
Gregory Lowe II
Mazarine Ayina
Ifeyinwa Frederick
Nana Darko
Charlotte Stavrou
Michelle Owusu
Leon Mayne
Segun Akinwoleola
From £38.62
Looking Back At Direct To Culture 2024
And Guess What? — 2025 Is Bigger, Bolder, and Built For You.
Last year, attendees left with clients, deals, partnerships, and clarity. This year, we’re leveling up the game and the gain.
From £38.62
Our Partners
Get 3 months access to practical steps with our speakers and experts
Taking Luck Out Of The
Equation – Scale Up X T:C Event
Join Masibu Manima and Akil Benjamin on Tuesday, June 19th for an exclusive in-person masterclass on Translate Culture's multi-million pound framework to secure online sales.
TikTok 90 Day Creator
Program
Learn how everyday creators are building real income using TikTok Shop. From product sourcing to live selling, this masterclass gives you the blueprint to get started fast.
For the first time ever, we’re offering Direct To Culture attendees early access to our most in-demand creator training programs. These are paid courses — but available now for a limited window before July 18th.