#VFS22 is an Official Global Entrepreneurship Week activity!

#VFS22 Festival of Innovation will take place at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, on 17 November and is now an official activity of Global Entrepreneurship Week.  

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is an international movement, which will take place from 14-20 November. Southern innovators will gather together to celebrate at the popular annual Festival of Innovation hosted by Venturefest South. 

Ed Gould, Venturefest South’s Event Director, said: “Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s biggest festival of entrepreneurship, so we’re thrilled that Venturefest South is a part of it this year. Plans for this year’s big showcase event on 17 November are gathering at pace and the stage is set for the biggest celebration of the South’s innovation economy yet. I’d encourage anyone who is yet to get a ticket to do so soon, it’s not one to be missed!” 

Jonathan Ortmans, President of GEW said: “This Global Entrepreneurship Week, we are celebrating some of the world’s most creative, innovative, and resilient citizens. Each November, GEW celebrates and empowers millions of entrepreneurs in every country and community around the world – especially individuals who face barriers or who have never considered the idea of launching a start-up.” 

Venturefest South has welcomed a number of new partners on board this year, including Catax, which has put forward a generous prize as part of the Battle of the Pitches competition taking place during the event. Businesses which enter by 4th September will be in with a chance to win £10,000 to help develop their business ideas. 

John Challen, Regional Development Director at Catax, said: “We help businesses uncover their commercial hidden value and, after sponsoring Venturefest South last year, we quickly realised how important it was for us to engage further with the vast innovation community in the South. We’re thrilled to be supporting the Battle of the Pitches competition this year and can’t wait to hear all of the pitches, and most importantly give one lucky business a £10,000 investment.” 

Now in its sixth year, the Festival of Innovation is a place for the brightest minds and big thinkers to share experiences, insights and knowledge. 2022’s showcase is expected to surpass previous years in terms of its entrepreneurs and crowd of innovators, investors and business people attending on the day.

Other partners involved in championing the innovation and entrepreneurial community in the South include Solent LEP, BAE Systems, Dstl, University of Southampton, Solent University, University of Portsmouth, Innovate UK, KTN, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, University of Winchester and the British Business Bank. 

Check us out on the Global Entrepreneurship Week Website here!