📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
This evening is a celebration of a defining shift in the UK’s science and tech landscape, where investment and innovation growth is moving beyond the traditional "Golden Triangle" towards regions like our own. Sister will be launching their latest thought leadership report, exploring how regional innovation is key for national prosperity.
Event Highlights
- The Keynote: Dr. Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation at Sister, will present the report’s primary findings, offering a look at the crucial impact regional cities have on the UK's economic future and discussing trends and learnings from across different regions.
- The Big Debate: A panel of industry leaders will discuss how to grow impactful ecosystems beyond traditional tech capitals. You’ll also hear directly from trailblazing start-ups within the Sister ecosystem, sharing their first-hand experiences of scaling within the region.
Why Join Us?
This takeover brings together the best of our community - investors, policymakers, academics, and founders - all dedicated to driving the North West forward.
In partnership with SISTER
Sponsored by Innovator International
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
Black Creative Trailblazers presents a fabric craft workshop offering participants a tactile, creative experience rooted in community and self-expression. Attendees will choose between two makes, a fabric bookmark or a fabric canvas, and be guided through the process in a relaxed, inclusive environment designed to welcome makers of all skill levels. The session blends craft, culture, and connection, reflecting BCT’s wider mission to create spaces where creativity is accessible, celebrated, and joyful.
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.
If you’re building a company, you’re always telling a story to investors, clients, collaborators, future hires, or even your own team.
In this practical, interactive session, communication coach and actor Will Pretsell will guide founders through a simple storytelling structure to turn what you do into a clear, human narrative that makes people lean in and say: “Tell me more.”
You’ll build your story during the session, with prompts you can reuse for pitches, sales conversations, and partnerships, plus a live “hot seat” demo where we craft one attendee’s crisp founder story in minutes.
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.
Dr. Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation at Sister, will present the report’s primary findings, offering a look at the crucial impact regional cities have on the UK's economic future and discussing trends and learnings from across different regions.
A panel of industry leaders will discuss how to grow impactful ecosystems beyond traditional tech capitals. You’ll also hear directly from trailblazing start-ups within the Sister ecosystem, sharing their first-hand experiences of scaling within the region.
Embracing the theme of INNOVATION, Will Pretsell is premiering a brand new masterclass in his second session this evening. Join Will for a live interactive demonstration of an advanced pitching technique. Designed primarily for founders who are currently pitching or intend to pitch for investment, this session will give attendees insight into the inner workings of professional pitch design. But whether you are a founder, professional, or just something else entirely, you will leave with a clear understanding of how to utilise some advanced influence techniques in your own pitches, presentations and interactions.
📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
This evening is a celebration of a defining shift in the UK’s science and tech landscape, where investment and innovation growth is moving beyond the traditional "Golden Triangle" towards regions like our own. Sister will be launching their latest thought leadership report, exploring how regional innovation is key for national prosperity.
Event Highlights
- The Keynote: Dr. Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation at Sister, will present the report’s primary findings, offering a look at the crucial impact regional cities have on the UK's economic future and discussing trends and learnings from across different regions.
- The Big Debate: A panel of industry leaders will discuss how to grow impactful ecosystems beyond traditional tech capitals. You’ll also hear directly from trailblazing start-ups within the Sister ecosystem, sharing their first-hand experiences of scaling within the region.
Why Join Us?
This takeover brings together the best of our community - investors, policymakers, academics, and founders - all dedicated to driving the North West forward.
In partnership with SISTER
Sponsored by Innovator International
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
Black Creative Trailblazers presents a fabric craft workshop offering participants a tactile, creative experience rooted in community and self-expression. Attendees will choose between two makes, a fabric bookmark or a fabric canvas, and be guided through the process in a relaxed, inclusive environment designed to welcome makers of all skill levels. The session blends craft, culture, and connection, reflecting BCT’s wider mission to create spaces where creativity is accessible, celebrated, and joyful.
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.
If you’re building a company, you’re always telling a story to investors, clients, collaborators, future hires, or even your own team.
In this practical, interactive session, communication coach and actor Will Pretsell will guide founders through a simple storytelling structure to turn what you do into a clear, human narrative that makes people lean in and say: “Tell me more.”
You’ll build your story during the session, with prompts you can reuse for pitches, sales conversations, and partnerships, plus a live “hot seat” demo where we craft one attendee’s crisp founder story in minutes.
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.
Dr. Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation at Sister, will present the report’s primary findings, offering a look at the crucial impact regional cities have on the UK's economic future and discussing trends and learnings from across different regions.
A panel of industry leaders will discuss how to grow impactful ecosystems beyond traditional tech capitals. You’ll also hear directly from trailblazing start-ups within the Sister ecosystem, sharing their first-hand experiences of scaling within the region.
Embracing the theme of INNOVATION, Will Pretsell is premiering a brand new masterclass in his second session this evening. Join Will for a live interactive demonstration of an advanced pitching technique. Designed primarily for founders who are currently pitching or intend to pitch for investment, this session will give attendees insight into the inner workings of professional pitch design. But whether you are a founder, professional, or just something else entirely, you will leave with a clear understanding of how to utilise some advanced influence techniques in your own pitches, presentations and interactions.