📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Manchester’s tech and investment scene is firing on all cylinders, but what happens when we look beyond our own backyard to drive the next wave of growth?
This Thursday Gathering with Sister explores what happens when you take the exciting momentum in Greater Manchester and link up with international partners. With a spotlight on connecting Ireland and Manchester, we’ll be discussing how to turn the growing ties between these two thriving ecosystems into the next big opportunity for local businesses.
Whether you're a founder just starting to build, an investor looking for the next breakout, or a business leader who hasn’t thought about international growth yet, this session is for you.
You’ll hear from experts from both sides of the Irish sea, including Invest Manchester, Innovation Exchange Ireland, Uniquely, Guinness Enterprise Centre, ClimbUK and Platform94 on how regional and cross-border partnerships and shared talent can fast-track your progress.
This isn’t just about "going global"—it’s about discovering new paths to scale right on our doorstep. Join us to:
- Discover New Markets: Gain practical insights into navigating and thriving within the Manchester and Irish business ecosystems
- Find Your Next Opportunity: Learn about collaboration opportunities between SMEs and corporates, with an exclusive first-look at a new challenge-led innovation programme launching soon.
- Hear Real-World Scale-up Stories: Get honest insights from business leaders who have successfully navigated borders to scale their organisations.
Whether you’re ready to expand today or just curious about what’s possible, come along and discover how looking beyond borders could be the catalyst for your business's next chapter.
In partnership with SISTER
Community partners: University of Manchester - CreaTech - Digital Futures & Creative Manchester
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
This session offers a valuable opportunity for founders to practise delivering their pitch with confidence, clarity, and impact. Selected attendees will have the chance to present their ideas in a supportive environment and receive constructive, real-time feedback from experienced investors.
The feedback provided will help founders refine their messaging, strengthen their presentation and improve their approach to future investment opportunities.
Whether pitching or observing, all attendees will gain insight into how investors evaluate a pitch, what they look for, and the common areas founders are encouraged to strengthen. Observing live pitches and feedback also provides valuable lessons on effective communication and presentation techniques.
Step into a space where every conversation could spark something new. Enjoy music, refreshments, and a lively atmosphere designed to bring people together, whether you’re exchanging ideas, discovering collaborators, or simply sharing a laugh. This is the perfect moment to unwind, connect, and let serendipity guide your evening.
Join us before the main event to explore the Innovator Showcase, where you’ll have the chance to meet the talented startups. Be the first to experience the innovative technologies and forward-thinking ideas on display.
☁️ KinoCloud makes GPU heavy visual work feel effortless for creatives, scientists and enterprise teams facing compute scarcity, rising costs and friction. With estimates upfront and flexible ways to submit jobs via web, DCC plugins, APIs or MCPs, it delivers beautifully packaged visual assets ready to use.
🧬 Umbizo Limited is a Manchester based data science, bioinformatics, and healthcare AI company. With a team of over 30 specialist scientists and engineers, they partner with biotech, pharmaceutical, and clinical organisations to deliver advanced analytics, multi omics research, synthetic data, and AI driven solutions across precision oncology, cardiovascular research, and regulatory science.
🐱 PawSano is a Manchester based cat care brand developing premium, plant based and fully biodegradable cat litter solutions. It combines high performance odour control with a strong focus on sustainability, trusted by breeders and embraced by modern pet owners to create cleaner, fresher and more environmentally conscious homes.
💻 Buymedia is an AI-powered advertising technology platform that democratises access to enterprise-level advertising intelligence for small and medium enterprises.
Introduction from Venture Café.
Joe Manning, MD of Invest Manchester, will open the evening’s discussion, looking at how Greater Manchester’s surging economy and world-class innovation ecosystem are opening international doors for local businesses.
Joe will explore the growing economic relationship between Ireland and Greater Manchester, and share how international partnerships and inward investment are driving direct benefits for SMEs and large organisations in the North West, bringing fresh talent, new customers, and powerful collaboration opportunities straight to our region.
Join Conor Carmody, Director of Skillnet Innovation Exchange, as he explores the transformative power of challenge-led innovation. Drawing on his experiences and track record in Ireland, he’ll share key lessons from successfully connecting corporates, SMEs, and startups to drive business growth and partnership opportunities.
Conor will also outline an exciting new partnership with Sister launching this year, designed to strengthen links and collaboration between businesses in Greater Manchester and Ireland.
A panel of expert business leaders from the North West and Ireland will explore the opportunities created through growing Ireland–UK innovation partnerships and regional collaboration.
They’ll share their experiences and practical insights, helping you understand how to better navigate the respective business ecosystems and make the most of the opportunities on offer.
Speakers include:
- Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation, Sister
- Gordon Bateman, Founder, ClimbUK
- Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre
- Marie Donnellan, CEO, Platform94
- Luke Nuttall, Chief Client Officer, Uniquely
📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Manchester’s tech and investment scene is firing on all cylinders, but what happens when we look beyond our own backyard to drive the next wave of growth?
