ORGANISERS of Venturefest Yorkshire are expecting more than 2,000 people to converge on York Racecourse for the free event during the course of today.
A bigger-than-ever programme is designed to bring together brilliant new ventures with willing investors.
Four floors of the Knavesmire Stand are buzzing with more than 100 exhibitors, a host of informal, interactive workshops and fortune-changing competitions.
Thirty finalists are competing for a top award worth £30,000 in an investment competition for rookie entrepreneurs, sponsored by Connect Yorkshire, the organisation for high-tech newcomers.
Youngsters will occupy the second floor, entitled Enterprise Inspiration, where 19 teams will compete in a version of TV's Dragons' Den called Griffin's Nest for a £300 top prize.
And businesses in Innovation Showcase, sponsored by Business Link, are jostling for a prize worth £10,000 for the title of Best Future Growth Potential.
There will also be Dragons - scouts looking for projects that can be pitched to the investors in the real BBC show Dragons' Den.
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