Activation Partners

More information to follow...

The Future of Neuroscience Innovation

Venture Café are partnering with UCLH to bring together clinicians, researchers, innovators, industry and healthcare leaders to explore emerging technologies and innovations shaping the future of neurological care.

Whether you're a clinician with a problem to solve, a researcher developing the next breakthrough, or an innovator looking to work with the NHS, we'd love to have you join us.

Discover the next wave of innovation at Venture Café Manchester for the regional round of the Tech Osaka Award 2027, hosted in collaboration with Venture Café Tokyo and building on the Sister City partnership between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the City of Osaka.

Watch ambitious UK and international innovators in Bio/Life Sciences and Healthcare, Green Tech, or Digital. live as they compete for a spot on the global stage. Three winning startups will be selected to travel to Japan (with travel and hotel covered) to represent the region at the Tech Osaka Summit 2027 and pitch for up to ¥2 million in grand prize funding.

Join to celebrate Venture Café Edinburgh’s first anniversary in this very special Thursday Gathering! 

Bringing together researchers, innovators, industry leaders and investors from around the globe, this special evening will celebrate the people and partnerships shaping the future of life sciences.

From groundbreaking discoveries to the collaborations bringing science closer to patients, expect inspiring conversations, live showcases and plenty of opportunities to connect with the people driving innovation across the sector.

Unlocking Global Collaboration in Deep Tech and Life Sciences

Running in parallel to London Life Sciences Week Wrap up Reception (and taking place just next door!), join to explore how research, startups and innovation can connect Japan with global ecosystems. Meet pioneering Japanese university-linked startups and hear perspectives from Japan, the UK and Boston on turning research into global impact.

Energy, Gaming and Unlikely Connections

Meaningful ideas and changes are sparked when serendipitous connection collides with intention. The Thursday Gathering is a free, weekly meet-up that connects people from across Edinburgh’s innovation community to make things happen. Every Thursday, we bring together innovators of all backgrounds, from founders and investors to students and researchers, to discuss big ideas and connect human to human.

What happens when bold ideas, breakthrough science and artificial intelligence come together?

Following the AI for Science Summit, Venture Café Manchester opens its doors for a special Thursday Gathering exploring the people, ideas and technologies transforming the future of scientific discovery.

​What kinds of research ideas are best suited to a Focused Research Organisation – and could yours be one of them?

This workshop is for scientists, engineers, founders, and other research innovators with an ambitious idea for addressing a significant scientific or technological bottleneck. It may be especially relevant if you’re exploring a large-scale, engineering-heavy project that doesn’t fit neatly within a university lab, conventional startup, or existing institution.

This event will be held in Glasgow.

Unlocking the Potential of Public-Powered Research

Citizen science is transforming the way we collect data, bringing the public directly into the research process. From monitoring biodiversity and tracking air quality to understanding climate change and public health, community-led data collection offers the potential to expand the scale, reach and diversity of scientific research. As technology creates new opportunities for public participation, citizen science could play an increasingly important role in shaping how we understand and respond to complex real-world challenges.

Join us to discuss how we can build more collaborative, inclusive and trustworthy approaches to data collection that accelerate scientific discovery and drive meaningful change.

Helping neurotech founders protect their IP, find the right space, and build their team.

​Turning a neurotech idea into a company means making big decisions early: protecting your IP, finding the right lab or tech space, and hiring your first people. Pitch. Protect. Grow. brings the experts who can help in one room for a day.

​Everyone is welcome, whether you’re starting a company or want to support those who are.

Sports Tech's Next Decade

What does sports tech look like in 10 years? Leadout brings founders, investors, clubs, athletes and brands into one room to find out.

Join Leadout Innovation alongside industry leaders to share expert insight and bold predictions on performance, health and fan experience, then build the roadmap together live. The best innovation happens collaboratively.

A new wave of breakthroughs is creating extraordinary possibilities to improve the nation’s wellbeing, strengthen economic participation and position the UK as a global leader in mental health innovation. Bringing together leading innovators, researchers, funders and policymakers, this event will explore how to turn that potential into lasting national impact.

Celebrating Innovation + What's Next

Join for a festive end-of-year gathering bringing together founders, investors, corporates, researchers, academics and curious minds from across London's innovation ecosystem for one last event in 2026!

Whether you've had a breakthrough year, learned a lesson the hard way, or are already thinking about what comes next, there's a place for you in the conversation.