Venturefest West Midlands is set to spotlight the region’s most innovative science and technology businesses this month. Now in its fourth year, this event aims to foster collaboration between entrepreneurs and investors through a range of activities, including a pitching competition.
Scheduled for Thursday, 27th September at Innovation Birmingham’s iCentrum facility, the single-day event is expected to draw nearly 400 attendees. Organised by a steering group composed of prominent West Midlands organisations, the event is aimed at growth-focused businesses in the science and technology sectors.
The steering group features key figures from influential entities including the West Midlands Combined Authority, several local enterprise partnerships, six of the area’s largest universities, and others. Dr. David Hardman MBE, managing director at Innovation Birmingham and the chair of the steering group, remarked, “It’s a pleasure to work with so many of the key players in the region to drive innovation, growth and prosperity for small businesses.”
Dr. Pam Waddell, director of the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands, also expressed her enthusiasm for the event, noting its diverse schedule of activities. “We are set for a packed and varied itinerary that will offer something to all attendees, whether that’s an inspirational keynote or a pressurised pitch situation; our main goal is to drive growth and prosperity for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the West Midlands,” she said.
One of the event’s highlights will be the Pitchfest competition, which has been a staple for the past three years. Organised by the Centre for Growth at Aston University, BizzInn at the University of Birmingham, and Minerva at the University of Warwick Science Park, Pitchfest has generated over three million pounds since its inception. The competition guides businesses from pitch preparation through rigorous judging rounds, culminating in a Grand Final. Here, successful pitches will vie for an opportunity to win access to Minerva’s network of angel investors.
Additionally, the Richardson Brothers Foundation will attend this year’s event to shortlist businesses for its new venture competition, which includes a £30K investment prize. The event will also feature introductory remarks from David Hardman, two keynotes, a cyber experiment, three expert panels, four Pitchfest heats, and two workshops.
Venturefest West Midlands promises to be an essential event for the region’s science and technology sectors, offering numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect, compete, and succeed.