Pitchfest & Innovation Showcase : application deadline is September 16th
Calling All Innovators and Entrepreneurs : Venturefest Yorkshire 2016 Launch Announced
Promising to deliver a new experience for Yorkshire based innovators, entrepreneurs and investors, Venturefest Yorkshire 2016 will be officially launched this Wednesday 22 June.
Organised by Make It York and sponsored by the national government agency, Innovate UK, this year’s one day festival will be held at York Racecourse on 16 November 2016. With a clear focus on nurturing business growth across Yorkshire, Venturefest will bring investors, innovators and entrepreneurs together in an engaging, exciting and entertaining environment.
By helping innovators develop their ideas and supporting entrepreneurs in securing investment, Venturefest Yorkshire aims to inspire, entertain and amaze delegates through talks from experts in their field, and with workshops and exhibitions.
On the day there will be five floors of themed exhibition zones, keynote speakers, seminars and workshops, a chance to meet the experts, an Innovation Showcase, live Pitchfest Finals where delegates will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas in return for a rich support package, including £5,000 funding. There will be Club and Investors lounges, Yorkie Talkies and a spectacular end of day show.
The launch includes the announcement of two competitions: Pitchfest and the Innovation Showcase. Pitchfest is an investment competition with a £5,000 cash prize and 12 months of business support to help get plans off the ground. The Innovation Showcase provides supported access to the show for new start-ups (even pre start-ups). Places for this are awarded on merit, they must be applied for and will be selected by a Venturefest panel.
Within the Innovation Showcase there is also a £1,000 prize to be awarded to the ‘best in show’.
Competition winners will be celebrated and showcased at the main Venturefest event in November.
These competitions are suitable for any business or individual in the region looking for support to develop their innovative ideas, or to secure investment in order to grow their idea.
Speaking at the launch event this Wednesday will be, James Newman, chair of Finance Yorkshire and the Advisory Board, Heather Niven, Head of Science City York and Dermot Boylan, Programme Manager, from organisers Make It York.
Heather said, ‘Amazing things can happen at the intersection between science, technology and creativity and we will be stimulating innovation, encouraging entrepreneurialism and helping Yorkshire businesses gain investment through competitions, activities and exhibitions at Venturefest Yorkshire. This event will be the greatest gathering of innovation and enterprise in Yorkshire this year so please join us.’
Exhibition and ticket sales for the main event in November will also open on 22 June, with early bird discounts available until the end of August.
