Venturefest South and Barclays launch new platform connecting innovators with investors
New collaboration will give Venturefest South innovators greater visibility among a network of more than 900 verified investors, while creating new opportunities for investment and commercial connections.
Venturefest South (VFS) has announced a new collaboration with Barclays to launch a new portal within the Barclays Demo Directory, a dedicated digital platform designed to connect ambitious startups and scaleups with investors and corporates.
Powered by Barclays’ Demo Directory, the platform will give Venturefest South’s community of innovators the opportunity to showcase their businesses, highlight their technologies and growth ambitions, and increase their visibility to Barclays’ network of more than 900 verified investors, as well as corporates looking for innovative solutions and potential partners.
Innovators and investors can sign up here.
The collaboration will create an ongoing benefit for the Venturefest South innovator community. Previous VFS innovators, startups and founders will be invited to create profiles on the platform, giving them another route to build valuable connections and unlock potential investment and commercial opportunities.
For investors, the platform provides a curated way to discover ambitious businesses and filter opportunities according to factors including sector, stage and strategic fit. Corporates can also use the platform to identify emerging technologies, potential partners and businesses that could support their innovation and growth objectives.
Ed Gould, Chair at Venturefest South said:
“Venturefest South has always been about creating meaningful connections between the people building innovative businesses and the investors, organisations and partners who can help them grow.
“This collaboration with Barclays allows us to extend those connections beyond the festival itself. Our innovator community will have another opportunity to put their businesses in front of relevant investors and corporates, while our 2026 cohort will benefit from increased exposure in the run-up to VFS26.
“It adds real value to being part of the Venturefest South community and strengthens our ambition to support innovation and business growth across the Central South.”
Supporting the Central South innovation ecosystem
The collaboration forms part of Venturefest South’s wider mission to strengthen the Central South’s innovation ecosystem by bringing together founders, investors, corporates, business leaders and innovation organisations.
Applications to join the VFS26 Innovator cohort are open until the end of September. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to showcase their innovation at the Festival of Innovation as well as gaining access to the exclusive VFS26 group.
venturefestsouth.co.uk/innovator-application
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