📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
One year on from our launch, we're bringing together the founders, researchers, investors, corporates, public sector leaders and ecosystem partners who have helped shape Venture Café Manchester into one of the city's most connected innovation communities.
Over the past year, our weekly Thursday Gatherings have welcomed thousands of attendees, showcased leading innovators and thought leaders, and created countless new connections across Greater Manchester's innovation ecosystem - all powered by our belief that isolation is the enemy of innovation.
We're delighted to be joined by the CEO of ARIA, Kathleen Fisher, for this special evening as we reflect on the impact of our first year, celebrate the partnerships that have made it possible, and look ahead to the opportunities for innovation in the years to come.
Expect an evening of insight, conversation and connection. Further programme details will be announced soon.
Register now to be part of this milestone celebration.
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
This Thursday, find out how you can connect your business with high-impact social organisations at the tech sector engagement event in partnership with the Manchester Tech for Good Catalyst Programme at Venture Café Manchester.
Funded by Manchester City Council and delivered by the Tech for Good Alliance in partnership with Manchester Digital and techUK, this pioneering three-year initiative pairs skilled tech professionals – from developers and engineering teams to founders, CTOs, and CSR leads – with local charities, CICs, and VCFSE community groups in need of digital support.
Attend this targeted briefing to discover how your company can lend its technical expertise to amplify local community impact, champion innovation for social good, fulfill meaningful social value goals, and develop new skills in the process. You will hear real-world case studies from participating businesses, and learn how volunteer projects are scoped and managed, as well as how they benefit your business. You’ll also have the direct opportunity to sign up your business on the night.
Partners: Tech for Good Alliance, Manchester City Council, Manchester Community Central and techUK
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Meet Manchester's next generation of founders.
Venture Café Manchester and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre are joining forces for Manchester Venture Builder Demo Day - hosted as part of a special Thursday Gathering at Sister during the University of Manchester Innovation Festival.
Selected founders will take the stage to pitch their ventures, share their progress and connect with the investors, businesses, mentors and innovators who can help them take the next step.
One Demo Day. One Thursday Gathering. A room full of people who can help ideas move forward.
In partnership with Masood Entrepenuership Centre and InsurTech Corridor
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
This Thursday Gathering is a bold and inspiring evening bringing together founders, healthcare leaders, innovators, and allies to connect, collaborate, and drive real change in women's health.
Women live longer than men, yet spend significantly more years in ill health. From delayed diagnoses and sex-biased medical research to systemic dismissals of lived experiences, the healthcare system continues to fall short. Designed to unite and amplify founder communities and health pioneers, the event creates an inclusive space to dismantle the gender health gap, share honest stories, and turn underfunded ideas and research into unstoppable solutions.
Alongside meaningful conversations and candid panel debates, the event will showcase female-led HealthTech ventures and practical workshops, giving founders the platform to present their products and services to an engaged, supportive audience.
The evening is about more than networking; it’s about visibility, systemic change, and creating real opportunities for women’s health to be seen, heard, and backed.
Community partner: Women's Health Stage
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Manchester has built one of the UK's fastest-growing technology and innovation ecosystems - but what comes after success in the UK?
The United States offers one of the world's largest opportunities for business growth - but entering a new market requires careful planning and the right support.
Join our partners TABS Inc, Laura Devine Immigration, Frazier & Deeter, and Seven Legal for an insightful panel discussion on the key considerations for successful US expansion. You’ll hear how to:
- Validate your go-to-market strategy for the US market
- Build the right legal, tax and operational foundations
- Understand immigration pathways for founders and employees
- Understand how to access and leverage venture capital
- Hire and retain the right team and manage day to day operations.
- Avoid common mistakes that slow or derail expansion
Following the panel, attendees will have the opportunity to continue the conversation during networking and book complimentary 15–20 minute breakout consultations with our expert speakers for tailored advice on their own expansion plans.
Partners: TABS Inc, Laura Devine Immigration, Frazier & Deeter and Seven Legal
Community partner: GM Business Growth Hub
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Great ideas don't succeed on their own - they need people to believe in them. Whether you're seeking investment, customers, collaborators, grant funding or internal buy-in, your ability to communicate your vision can make all the difference.
Join experts from across the innovation ecosystem to explore how successful ideas earn support, build credibility and create momentum. Through practical insights, real-world experiences and interactive discussions, discover how to make the case for your innovation - and inspire others to help bring it to life.
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Summer is over. It's time to reconnect, refocus and look ahead. Join Manchester's innovation community as we explore the opportunities shaping the months ahead - from emerging technologies and funding calls to partnerships, investment and new routes to growth. Hear from founders, investors, researchers and innovation leaders on what's next for the ecosystem, then connect with the people and organisations who can help turn ambition into action. Whether you're building, scaling, researching or investing, this is where the next season of innovation begins.
