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ENTREPRENEUR WHO STARTED HIS FIRST BUSINESS AT AGE OF 14 IS NAMED AS THE HOST OF EVENT
VENTUREFEST manchester 2017 has confirmed entrepreneur and investor Professor vikas Shah as the host of this year’s event.
Professor Shah started his first business at the age of 14 and is now Ceo of Swiscot Group, as well as co-founding and investing in businesses from biotech fields to feature films.
He is professor of entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan in Lisbon and was recently awarded an Honorary Professorship at the University of manchester.
Prof Shah said: “I’ve been involved in entrepreneurship for over 20 years, and three of the most important factors in success are building strong networks, learning from others’ experiences and harnessing the latest innovations.
“venturefest allows you to do this, and brings together entrepreneurs, professionals and investors at scale, encouraging them to mix, interact and create serendipity. I’m hugely excited to be a part of this fantastic event.”
The competition also allows entrepreneurs to share their stories, something Prof Shah is passionate about having founded the journal Thought economics – read in over 120 countries – where he has interviewed future-shaping entrepreneurs including Sir Richard Branson, Sir James Dyson, John Sculley, will.i.am, Steve Ballmer, Donna Karan and Steve Case.
Prof Shah will be joined at venturefest manchester 2017 by the mayor of Greater manchester Andy Burnham, who will open the event with a speech welcoming all the attendees, and headline speaker Lasse Sørensen, senior business advisor at vaekstkonsulent, who has extensive experience with business start-ups in his native Denmark.
mr Burnham said: “I’m delighted so many businesses, entrepreneurs and investors are coming together in manchester. our strong track record of supporting business to succeed makes this the perfect place for an event like venturefest. This event will strengthen Greater manchester’s place at the forefront of innovation and move us closer to becoming the best place to live, work and invest in.”