The Future of Entrepreneurship
Wednesday 18th June 2025 | 14:00 onwards | Alliance Manchester Business School
The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) presents an innovative half-day event showcasing the future of entrepreneurship as part of the Alliance Manchester Business School's Festival of Business.
The Festival of Business is a four-day gathering of global business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and change-makers, looking to the future of business and innovation.
Transform Your Entrepreneurial Journey
Register now
Join the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre as we celebrate a half-day of innovation and entrepreneurship. Whether you're an established entrepreneur, aspiring business owner, or investor seeking the next big opportunity, this event offers access to industry leaders, insights, and connections.
What Awaits You
🎯Innovating Tomorrow: Keynote with Dr. Vivek Koncherry 14:00-14:30
(Lecture Theatre G.003, Ground Floor, AMBS)
Dr Vivek Koncherry - Attend an exclusive keynote with the visionary behind Graphene Innovations Manchester who recently secured a billion-dollar investment. Often called "Manchester's Elon Musk," Dr Koncherry will share insights from his remarkable journey as researcher turned successful entrepreneur.
Dr Vivek Koncherry is the CEO and Chairman of Graphene Innovations Manchester Ltd (GIM), a groundbreaking materials science company that is cementing its position at the forefront of graphene technology applications.
🚀 Dynamic Multi-Track Sessions 14:45-15:30
Choose your own pathway with concurrent breakout sessions tailored to your interests:
Breakout Session 1A: Room 3.006, 3rd Floor, AMBS
Supercharging Your Productivity with AI - Discover artificial intelligence tools that will transform how you work and scale your business operations.
- Mohamed Abbas, Venture Builder Manager at The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
- Julia Wardley-Kershaw, Digital Enterprise Officer at The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
Breakout Session 1B: Room 3.009, 3rd Floor, AMBS
Unlocking the Gates to Startup Finance - Join Aurore Hochard, Director of The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, as she hosts an insightful conversation with Dan Sandler, founder of Veridox.ai and Tech Nation competition winner, alongside AMBS alum and angel investor Ranvir Singh. In this candid session, these experienced entrepreneurs will share their honest journeys through the fundraising landscape - one as a serial founder currently raising capital, the other as an investor evaluating opportunities.
- Dan Sandler - Founder & CEO, Veridox.ai
Dan is the Founder and CEO of Veridox, an AI-powered fraud detection platform helping insurers, TPAs, and legal teams uncover fraud through manipulation analysis and claim context evaluation. A former solicitor, Dan has founded several companies with successful exits across tech, motor, and property. He now focuses full-time on building Veridox into a leading platform for forensic fraud detection. - Ranvir Singh - Investment Manager, GC Angels
Ranvir is an investment manager for GCA, an equity investor into early-stage companies in GM. Completely funded by GMCA, GCA invests £50-250k as a co-investor into rounds from £250k - £1.5m. Before joining GCA, Ranvir was an equities trader at Deutsche Bank and Royal Bank of Canada before founding his own B2B SaaS business with £250k angel investment. He exited successfully at Series A after 10 years at a 3.5x multiple, with the company making circa £4m in annual revenue and a head count of 40. Post exit, Ranvir worked as an investment readiness advisor for Innovate UK, helping early-stage businesses raise over £20m in equity investment over 3 years as well as being an Innovate UK assessor for grant competitions.
Learn what investors really look for and how to position your venture for success.
🐝Made in Manchester - Ecosystem Speed Pitching Round 15:45-16:30
(Lecture Theatre G.003, Ground Floor, AMBS)
Connect directly with the powerhouses of Manchester's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Meet the people we work with locally, this includes representatives from:
Chimera Startups | Department | GM Business Growth Hub
Innovate UK | KPMG | Manchester Angels
Manchester Digital | NatWest Accelerator | Praetura Ventures
STFC | Sustainable Ventures
The event will also feature Dr. Rob Martin, Director of MCEL Programmes at The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre. These aren't just networking opportunities - they're potential partnerships that could elevate your venture to the next level. This session will be delivered by Dan Syder, Ecosystem Development Manager at The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
🎙️Entrepreneurs@Manchester Panel 16:45-17:30
(Lecture Theatre G.003, Ground Floor, AMBS)
Moderated by Axel Threlfall - Reuters Editor at Large
Experience a discussion featuring successful entrepreneurs including Farah Kabir, co-founder of HANX, Josiah Edebiri, co-founder of UrbanWatt, and David Levine, Principal at Manchester Angels. Gain insider knowledge from industry leaders who have navigated the challenges and uncertainties you're facing today.
🤝Networking Reception 17:30 onwards
The day concludes with food, drinks, and informal networking—because the best connections often happen over a conversation that extends beyond the formal programme.
Perfect For
✅ Investors seeking promising opportunities and emerging trends
✅ Entrepreneurs looking for practical strategies and inspiration
✅ Business Leaders curious about innovation from The University of Manchester
✅ Students and Graduates ready to take the entrepreneurial leap
✅ Anyone passionate about the future of business and innovation
Why Attend?
This isn't just another business event. It's a carefully curated experience designed to provide you with:
- Actionable insights from industry pioneers
- Direct access to investors and accelerators
- Practical tools for immediate implementation
- Career-defining connections within Manchester's thriving ecosystem
- Exclusive access to opportunities unavailable elsewhere
Limited places available - secure your spot today.
Event Details
📅 Date: Wednesday 18th June 2025
🕐 Time: 14:00 onwards
📍 Venue: Alliance Manchester Business School
🎟️ Ticket Fee: Varied (£5 or £10).
👥 Capacity: Limited spaces available
Register Now
Don't miss this opportunity to transform your entrepreneurial journey.
Ready to connect with the innovators, investors, and industry leaders shaping tomorrow's business landscape?
Discover the Festival of Business
Alliance Manchester Business School’s Festival of Business 2025 from Monday 16 June to Thursday 19 June will feature engaging conversations on the future of business with global business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and future change-makers.
At Innovate 2050 on Thursday 19 June, we’ll be joined by special guests from the BBC, Mr & Mrs Smith, Northern Gritstone, the makers of Adolescence, and more who will discuss the worlds of digitalisation, finance, and media, and how these areas are evolving.
The Festival of Business offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn and remain one step ahead within this rapidly changing world. Find out more and book your tickets.