Inaugural VentureFest East Midlands Proves a Huge Success
VentureFest EM, an event focused on promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the East Midlands region of the UK, recently held its inaugural event in 2018. The event was a resounding success, attracting over 800 investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the region.
The event was organized by a partnership between Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, New Anglia LEP, and St John’s Innovation Centre, with support from KTN and Innovate UK. It was held at the Newmarket Racecourse, and featured more than 75 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services.
One of the highlights of the event was the “fast and furious” pitch-off competition, where 11 finalists from the region’s most innovative tech businesses competed for the 1,000 Guineas prize. The winner was Alviol, a MedTech firm that is developing an inhaler technology called Occoris that delivers drugs more efficiently to the lungs. The judges praised Alviol for their strong pitch and believed that the product has the potential to make a real impact on the lives of asthma sufferers.
In addition to the pitch-off competition, the event featured a main plenary session that was standing room only, with eager attendees eager to hear from some of the region’s leading entrepreneurs and innovators. Speakers included Hermann Hauser, David Cleevely, and Charles Cotton, who shared their experiences and insights with the audience.
Overall, the event was a great success and demonstrated the strong innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the East Midlands region. It also provided a valuable networking opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators to connect and share ideas.
In addition to the main event, VentureFest EM also included a number of workshops and seminars focused on topics such as raising finance, scaling a business, and developing new products and services. These sessions provided valuable information and insights to attendees, and were well-received by attendees.
One of the key goals of VentureFest EM is to promote the region as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. The event was a great step towards achieving this goal, and the organizers are already planning for next year’s event, which is sure to be even bigger and better.
Overall, the inaugural VentureFest EM event was a resounding success, and it has firmly established itself as a key event in the East Midlands region’s innovation and entrepreneurship calendar. It has brought together some of the region’s brightest minds and provided a valuable networking and learning opportunity for attendees. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for VentureFest EM and the East Midlands region.