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Venturefest Manchester: business and investors meet for growth

Innovation event will see leading innovators, entrepreneurs and investors from across the North West of England gather to discuss growth.

Venturefest

Business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and investors will join this month for the North West’s leading networking event for innovation.

Key speakers at Venturefest Manchester on September 21 include the chief executive of Siemens, Juergen Maier; chief executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein; president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester, Dame Nancy Rothwell, and deputy director of innovation at Innovate UK, Mike Biddle.

Venturefest Manchester takes place at Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley St, Manchester, and is organised by the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub and Innovate UK.

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear inspirational speakers, take part in workshops, tap into expertise and chat informally and develop partnerships.

Three Tribes panel will discuss innovation

Venturefest sessions include a Three Tribes panel featuring prominent investors, innovators and entrepreneurs sharing their stories on challenges in innovation, securing funding and trends in innovation.

The panel includes Jonathan Keeling, of Crowdcube; Claire Braithwaite, of Manchester Growth Company; David Grimes, of MyParcelDelivery; Gary Partington, of RealityMine; Andrew McKerney, of ParkingEye; and David Hodges, of Nexlore and eco-i.

The keynote speech will be delivered by Juergen Maier and closing remarks by Sir Howard Bernstein.

The event also features an innovation showcase final when 10 shortlisted businesses will pitch live for the opportunity to receive £30,000 in business support services.

Delegates will have the opportunity to set up one-to-one meetings with experts from a range of organisations including Innovate UK, the Department for International Trade, the Business Growth Hub, Appleyard Lees and a number of the region’s universities.

More than a dozen funders and investors will also be available for multiple 10-minute speed meetings with delegates.

Venturefest Manchester is one of a series of Venturefest events across the UK supported by Innovate UK.

Updates to this page

Published 8 September 2016