The largest ever gathering of tech companies in the West of England takes place on Tuesday when more than 500 local, national and global delegates assemble for Venturefest Bristol and Bath 2017.
The event will put the spotlight on innovative approaches to the way we will live, move around and work in years to come – and the role West of England tech firms are playing in helping create this future. 
The unique gathering takes place at Bristol’s Watershed media centre, where delegates will share, pitch and learn ideas and talk about products and services that could transform our homes, transport, work and health.
Venturefest is culmination of eight months of Venturefest events delivered by Invest Bristol & Bath, the investment promotion agency for the region and part of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Venturefest aims to generate growth for start-up companies; provide them with the opportunity to engage with big corporations and find new business opportunities. This year the theme is Smart Cities, which looks at how a city-region can link up assets such as transport, housing, water supply, hospitals and schools using technology and data.
West of England Mayor Tim Bowles, who will speak at the conference, said: “Smart tech has the potential to revolutionise the way we all live, travel and work. We’re well placed to become a smart region as we’re home to the largest cluster of digital expertise outside London and our businesses and universities are at the forefront of innovation in super computing, sensor technology, internet of things and next generation networks or 5G.
“I’m delighted that more than half of the companies supported through Invest Bristol and Bath are new or expanding digital and hi-tech businesses, creating 800 jobs in the last year. The tech industry – which contributes £1.6bn to the regional economy every year – is critical to our growth and sustainability, and we will continue to be bold in attracting innovators.”
Kevin Baughan, deputy chief executive of event sponsor Innovate UK, added: “Innovate UK is delighted to be supporting Venturefest Bristol and Bath, which will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and investors to focus on the industries of the future, such as Smart Cities, where the region has the capability and leadership to excel.
“The mission of Innovate UK is to accelerate economic growth through funding and connecting business-led innovation.”
Next year Innovate UK will merge with the UK’s research councils and Research England to form UK Research and Innovation – creating a globally unprecedented environment within which research and innovation can flourish.
Among companies recently attracted to the region by Invest Bristol & Bath is US tech giant Oracle, which established one of eight global bases in Bristol, where start-up tech businesses can link together.
Oracle lead architect for Bristol, Phil Bates, said: “Oracle’s UK Startup Cloud Accelerator is based in Bristol because it is the best place to start and grow a business; it has the talent, connectivity and a thriving eco-system. There is a true collaboration within the eco-system between business, universities and incubators to foster growth and this is one of the strengths of the region.
“We are supporting Venturefest for this very reason, as it brings together tech businesses, investors and influencers to drive innovation and create a progressive society, where we all win.”
At Venturefest start-ups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, city planners and businesses will:
• Hear from 40 speakers on the challenges and opportunities on smart cities;
• Network in the largest gathering of the regions tech community
• Take part in one of six workshops on growing your business, using data or attracting finance; and
• Meet, see and experience some of the latest technologies emerging to make smart cities real at the Venturefest Marketplace.
The event is sponsored by global law firm Osborne Clark, which has its roots in Bristol, Innovate UK, advanced engineering group GKN, UWE, University of Bristol and Oracle.
For more information, to register and to sign up to the workshops visit www.venturefestbb.com
