Exploring endless opportunities to grow your business through innovation.
Innovation is a survival skill. Businesses in the Tees Valley know this better than most. Their drive to anticipate future trends, demands, processes, services and products has made a real mark on the world.
VentureFest Tees Valley is all about keeping the ideas flowing and the successes coming. It brings together local businesses, investors, researchers and experts to inspire new ideas, solutions and collaborations.
Start-ups
Launch your ideas
Starting out or running an early-stage growth company? If you’re just getting your idea off the ground you’ve found the perfect place to give you a lift.
Growing businesses
Exploit your ideas to accelerate growth
Running a business that’s looking to grow? You’ll find plenty of inspiration and practical support here to take your ideas further.
Investors
Meet exciting business opportunities
Angel investor, fund manager, lender or crowdfunder? Meet exciting businesses in a format that’s fast, simple and effective.
Partners
Meet innovative businesses
Provide a service or product that could be used by innovative businesses? Join us and feel the benefit.
Venue: Wynyard Hall
Venue: Wynyard Hall
Putting ideas into action
Pitch to real investors
See the latest innovations to come out of the Tees Valley
Hear words of wisdom and warning from innovators
A day dedicated to growing your business
Practical advice from those who can support your innovation
A unique chance to grow your network
Practical focus sessions led by industry experts
Endless opportunities to find new commercial opportunities
Finance
Need to finance your ambitions? At FinanceCamp Tees Valley you can meet lenders who want to lend and investors who want to invest. Whether you’re strengthening an existing business or launching a new one, we’ll help you to navigate your options.
Experts
Get answers to the questions that are standing in the way of your business growth. A range of experts, who are leaders in their field, will be on hand to discuss issues including product development, marketing, intellectual property, employing people, raising funding and much more.
Speakers
Inspirational speakers, debates, discussions and practical workshops – VentureFest Tees Valley lifts the lid on innovation. Find new ways to strengthen your business with tried and tested ideas from areas outside of your usual business sector.
Over the coming weeks we’ll introduce you to those who’ll be taking to the stage. Here are the first we’ve announced …
Matthew Burke
Head of Technology Ventures, Williams Advanced Engineering
Prof Andrew Owens
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon and Director of Education, Research and Innovation at the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Joanne Whitfield
Fund Manager, FW Capital
Ben Houchen
Tees Valley Mayor
Prof Jane Turner
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Teesside University
Caroline Theobald CBE
Chair, First Face to Face Ltd
Bill Scott
CEO, Wilton Group
Dominic Lusardi
Managing Director, Animmersion
David Wrigley
Director, The Yorkshire Gelato Company Ltd
Ian Cornwell
Director, Kraken IM
Quentin Kopp
Chairman, Pollywood Ltd
Innovation Showcase Tees Valley
This exciting opportunity throws the spotlight on the most innovative Tees Valley businesses who get the chance to exhibit their products, services and innovations to a large business audience.
LET'S GET TOGETHER
JOIN US AT VENTUREFEST TEES VALLEY
Why it works for me
A fantastic opportunity to pitch to potential investors.
Matt Whatt
Muves
Darlington
Strong and varied speakers who open your eyes to things outside your own industry and experience.
Kate Baucherel
Galia Digital
Cleveland
Very inspiring and a great way for businesses to put themselves out there to get noticed.
Emily Bentley
Tees Valley Business Club
Tees Valley
Genuinely interesting keynote speakers to learn from.
Andrew Atkins
Resonant Strategy
North Yorkshire
Highly recommended to anyone seeking inspiration and new connections.
Felix O’Hare
NEPIC
Redcar