Worcestershire entrepreneurs will have the chance to pitch directly to investors at the county’s first Business Funding Summit.
The event will take place at Sixways on Wednesday, November 18, and is hosted by Oxford Innovation Advice in partnership with Worcestershire Growth Hub.
It aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting them with angel investors, lenders, and growth partners.
Catherine Bray, director of delivery at Oxford Innovation Advice, said: “We’ve held Business Funding Summits in Birmingham and the Black Country, but this is the first time we’ve brought one to Worcestershire.
“The county has some fantastic entrepreneurial talent, but too many good businesses stall because they don’t know which type of finance is right for them, or what a funder needs to see before saying yes.
“This is a chance to put those questions directly to the people who make the decisions and, for a few brave founders, to put their pitch to the test on the day.”
A Business Funding Summit is set to take place in Worcester (Image: Oxford Innovation Advice)
The summit will include an exhibition hall, expert speakers, and two panel discussions: ‘Unlocking Investment for Growth’ and ‘Behind the Investment Decision: What Investors and Funders Really Want to See.’
A live pitching session, ‘Pitch Perfect,’ will give founders the opportunity to present their business ideas in front of an audience of funders.
Darren Schrouder, manager of Worcester Growth Hub, said: “The Summit is the starting point, not the finish line.
“Every business that joins us at Sixways can carry on working with the business support opportunities afterwards, so the conversations they start on the day have the best chance of turning into funding.
“With more than 20 finance providers and support organisations exhibiting, and a networking lunch to round things off, there will be plenty of time to have those conversations face-to-face.”
The event will also feature a fireside chat with local founders about their journey from funding application to business growth.
Confirmed speakers include Chris Orr of Catalyse Angel Network, Richard Cooper of Oxford Innovation Finance, Angie Preece of BCRS Business Loans, and Jordan Dargue of Lifted Ventures.
The summit runs from 9am to 2pm and is open to entrepreneurs and SMEs from across Worcestershire seeking finance for growth, innovation, exports, productivity improvements, acquisitions or scale-up.
Book your place through Eventbrite.