Programme
Building on the success of last year, Venturefest 2019 will focus on Inward Investment Global Growth. This will broaden the programme to include special sessions on three of the areas targeted by the new UK Research and Innovation body; USA, China and India. UKRI seeks to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish.
Alongside this, there will be sessions and a technology showcase around the four Grand Challenges identified by the UK Industrial Strategy; Artificial Intelligence & Data, Ageing Society, Clean Growth and Future of Mobility.
Programme
Morning Sessions
07:00 - 16:00
Registration
John Henry Brookes Building, Main Reception
Registration will open at 07:00 for Breakfast Session attendees. Tickets can be purchased in advance.
All tickets include: complimentary bus travel to and from the event, access to all Venturefest Oxford sessions, exhibition, showcase, complimentary tea & coffee, lunch and closing drinks reception.
Student entry is free of charge – valid ID will be required.
07:30 - 08:45
Inward Investment Global Growth – Opportunities and Challenges: USA
Sponsored by Penningtons Manches Cooper and James Cowper Kreston
Taylor’s Yard
In this session we will hear from investors from the US about why technology developed in Oxfordshire is attracting interest and investment from the US. We will also hear from Oxfordshire companies who have explored commercial opportunities in the US who want to share their experiences with those considering a similar path.
Confirmed Panellists: Rajarshi Banerjee – Perspectum Diagnostics, Rowan Gardner – Ozo Innovations, and Garry Muddyman – Conversis
Chaired by Sharon Bedford – James Cowper Kreston
Breakfast available from 07:00.
09:00 - 09:15
Welcome to Venturefest Oxford 2019
John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre
Hear from Mike Foster, Executive Chair of Venturefest Oxford and Neil Mendoza, Provost of Oriel College Oxford on the importance of innovation and the role it plays in supporting and encouraging both innovation and entrepreneurship.
09:30 - 10:45
Pitching for Success – Morning Session
John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre
Pitching for Success will be to an audience that includes investors, support organisations and individuals.
Each session will include a panel made up of professional funding organisations; including speakers from crowd investment (Peer2Peer, equity, loans), venture capital and public sector funding. Each investor panel speaker will give an overview of what they look for when investing or funding a company followed by Q&A with the audience.
As well as the live pitches and investor panels, the companies from both sessions will be available in the foyer of the John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre for networking.
Panellists: David Ford – Arrowfield Capital, John Holden – Foresight Group, Evie Mulberry – Astia Angels and Adam Workman – Oxford University Innovation
Pitching Companies: Aistetic, Bellevie, Brahms Electric Vehicles, Digital Veneer, DNApal, Dogbot Technology, Oxiros, Space Forms and UnityCell
Chaired by Eileen Modral – OION
09:30 - 10:30
Leading in the age of AI & Data
Union Hall
AI has the potential to transform industries. It already has had a positive impact by helping improve manufacturing and quality of healthcare. More recently AI has been also transforming the professional services sectors such as law, accountancy and human resources. The outcomes have included: increased productivity and margins, differentiated products and services, more jobs and increased growth. New developments in AI and Data science have the potential to continue to help us maintain our global leadership position for many years to come.
In this session, we will hear how some of the companies at the heart of this AI and data revolution are innovating and disrupting our world and how our universities are contributing to supporting our companies to meet the challenge.
Speakers: Nigel Crook– Oxford Brookes University, Vaclav Potesil – Optellum and Jakob Howard – Latent Logic
Chaired by Deborah Spencer – University of Oxford
11:00 - 11:45
How Much Does Venture Capital Drive the Global Economy?
John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre
The panel will look at the industry from the geographical aspect discussing:
- How has VC investing developed since the financial crisis?
- How has the investor base for VC funds changed?
- What level of returns has VCs as an asset class returned?
- Which sectors/technologies have been most favoured by funds
- What geographic trends has VC investing witnessed?
Speakers: Meriwether Beckwith – Oxford Capital Partners, Simon Blakey – Avonmore Developments, Fiona Dent – Makerversity and George Whitehead – Octopus Ventures
Chaired by Jens Tholstrup – OION
10:45 - 11:45
MobOx presents The Future of Mobility
Union Hall
Mobility’ seeks to address the future ambitions and needs of societies grappling with the challenges of climate, air quality, and congestion, where densification of urban dwelling and access to healthcare for an ageing population are amongst the priorities requiring new approaches to getting us about and to our personal transport choices. Join us in this session to hear from companies and individuals in Oxfordshire that are at the forefront of innovation in engineering, technology and business models aimed at delivering sustainable solutions for these challenges.
