Important update about #VFS20 Festival of Innovation
An important update from the Venturefest South team about this year’s showcase…
New date confirmed as 2 October 2020.
Like us, you will be well aware of the fast-developing situation with COVID-19. With growing pressure to contain the virus and protect our community, the board of Venturefest South, has taken the decision to postpone #VFS20 Festival of Innovation. The event will therefore not take place on 27th March.
This is not a decision that we take lightly and we know you will be as disappointed as we are.
It’s worth noting that tickets for this year’s event have been selling faster than ever before, and we completed the planning of what promises to be the most exciting and valuable showcase to date.
Venturefest South is an ‘old hand’ when it comes to overcoming challenges the world throws at us. It was started by founding partners at a time when funding cuts in the UK meant other Venturefest networks closed. By self-funding and developing a new sustainable model for Venturefest South, we made sure our region was able to recognise and promote its great innovators, startups and scale-ups.
When the ‘Beast from the East’ came knocking in 2018, the country stayed at home – but over 500 of you braved the cold to make #VSF18 a huge success. Last – but by no means least – VFS innovators, delegates, partners and exhibitors turned ‘Brexit Day’ from the damp squib into a brilliant moment of positive economic momentum in 2019.
Rather than moan about the situation we find ourselves in, the tenacity, creativity and ambition of Venturefest South and people like you means that we can find a route to success. Your health and safety must come first and while we are ambitious, we are not foolish. The right thing to do is to delay the date of the event to later in the year.
We know you will understand this situation and we ask you to use the time away to prepare your innovations, practice your pitches, develop your workshops and look forward with anticipation to the moment we can reconvene and make #VFS20 Festival of Innovation the most successful showcase yet.
As we now have a new date confirmed, we’re pleased to let you know that the showcase will run as planned. We intend to keep in touch in the meantime and we wish you all the best.
Q&A
Will my tickets be valid for the event later in the year?
Yes absolutely, everyone who has purchased a ticket for this showcase on Eventbrite will have a ticket to the new date.
If I am an innovator, speaker or hosting a workshop will I have to apply again?
No – our intention is to run the exact event that we had planned. You will still have your place assuming you can make the new date.
When is the new date?
We don’t know yet and we will monitor the situation before finalising confirmation with you but it’s likely to be after the summer break.
Can I get my money back on tickets or stands?
No, there are no refunds as the showcase will go on later in the year.
If you have any other questions, please email engage@venturefestsouth.co.uk
