IT’S all change for this year’s ‘bigger and better’ Venturefest, as the York-based event will focus on nurturing business growth across the entire Yorkshire region.
“I’m told it’s going to be like no Venturefest has ever been before,” said James Newman, chair of the one-day festival’s advisory board and of Finance Yorkshire, at a launch event yesterday.
“It’s going to be much more of a Yorkshire event as opposed to York-oriented, as it has been in the past.”
He said the Venturefest balloon would be taken to roadshows in Sheffield, Leeds, Huddersfield, Hull and Bradford, ahead of the big day on Wednesday, November 16, at York Racecourse.
Dermot Boylan, of Make It York, who is programme manager for Venturefest Yorkshire 2016, said: “Our objective is to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, creatives and service providers and put them into the same space, stir gently and see what emerges.”
He said the 2015 event attracted 863 people and the reported business generated was £981,680. “Our objective is to be bigger and better than 2015,” he said, adding they hoped it would be attended by more than 1,000 people and generate more than £1 million in business.
A major exhibition with themed zones, including creative and digital, universities, professional services, agri-food and innovation around Yorkshire, would held over five floors of the racecourse’s Knavesmire Stand. Mr Boylan also said there would be ‘big-hitting’ keynote speakers, who were yet to be announced.
Heather Niven, head of Science City York, announced two Venturefest competitions - Pitchfest, an investment competition with a £5,000 prize plus 12 months business support, and the Innovation Showcase, which provides supported access to the show for new and pre-start-ups.
She said: “Amazing things can happen at the intersection between science, technology and creativity. This event will be the greatest gathering of innovation and enterprise in Yorkshire this year, so please join us.”
For information go to venturefestyorkshire.net or email enquiries@venturefestyorkshire.net
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