From hard technology to online tools, this is Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurship at its best
The most innovative and exciting budding businesses come together at Venturefest Oxford’s Innovation Showcase to connect with potential funders and attract new partners. Thirteen young companies will be presenting their innovative ideas at this premier business networking event on Wednesday 29 June at King’s Centre in Osney Mead.
Venturefest Oxford partners with Innovate UK and other organisations in delivering a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to meet with like-minded people who want to be part of business success. The programme is bigger and better this year as Venturefest Oxford marks 18 years since its foundation. The Innovation Showcase has doubled in size, with many of the thirteen exhibitors selected from start-ups who previously took part in Pitchfest – Venturefest Oxford’s twice yearly Dragon’s Den at which entrepreneurs pitch for core funding from local investors.
TrustonTap is one of the former Pitchfest participants presenting at Innovation Showcase in June. The ambitious Oxfordshire-based business focuses on the ways technology can help transform the way we look after the elderly. The founders, William Cotton and Nick Grant have developed an online platform targeted at older consumers and their families, that helps them find the support and care necessary to allow the elderly to live independently at home for as long as possible. With a vision to help anyone interested in making a difference in the lives of the old people in their communities, one of the key aims of TrustonTap is to attract a new group of workers into a market which currently suffers from a chronic shortage of carers.
William Cotton, co-founder of TrustonTap explains,
We know there are many people around us, be it young adults or mums who are happy to spend a few hours a week helping an elderly person with simple errands, giving them a lift to the shops, or sitting with them when they go to the doctor. Our aim is to connect those who need the help with qualified carers, as well as those of us who simply want to be of assistance. At Venturefest Oxford we are hoping to meet investors who share our vision and want to partner with us on this journey.
Another former Pitchfest finalist also showcasing at Venturefest Oxford offers yet another take on innovation. Classlist provides a virtual school-gate for school parent communities and shows a great business potential, having reached 70 schools since launch in September. Classlist has now succeeded in raising £600,000 initial crowd-funding and won a place as one of only 15 start ups selected for the prestigious Start-up Grind Europe, headlined by Google Chair, Eric Schmidt.
Other exhibitors include Meteor Power, a firm developing high-performance electric motorcycles, electric motors with integrated rapid charging systems and compact high performance hybrid powertrains, which has already made an appearance at Pitchfest. The young company has recently received a significant £2.2million grant from Innovate UK towards the development of their project.
Innovate UK Chief Executive Ruth McKernan says:
Venturefest Oxford will be a showcase for the very best innovation in the region. The event will bring together innovators, investors and entrepreneurs, with a wide range of business support and advice organisations. Innovate UK is determined to build on innovation excellence throughout the UK. We look forward to Venturefest Oxford – if you are an innovative company looking to make the right connections to grow your business, then I’d urge you to register.
Lynn Shepherd, Executive Chair at Venturefest Oxford says:
The Innovation Showcase is a very exciting and inspiring part of Venturefest and we are all looking forward to seeing what the great pioneering minds of Oxfordshire have on offer. Even though I have already met many of this year’s participants, it will be great to see how much the businesses have grown and developed since they first took part at Pitchfest.
TrustonTap, Classlist and Meteor Power have also been entered for The Oxford Trust Enterprise Awards 2016, which will be presented at a gala dinner on Tuesday June 28th, the night before Venturefest Oxford 2016, and will help launch the annual event by showcasing the region’s new business innovation stars.
For full details of the Venturefest Oxford 2016 programme or to book tickets visit
www.venturefestoxford.com.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
- Venturefest is a gateway for entrepreneurs and innovators to connect with investors and advisors at all stages of the business life cycle. Venturefest Oxford’s mission is to provide a platform to support the innovation eco system in Oxfordshire, offering new and growing businesses, investors and innovators connections to support, services and opportunities
- Venturefest Oxford is now in its 18th year. Venturefest Oxford has gone from strength to strength, with Yorkshire and Bristol using the model to establish sister events. Venturefest and Innovate UK, formerly the Technology Strategy Board are now rolling out annual events across the entire UK as part of a national Venturefest Network, supported by KTN – The Knowledge Transfer Network.
- The Board of Venturefest Oxford includes key local organisations such as the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, The University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Innovation and The Oxford Trust as well as key local Angel and VC organisations and tech-based business representatives.