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Join us for one last Thursday Gathering before we put our feet up for a two-week summer break.
The Art of Creating: Cultivating Your Creative Edge is our end-of-term celebration of ideas, curiosity and connection — bringing Manchester’s innovation community together for one final evening before the summer break.
We’ll explore creativity in all its forms: how we generate better ideas, approach problems differently and bring new thinking into what we do. But just as importantly, there’ll be plenty of space to grab a drink, meet someone new, swap ideas and make the kind of unexpected connections that Thursday Gatherings are all about.
So come along, bring your curiosity and help us see out the summer in style. You never know who you’ll meet — or what might come from it.
Then we’ll take a well-earned breather before returning in September, ready to go again.
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
How do we build a future where commercial success and community impact go hand in hand?
"Social value" is no longer just a corporate social responsibility checkbox - it is a powerful driver of funding, procurement, and cross-sector partnerships. As an ecosystem activator and neutral convener, Venture Café invites you to look beyond profit and explore how intentional innovation can solve some of society's most pressing challenges.
Whether you are navigating strict procurement requirements or looking to scale a mission-driven startup, this event is designed to break down silos, spark actionable collaboration across industries, and drive meaningful community impact across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Sponsored by Open Kitchen
Community Partners: Social Founder Network and GM Business Growth Hub
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
How do we turn world-leading biological research into breakthrough therapies, transformative companies and real-world impact?
This Thursday Gathering, delivered in partnership with the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), explores its Sculpting Innate Immunity Opportunity Space, bringing together researchers, founders and innovators at the forefront of one of the most exciting areas of modern science. Together, we'll explore how bold research moves beyond the lab through collaboration, investment and commercialisation.
The evening's headline panel, Turning Complex Biology into Commercial Reality, features voices from ARIA, academia and the startup ecosystem discussing the opportunities and challenges of translating cutting-edge biology into innovations that could reshape the future of healthcare.
In partnership with and powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)
Community Partner: Nucleate
📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
What happens after you've delivered the perfect pitch?
This Thursday Gathering explores how founders turn compelling ideas into customers, collaborators, investment and growth. Expect founder pitches, expert perspectives and an opportunity to connect with the people who can help take your next step.
Community Partners: NatWest and GM Business Growth Hub
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
What does the future of food production look like in the North? From lab-based breakthroughs to field level technologies, Greater Manchester is home to a growing wave of agricultural biotech and agtech pioneers redefining how we grow, manage and distribute food.
This event brings together 4 companies leading that transformation: Bright Biotech, Gennate, Mushroom+, and SporeSense. These innovators are harnessing biology, data, and engineering in a variety of different ways to tackle challenges around food security, sustainability, and productivity. Through short showcases and discussion, we will explore how cutting-edge science is translated into scalable ventures and how regional partnerships are accelerating progress.
Whether you are a researcher, entrepreneur, grower, agronomist or policymaker, join us to connect with the innovators shaping Northern agricultural biotech and discover how collaboration across the ecosystem can unlock a more resilient, sustainable food future .
Community Partners: Nucleate and Silicon Mingle
Sponsored by Innovator International
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📍 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.
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Join us for a special summer edition of the Thursday Gathering as we celebrate the final digitalThursday and explore the technologies, ideas and people shaping the Intelligence Age.
This evening brings together researchers, founders, innovators and industry leaders to examine how AI is moving from the lab into the real world. We'll celebrate the communities, collaborations and entrepreneurial journeys that have helped shape the region's digital ecosystem, while looking ahead to the opportunities AI presents for business, society and the future of work.
Expect inspiring conversations, new connections and a fitting send-off for Digital Thursday's remarkable journey.
In partnership with digialThursday
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Motorsport has long been a proving ground for innovation, pushing the boundaries of performance, precision and speed. But the technologies, materials and manufacturing processes developed for the track increasingly have applications far beyond racing.
This Thursday Gathering explores how advances in motorsport are influencing sectors from aerospace and healthcare to sport, mobility and sustainable manufacturing. Bringing together manufacturers, engineers, researchers, startups and industry leaders, we'll examine the role of digital technologies, advanced materials, rapid prototyping and data-driven performance in shaping the next generation of products and industries.
Join us to discover where engineering excellence meets competitive advantage.
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📍 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
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Some 25 years ago Richard Rogers proposed an urban renaissance for cities across the UK. It was a moment of optimism for an urbanised world that, some ten years ago, the United Nations identified had become the most common mode of living for peoples around the globe. The intervening years have brought many criticisms, with cities being seen as places of inequality, social injustice, unsustainability and sites of global health problems. They can, of course, also be places of economic opportunity, cultural creativity, intelligent design and cutting edge architecture and planning. In this context, the conference explores diverse readings of the places we inhabit: their design, planning, management, social policies and cultural trends.
