Preston business events bringing tech entrepreneurs and potential funders together

Kiran Mehta (left) and Rob Binns at the first of the LCC ‘fhunded’ events. Pic credit: LCC.

Preston is hosting its first series of ‘fhunded’ events – a Lancashire County Council (LCC) initiative that introduces tech founders to venture capital funding bodies.

LCC hopes to foster collaboration and investment in tech and digital businesses in the county and is urging people to get involved.

Last week, the first Preston-based event saw a packed room of interested founders, support agencies and funders listening to a ‘fireside chat’ with venture capitalist investor Kiran Mehta from Mercia Asset Management and Preston entrepreneur and chief executive of Cotton Court, Rob Binns.

Rob said: “[The] event offered us all a fascinating peek behind the scenes, demystifying the world of venture capital while offering insights and inspiration.

“It is encouraging to see opportunities to develop in and for Preston. With the National Cyber Force opening its HQ on our doorstep [in Samlesbury] within the next year, it is the perfect time to host these conversations and events, and push this agenda forward.”

The series continues with another fireside chat later this month, this time at newly-opened OneCoWork, with Matt Currie from Seneca Partners, hosted by Nikki Whittle, partner at Brabners.

Finally, the series ends with its headline event ‘Founder x Funder’ with a larger scale opportunity for founders to meet relevant funding bodies.

Investment ecosystem manager, Rory Southworth, said: “fhunded coming to Preston is bringing many Northern focused Investors into the city, with their eyes of Preston businesses.

“The fhunded Founder X Funder events create the space for businesses to meet and chat [and show] the massive wealth of opportunities here in the region.”

These events are part of a wider range of activity taking place across Preston to promote an innovation ecosystem, you can find out more about this and more upcoming events on the Invest Preston website.

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