📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
At its heart, Venture Café is about connecting innovators and helping ideas move forward.
This Thursday Gathering is all about navigating what's next. As the way we work, create and collaborate continues to evolve, we're bringing our community together to explore new ideas, share experiences and leave with practical skills, fresh perspectives and meaningful connections.
Join us for three interconnected experiences designed to help you think differently, adapt with confidence and put new ideas into action:
THINK | AI & The Future of Work Roundtable
Explore how AI is reshaping the future of work, uncover emerging opportunities and join an open conversation about what's next.
ADAPT | The Improvisation Workshop
Build the confidence to embrace change, think on your feet and strengthen your ability to collaborate through the power of "Yes, and...".
DO | From Print to AI Voice Cloning with Maria Roberts
Hear how Penguin author and journalist Maria Roberts reinvented her career, from traditional publishing to AI voice cloning, and discover practical lessons on embracing new technology without losing your authentic voice.
Come curious, leave inspired - and take away practical insights, new contacts and fresh opportunities to help you move your next idea, project or venture forward.
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
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.
🧶 Brandina Made It brings together craft, storytelling and community through crochet, jewellery and hands on workshops. Founded by Brandina, the business creates welcoming spaces that celebrate culture, spark connection and encourage self expression.
Introduction from Venture Café.
Join our Lightning Pitch session where you’ve got just 60 seconds to introduce yourself and share your business or idea with the room. It’s fast, fun, and a brilliant way to meet fellow founders, spark conversations and get your idea out into the Manchester startup community.
🎟️ If you are interested in pitching, please pick up a raffle number from the registration desk for a chance to be selected to pitch!
Get Pitched: A Game of Serendipitous Solutions is taking over the Café for a teams edition.
Get ready for fast-paced game full of determination, wit and ingenuity.
You play as a startup company, who is tasked with delivering a solution to a current societal challenge to an investor.
You will be a set of randomised variables:
- The Problem
- A Technology
- An Industry Focus
- A Resource
You must strategise a serendipituous solution on the spot and convince your investor and the room to #makeithappen.
How to create, package, distribute and promote your own audiobook on a budget.
Join award-winning author and journalist Maria for a practical, strategic dive into the world of AI voice cloning. Designed specifically for writers and independent creators, this session explores how to leverage cutting-edge AI platform tools to protect, amplify, and distribute your authentic, original stories.
Top Tip: Bring a laptop with you for hands-on participation
In this session, we'll look at how improv isn't so much about comedy or 'making things up', but is a tried and tested method of building better conversations and developing positive outcomes.
John Cooper has been an improviser with the Totally Improvised Company for over 20 years and has a TEDx talk titled 'Improvisation can change your life' www.johncooper.org.uk'
Most conversations about AI and careers stay at the surface. This one won't. A curated group of guests from a variety of backgrounds will gather for a facilitated roundtable on what AI is actually doing to careers. Not in theory. In practice, at different stages, in different disciplines, and in organisations navigating real uncertainty. Seats are limited to 16. The format is facilitated discussion, not panel debate. Chatham House Rule applies, what's said in the room stays in the room. If you're thinking seriously about what AI means for your work, your team, and the people coming up behind you, this is the room for you.
📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
At its heart, Venture Café is about connecting innovators and helping ideas move forward.
This Thursday Gathering is all about navigating what's next. As the way we work, create and collaborate continues to evolve, we're bringing our community together to explore new ideas, share experiences and leave with practical skills, fresh perspectives and meaningful connections.
Join us for three interconnected experiences designed to help you think differently, adapt with confidence and put new ideas into action:
THINK | AI & The Future of Work Roundtable
Explore how AI is reshaping the future of work, uncover emerging opportunities and join an open conversation about what's next.
ADAPT | The Improvisation Workshop
Build the confidence to embrace change, think on your feet and strengthen your ability to collaborate through the power of "Yes, and...".
DO | From Print to AI Voice Cloning with Maria Roberts
Hear how Penguin author and journalist Maria Roberts reinvented her career, from traditional publishing to AI voice cloning, and discover practical lessons on embracing new technology without losing your authentic voice.
Come curious, leave inspired - and take away practical insights, new contacts and fresh opportunities to help you move your next idea, project or venture forward.
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
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.
🧶 Brandina Made It brings together craft, storytelling and community through crochet, jewellery and hands on workshops. Founded by Brandina, the business creates welcoming spaces that celebrate culture, spark connection and encourage self expression.
Introduction from Venture Café.
Join our Lightning Pitch session where you’ve got just 60 seconds to introduce yourself and share your business or idea with the room. It’s fast, fun, and a brilliant way to meet fellow founders, spark conversations and get your idea out into the Manchester startup community.
🎟️ If you are interested in pitching, please pick up a raffle number from the registration desk for a chance to be selected to pitch!
Get Pitched: A Game of Serendipitous Solutions is taking over the Café for a teams edition.
Get ready for fast-paced game full of determination, wit and ingenuity.
You play as a startup company, who is tasked with delivering a solution to a current societal challenge to an investor.
You will be a set of randomised variables:
- The Problem
- A Technology
- An Industry Focus
- A Resource
You must strategise a serendipituous solution on the spot and convince your investor and the room to #makeithappen.
How to create, package, distribute and promote your own audiobook on a budget.
Join award-winning author and journalist Maria for a practical, strategic dive into the world of AI voice cloning. Designed specifically for writers and independent creators, this session explores how to leverage cutting-edge AI platform tools to protect, amplify, and distribute your authentic, original stories.
Top Tip: Bring a laptop with you for hands-on participation
In this session, we'll look at how improv isn't so much about comedy or 'making things up', but is a tried and tested method of building better conversations and developing positive outcomes.
John Cooper has been an improviser with the Totally Improvised Company for over 20 years and has a TEDx talk titled 'Improvisation can change your life' www.johncooper.org.uk'
Most conversations about AI and careers stay at the surface. This one won't. A curated group of guests from a variety of backgrounds will gather for a facilitated roundtable on what AI is actually doing to careers. Not in theory. In practice, at different stages, in different disciplines, and in organisations navigating real uncertainty. Seats are limited to 16. The format is facilitated discussion, not panel debate. Chatham House Rule applies, what's said in the room stays in the room. If you're thinking seriously about what AI means for your work, your team, and the people coming up behind you, this is the room for you.