In partnership with the University of Salford and Amps
Community Partner: Pro Manchester
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
As the FIFA World Cup kicks off, this special Thursday Gathering explores one of the defining forces reshaping global sport: the rapid influx of international investment and venture capital into clubs, leagues, technologies and talent pipelines — and what that means for cities and regional innovation ecosystems like Manchester. From sovereign wealth and private equity to sports-tech startups and data-driven performance platforms, we’ll examine how sport is becoming a major innovation and investment frontier. Expect insights from investors, founders, institutions and ecosystem leaders, alongside discussion on how regions can capture long-term value from this global shift in capital, influence and opportunity.
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Open to all, this Female Founders Takeover is a bold and inspiring evening bringing together founders, entrepreneurs, and allies, to connect, collaborate, and share their voices.
Designed to unite and amplify the largest collective of female founder communities in the North, the event creates an open and inclusive space where women in business come together under one roof to connect, support, and grow.
Alongside meaningful conversations and honest storytelling, the event will showcase female-led businesses, giving founders the opportunity to share their products and services with an engaged and supportive audience.
The evening is about more than networking, it’s about visibility, collaboration, and creating real opportunities for women to be seen, heard, and supported in business.
In partnership with and sponsored by Bruntwood SciTech
Bruntwood SciTech is the UK’s leading developer of city-wide innovation ecosystems, specialising in environments and workspaces that empower science, tech and innovative companies to form, scale, and grow. Its network connects the UK’s most ambitious cities, regions and innovation communities through collaboration and a unique public, private, academic, clinical partner network.
Community Partner: The Better Business Network
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
The climate is changing - and it risks becoming a crisis. Scientists warn we are close to crossing critical tipping points, food systems are under growing strain, and the UK remains dangerously underprepared. But within emergency is the opportunity for innovation, transformation, and enacting a community-centred just transition.
Bringing together leading actors and innovators from across Manchester's climate tech and sustainability community, this will be an evening of honest conversation to spark creative energy and find common, collective purpose.
Following a screening of the National Emergency Briefing (a landmark film featuring ten of the UK's leading experts on climate, nature, food security, energy and health, first delivered in Parliament), we will shift to solutions: the innovations, businesses and communities already building a better future for people and planet.
Community Partner: People, Planet, Pint
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
This Thursday Gathering, delivered in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Fashion Institute, explores how fashion and textiles are being reshaped by sustainability, regulation and innovation. Bringing together researchers, startups, corporates and organisations including Age UK, the session will examine shifting legislation, supply chain disruption and the rise of regenerative business models. With Manchester’s rich textile heritage as a backdrop, the event will consider how the region can once again play a leading role in the future of materials and manufacturing. Through panel discussion and community dialogue, we’ll explore what a more sustainable, resilient and responsible fashion ecosystem could look like.
In partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Fashion Institute
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
Step into an engaging, thought‑provoking evening designed to help businesses make sense of where AI is heading and what it means for you, your organisation and the wider business landscape.
If you’re curious about AI’s potential but unsure how to navigate the hype, this event will help you cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. Across a creative headline session and two practical workshops, we’ll explore real‑world applications, future‑driven thinking, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
By the end of the event, attendees will be able to:
- Understand contrasting perspectives on AI’s future, recognising both the opportunities and the risks that organisations need to consider.
- Identify practical, real‑world applications of agentic AI across Sales, Marketing and Finance, with clarity on what’s possible today.
- Recognise emerging AI trends that are most likely to influence business growth, innovation and productivity in the coming years.
- Evaluate potential threats and ethical considerations that could impact responsible AI adoption.
- Pinpoint where AI can support their own organisation, from improving workflows to exploring new products and services.
- Take away a clearer starting point for action, including where to begin, what to prioritise, and how to build momentum with responsible AI use.
In partnership with GM Business Growth Hub
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
How is the North positioning itself to be a hub for life sciences innovation? This evening will explore the strengths of the Northern biotech ecosystem. Discussing the growing interests and investments in biotech in this region and showcasing companies and academics who are leading the way in their ground-breaking research, we will highlight exciting opportunities and success stories of translating research into biotech ventures. Join us as we bring together researchers, founders and investors excited to accelerate life science discovery and innovation!
In Partnership with Nucleate
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📍 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
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📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR
What if we could enhance the way our brains learn, heal, and adapt? Neurotechnology is rapidly redefining how we understand and interact with the human brain. We will explore emerging innovations, potential applications, and the transformative impact neurotech may have on health, wellbeing and society. We will highlight cutting-edge research, practical developments, and opportunities for collaboration across the neurotechnology and health innovation ecosystem.
In partnership with Cambridge NeuroWorks
Cambridge NeuroWorks is a pioneering initiative accelerating breakthroughs in brain health by uniting researchers, clinicians and innovators to develop next-generation neurotechnologies. In partnership with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), they support bold ideas that aim to transform the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.
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