Ten early-stage startups from The University of Manchester took to the stage at Manchester Venture Builder Demo Day in October, presenting their businesses to investors, industry professionals and members of Manchester’s entrepreneurial community.

Organised by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre in partnership with Venture Café Manchester, the event welcomed approximately 250 attendees to Sister Manchester’s Renold Building. Following the pitches, founders showcased their businesses, demonstrated their progress and spoke directly with potential partners and collaborators.

For Yoana Kirilova, a University PhD researcher and founder of Built For Skin, those conversations have already led to new opportunities. She arranged ten follow-up meetings with contacts made at Demo Day and is now exploring a potential co-founder arrangement with an experienced industry professional, alongside a possible web development partnership. Further introductions have also opened discussions with a scientific organisation.

“I got a lot of interest in my venture from Demo Day and made many connections,” said Yoana.

Demo Day is an important part of Manchester Venture Builder, an accelerator programme delivered by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre to support students and recent graduates in developing their businesses. Through tailored mentoring, practical workshops and business development support, founders gain the knowledge and experience to test their ideas, address challenges and make progress towards establishing sustainable ventures.

The event also highlighted the value of connecting university entrepreneurship with the wider business community. By helping emerging founders access expertise, build professional relationships and explore opportunities for growth, Venture Builder supports the University’s commitment to developing prosperous communities.

• Find out more about the Manchester Venture Builder programme.