West Midlands entrepreneur Amrit Chandan will headline Venturefest West Midlands as the region’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship gathering returns on Tuesday 10 March at Molineux Stadium.
Born and raised in the West Midlands, Chandan launched his first business with just £500 — prize money he won during his studies at the University of Birmingham. Two decades later, he is a globally recognised clean-tech leader after founding a pioneering company that developed breakthrough methods for reusing and recycling lithium-ion batteries, positioning him at the forefront of sustainable energy innovation.
Now mentoring emerging founders, Chandan will share his entrepreneurial journey with hundreds of innovators, investors and business leaders attending Venturefest WM 2026. The event provides a powerful platform for start-ups and scale-ups to connect with decision-makers, national investors, corporate partners and support organisations.
Co-hosted by the West Midlands Combined Authority and Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands, the event supports Mayor Richard Parker’s regional Growth Plan. It is sponsored by NatWest and Medilink Midlands.
Chandan praised the region’s ecosystem, saying the West Midlands combines “ambition and talent” with strong networks of accelerators, mentors and investors that help entrepreneurs “move faster and think bigger.”
This year marks the first time Venturefest will take place in the Black Country. Alongside keynote speakers and expert panels, attendees can participate in “Pitch Up,” a Dragon’s Den-style competition delivered by Aston University, University of Birmingham Enterprise and Minerva Business Angels, part of the University of Warwick Science Park.
The competition offers a record £15,000 prize, reinforcing Venturefest’s commitment to accelerating regional business growth. Entry is free, but advance booking is required.
