By Lyndsey Hall
On Thursday 28th February, Steve Knowles, founder and MD of Knowles Warwick, will be speaking at Venturefest Yorkshire. Venturefest is a “science, technology, creative and innovation enterprise event”, according to the event’s Twitter bio, which, this year, is taking place at York Racecourse. The event is sponsored by some of the region’s biggest businesses, such as Finance Yorkshire, an entity that funds new local SMEs and provides business loans, and the York Science Park, which offers fantastic office and laboratory premises, located right next to the University of York. And, of course, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme, to name but a few.
The day will consist of networking sessions, keynote speeches and seminars, an investment competition where 5 pre-selected businesses will pitch to seek investment and the chance to win a support prize worth £37,000, and an innovation showcase where 20 of the best science, technology, creative and innovative businesses will exhibit and promote their new ideas. There will also be the opportunity for young entrepreneurs to showcase their enterprising potential. All this, with dinner and an award ceremony to boot!
Steve will be presenting alongside Dr Malcolm Wilkinson, who won the Venturefest Yorkshire Investment Competition in 2007, on the subject of “How to deliver the perfect pitch”. As Connect Yorkshire’s Mentor of the Year 2011, Steve is familiar with the concept of pitching ideas for maximum effect, and has mentored many businesses to success since becoming involved with the scheme in 2008. He successfully mentored Malcolm back in 2009, and at Venturefest the duo will present the two different sides of pitching; from the point of view of the company, and from that of the potential investor.
According to the event’s site: “Venturefest is not a general business exhibition. Our delegates and partners deal in revolutionary ideas, the people who create them and the people who want to invest in them.” If that sounds like you, then get down to the Ebor Stand of York Racecourse on Wednesday 28th February. And don’t forget to say hello to Steve!
Related articles:
Steve Knowles does Funny Business
Surviving the Upturn: A Resounding Success