This Thursday Gathering with Sister explores what happens when you take the exciting momentum in Greater Manchester and link up with international partners. With a spotlight on connecting Ireland and Manchester, we’ll be discussing how to turn the growing ties between these two thriving ecosystems into the next big opportunity for local businesses.
Whether you're a founder just starting to build, an investor looking for the next breakout, or a business leader who hasn’t thought about international growth yet, this session is for you.
You’ll hear from experts from both sides of the Irish sea, including Invest Manchester, Innovation Exchange Ireland, Uniquely, Guinness Enterprise Centre, ClimbUK and Platform94 on how regional and cross-border partnerships and shared talent can fast-track your progress.
This isn’t just about "going global"—it’s about discovering new paths to scale right on our doorstep. Join us to:
- Discover New Markets: Gain practical insights into navigating and thriving within the Manchester and Irish business ecosystems
- Find Your Next Opportunity: Learn about collaboration opportunities between SMEs and corporates, with an exclusive first-look at a new challenge-led innovation programme launching soon.
- Hear Real-World Scale-up Stories: Get honest insights from business leaders who have successfully navigated borders to scale their organisations.
Whether you’re ready to expand today or just curious about what’s possible, come along and discover how looking beyond borders could be the catalyst for your business's next chapter.
In partnership with SISTER
Community partners: University of Manchester - CreaTech - Digital Futures & Creative Manchester
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
This session offers a valuable opportunity for founders to practise delivering their pitch with confidence, clarity, and impact. Selected attendees will have the chance to present their ideas in a supportive environment and receive constructive, real-time feedback from experienced investors.
The feedback provided will help founders refine their messaging, strengthen their presentation and improve their approach to future investment opportunities.
Whether pitching or observing, all attendees will gain insight into how investors evaluate a pitch, what they look for, and the common areas founders are encouraged to strengthen. Observing live pitches and feedback also provides valuable lessons on effective communication and presentation techniques.
Step into a space where every conversation could spark something new. Enjoy music, refreshments, and a lively atmosphere designed to bring people together, whether you’re exchanging ideas, discovering collaborators, or simply sharing a laugh. This is the perfect moment to unwind, connect, and let serendipity guide your evening.
Join us before the main event to explore the Innovator Showcase, where you’ll have the chance to meet the talented startups. Be the first to experience the innovative technologies and forward-thinking ideas on display.
☁️ KinoCloud makes GPU heavy visual work feel effortless for creatives, scientists and enterprise teams facing compute scarcity, rising costs and friction. With estimates upfront and flexible ways to submit jobs via web, DCC plugins, APIs or MCPs, it delivers beautifully packaged visual assets ready to use.
🧬 Umbizo Limited is a Manchester based data science, bioinformatics, and healthcare AI company. With a team of over 30 specialist scientists and engineers, they partner with biotech, pharmaceutical, and clinical organisations to deliver advanced analytics, multi omics research, synthetic data, and AI driven solutions across precision oncology, cardiovascular research, and regulatory science.
🐱 PawSano is a Manchester based cat care brand developing premium, plant based and fully biodegradable cat litter solutions. It combines high performance odour control with a strong focus on sustainability, trusted by breeders and embraced by modern pet owners to create cleaner, fresher and more environmentally conscious homes.
💻 Buymedia is an AI-powered advertising technology platform that democratises access to enterprise-level advertising intelligence for small and medium enterprises.
Introduction from Venture Café.
Joe Manning, MD of Invest Manchester, will open the evening’s discussion, looking at how Greater Manchester’s surging economy and world-class innovation ecosystem are opening international doors for local businesses.
Joe will explore the growing economic relationship between Ireland and Greater Manchester, and share how international partnerships and inward investment are driving direct benefits for SMEs and large organisations in the North West, bringing fresh talent, new customers, and powerful collaboration opportunities straight to our region.
Join Conor Carmody, Director of Skillnet Innovation Exchange, as he explores the transformative power of challenge-led innovation. Drawing on his experiences and track record in Ireland, he’ll share key lessons from successfully connecting corporates, SMEs, and startups to drive business growth and partnership opportunities.
Conor will also outline an exciting new partnership with Sister launching this year, designed to strengthen links and collaboration between businesses in Greater Manchester and Ireland.
A panel of expert business leaders from the North West and Ireland will explore the opportunities created through growing Ireland–UK innovation partnerships and regional collaboration.
They’ll share their experiences and practical insights, helping you understand how to better navigate the respective business ecosystems and make the most of the opportunities on offer.
Speakers include:
- Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation, Sister
- Gordon Bateman, Founder, ClimbUK
- Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre
- Marie Donnellan, CEO, Platform94
- Luke Nuttall, Chief Client Officer, Uniquely