Venturefest comes to the West Midlands for the first time
A NEW event and exhibition giving entrepreneurs and innovators the opportunity to meet, engage and discuss products with a national audience of investors, launches in the West Midlands for the first time this summer.
Venturefest WM (West Midlands) is a free, interactive, day-long event taking place on Tuesday June 30 at the NEC.
It will feature a programme of in-depth workshops, seminars and lectures to offer small business owners and start-up companies from the area the chance to receive practical advice, ideas, contacts and funding options.
Entrepreneurs from all business sectors including science, technology and the creative industries are being encouraged to register.
Delegates will also be invited to take part in a competition to pitch for investment.
Organised by Aston University, the University of Birmingham and the University of Warwick, the pitching competition – Pitchfest – will encourage early stage businesses and start-ups to present to key investors, gain pitching advice from industry leaders and raise the profile of their company.
Pam Waddell, Director of Birmingham Science City, which is organising the event, said: “Venturefest WM is part of a national network of Venturefests backed by Innovate UK.
“In setting up an exciting and varied day of learning and networking for regional innovators and entrepreneurs, we have both learned from previous Venturefest events and geared the day to the opportunities and needs in the West Midlands.
“Delegates should take away a host of new contacts with potential collaborators, customers, investors and support organisations as well as lots of new advice and ideas.”
Guest speakers include Sir Peter Rigby, chairman and chief executive of The Rigby Group.
Dr Ruth McKernan, chief executive of UK innovation agency, Innovate UK, will also be speaking at the event.
Venturefest is supported by Business Birmingham, the city’s inward investment agency.
Wouter Schuitemaker, Investment Director of Business Birmingham, added: “It is an exciting time to be a start-up business in Birmingham. A wealth of smart, innovative enterprises are setting up here and developing great ideas – this is creating a vibrant ecosystem of companies to drive our region’s economic growth.
“While the area offers firms an excellent environment in which to achieve their ambitions, events such as Venturefest are also crucial to their development. They provide valuable exposure to prospective funders and suppliers, as well as the opportunity to meet people with similar business interests.”
Venturefest WM is part of a national initiative aiming to drive the development of new business opportunities for economic growth and support of the innovation ecosystem. It is supported by Innovate UK, KNT and locally by businesses, universities, science parks and business support organisations.
