Speakers confirmed as Venturefest heads to the Black Country

Entrepreneur Amrit Chandan was born and raised in the West Midlands and started his first business with £500 he won in a competition while studying at University of Birmingham.

Fast forward two decades and he is now a successful, globally recognised businessman after starting a trailblazing company that developed a way of reusing or recycling lithium-ion batteries.

Amrit, now a mentor for up-and-coming entrepreneurs, will share his story with hundreds of people attending Venturefest West Midlands, which takes place at Wolverhampton’s Molineux Stadium on Tuesday 10 March.

Venturefest West Midlands is the largest gathering of its kind in the region, offering entrepreneurs and innovators a unique opportunity to connect with influential decision-makers, national investors, partners and support organisations.

The event supports Mayor Richard Parker’s Growth Plan and will be co-hosted by West Midlands Combined Authority and Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands. It is sponsored by NatWest and Medilink Midlands.

Entry is free but places must be booked in advance at www.venturefestwm.co.uk.

Dr Amrit Chandan is the keynote speaker at Venturefest West Midlands 2026 in Wolverhampton.

Amrit said: “I’m a West Midlands founder through and through. This region has the ambition and the talent, and when you combine that with the networks here, the accelerators, mentors and investors, you get a community that genuinely helps entrepreneurs move faster and think bigger.”

Pam Sheemar, NatWest’s regional accelerator director, Midlands, South West and Wales, said: “Venturefest WM 2026 is a brilliant platform for entrepreneurs to raise their profile, strengthen their pitching skills and build the connections that can accelerate growth.

“The West Midlands is home to exceptional talent and ambition, and this event brings founders, investors, industry and support partners together in a way that creates real momentum for innovative businesses.

“Small businesses are central to economic growth in this region and across the UK. Through our support for the Catalyst Room and our wider Accelerator, we are committed to helping entrepreneurs access the networks, insight and practical support they need to scale with confidence, turning strong ideas into sustainable businesses, skilled jobs and long-term regional impact.”

This year’s Venturefest is taking place in the Black Country for the first time, and attendees will hear from more inspirational speakers alongside Amrit Chandan as well as panel discussions and plenty of networking opportunities.

Running alongside Venturefest WM for another year will be Pitch Up: a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style competition for business owners, run by the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Aston University, University of Birmingham Enterprise and Minerva Business Angels, part of the University of Warwick Science Park.

This year’s £15,000 cash prize for the winner is the biggest in the competition’s history.