Speakers: Mark Preston – TECHEETAH Formula E Team, Mike Potts – Streetdrone and Tom de Wilton – OXWASH
Chaired by Llewelyn Morgan – Oxfordshire County Council
12:00 - 13:15
Inward Investment Global Growth – Opportunities and Challenges: China
Sponsored by Penningtons Manches Cooper and James Cowper Kreston
Taylor’s Yard
In this session we will hear from investors from China about why technology developed in Oxfordshire is attracting interest and investment from China. We will also hear from Oxfordshire companies who have explored commercial opportunities in China who want to share their experiences with those considering a similar path.
Panellists: Mike Karim – Oxford Endovascular, Qing Lin – James Cowper Kreston, Mark Preston – TECHEETAH Formula E Team and Kegang Wu – BCC LinkToChina
Chaired by Russ Shaw – Global Tech Advocates
Afternoon Sessions
13:30 - 14:45
Pitching for Success – Afternoon Session
John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre
Pitching for Success will be to an audience that includes investors, support organisations and individuals.
Each session will include a panel made up of professional funding organisations; including speakers from crowd investment (Peer2Peer, equity, loans), venture capital and public sector funding. Each investor panel speaker will give an overview of what they look for when investing or funding a company followed by Q&A with the audience.
As well as the live pitches and investor panels, the companies from both sessions will be available in the foyer of the John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre for networking.
Panellists: Tim Colchester – Prodrive, Caroline McGuirk – Anjost Investment, Andrew Muir – MidVen and Rebecca Todd – Longwall Ventures
Pitching Companies: Aquobex Technologies, Cardesium, Cotswold Health Technology, Data Language, Experoment, KYMIRA, Measurable, MEDeus, Oxford Robotics Innovation and Spintex Engineering
Chaired by Eileen Modral – OION
13:30 - 14:30
Ageing Society
Union Hall
The ageing population is creating opportunities and challenges for business and society across the industrialised world. Older consumers have significant buying power and yet products and services often ignore their needs and preferences. Older workers bring invaluable skills and experience yet unsuitable working environments and practices hamper their contribution. Older people have complex health and social care needs yet our services rarely address these needs. .
Ageing populations will create new demands for technologies, products and services. We have an obligation to address these demands and help our older citizens lead fulfilled lives and continue to contribute to society and the economy. In this session discover how businesses can respond to these opportunities and the contribution our universities are making to support them.
Speakers: Steven Chance – Oxford Brain Diagnostics, Helen Dawes – OxCATTs and Tim Jones – Oxford Brookes University
Chaired by Paul Carding – OxINMAHR
15:00 - 15:45
Pitching for Success – Final
John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre
After all the presentations are completed, the excitement continues as the audience votes to select a winning company. The two session winners will be announced at 15:00 and will be able to pitch again to the audience, who will decide the overall winner on the day for the £1,000 cash prize.
Chaired by Eileen Modral – OION
14:45 - 15:45
Clean Growth
Union Hall
The move to cleaner economic growth – through low carbon technologies and the efficient use of resources – is one of the greatest industrial opportunities of our time. By one estimate, the UK’s clean economy could grow at four times the rate of GDP. Whole new industries will be created and existing industries transformed as we move towards a low carbon, more resource-efficient economy.
The UK has been at the forefront of encouraging the world to move towards clean growth. Meet the Oxfordshire companies who are determined to play a leading role in providing the technologies, innovations, goods and services of this future.
Speakers: Rajat Gupta – Local Energy Oxfordshire, Andrew Luers – Habitat Energy and Nicky Chambers
Chaired by Tim Rose – Energy Superhub Oxford
16:00 - 17:15
Inward Investment Global Growth – Opportunities and Challenges: India
Sponsored by Penningtons Manches Cooper and James Cowper Kreston
Taylor’s Yard
We hear from investors from India about why technology developed in Oxfordshire is attracting interest and investment from India. We will also hear from Oxfordshire companies who have explored commercial opportunities in India who want to share their experiences with those considering a similar path.
Confirmed Panellists: Rakesh Roshan – OXSIGHT, Gaurav Sharma – Oxford Brookes University and Joanne Vengadesan – Penningtons Manches Cooper
Chaired by Pat Saini – Penningtons Manches Cooper
17:00 - 17:45
Closing Ceremony & Drinks Reception
Sponsored by Oxford Brookes University
The Terrace
Professor Linda King, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Global Partnerships at Oxford Brookes University invites you to join us for the Venturefest Oxford 2019 Closing Ceremony and drinks reception.
18:00 - 19:30
The Oxford Trust Enterprise Awards
The Terrace
Established in 2005, The Oxford Trust Enterprise Awards recognise and celebrate the breadth of innovative science and technology companies and entrepreneurs working in the region. The awards acknowledge the hard work of those who are just starting out on their innovation journey as well as established businesses that have become successful and had a major positive impact on the regional economy.
Please note the awards ceremony is invite only.
Make connections that lead to new investments, new businesses and new ideas in the high-tech sector in Oxfordshire.