Stimulating Southern Entrepreneurship

Southampton Science Park was pleased to participate in Venturefest South, the annual Festival of Innovation held at the Ageas Bowl in November. 

The not-for-profit initiative aims to stimulate the South’s innovation ecosystem by working with key partners and influencers to deliver a year-round programme, as well as to organise the annual Festival to showcase the region’s talent. Around 1000 visitors attended this sixth iteration of the event. 

The Science Park was pleased to co-exhibit alongside the University of Southampton, while Business Development Manager, Lucinda Lamont, helped to judge entries to the event’s VFS22 Awards. Gold membership to the Science Park’s Incubation Centre was donated to Harry Twigg of APITeam. 

Lucinda commented: “Over several years, Venturefest has proven to be a valuable addition to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the area. This year, in particular, I was struck by how vibrant our innovation scene is right now and that’s at all levels, from students to established leading light companies. Excellent attendance from the University’s student enterprise was encouraging and proves that there’s sufficient drive, ambition and talent to fuel the pipeline of entrepreneurship, and ultimately the growth, of the South Central region.”

Current and former Science Park companies including Maverick Aviation, KCC Packaging, nquiring minds, and many of the current Catalyst cohort attended. Labl.it was awarded Innovator of the Year.