Five fully funded, exclusive Innovator spaces reserved for businesses working across space, maritime and defence, as Venturefest South celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Solent Freeport has agreed a new partnership with Venturefest South for 2026, approved by the Solent Freeport Board in July, helping ambitious businesses access new connections and opportunities as the region’s Festival of Innovation celebrates its 10th anniversary.
As part of the partnership, Solent Freeport will fund five Innovator spaces for businesses working across space, maritime, and defence, giving selected businesses the opportunity to showcase their work at Venturefest South’s landmark 10th anniversary Festival of Innovation.
Taking place on Wednesday 18 November at the Utilita Bowl, Southampton, the Festival will bring together founders, startups and growing businesses with investors, corporate leaders, universities, researchers, and organisations supporting innovation and business growth.
The five successful applicants will have the opportunity to put their innovations in front of this audience, build new relationships and explore potential routes to investment, collaboration and commercial growth.
The initiative builds on a long-standing relationship between Solent Freeport, Venturefest South and a shared commitment to strengthening the region’s innovation economy by connecting ambitious businesses with the people and opportunities that can help them progress.
This year represents a major milestone for Venturefest South. Over the past decade, the programme has engaged more than 50,000 innovators and businesses and helped generate more than £250 million in opportunities, while building a network spanning businesses, investors, universities, public sector organisations, and innovation partners across the South.
Brian Johnson, Independent Chair of Solent Freeport, said: “The Solent has enormous strengths in sectors such as maritime, defence and space, but turning great ideas into growing businesses depends on creating the right connections and opportunities.
“That is why we are pleased to launch this new partnership with Venturefest South in its 10th anniversary year. For a decade it has brought innovators, investors, businesses and support organisations together and given ambitious companies a platform to be seen and heard.
“By funding five Innovator spaces this year, we hope to give some of the region’s emerging businesses the opportunity to showcase what they can do, make valuable connections and take another step forward in their growth.”
Ed Gould, Chair of Venturefest South, said: “Ten years of Venturefest South has shown us what can happen when you get the right people in the same room. Ideas find investment, businesses find customers, collaborations start and people make connections that can completely change what happens next”.
Venturefest South’s 10th anniversary Festival of Innovation will celebrate a decade of innovation across the South while looking ahead to the businesses, technologies and partnerships that will shape the region’s next chapter.
Businesses working across space, maritime, and defence are now invited to apply for one of the five fully funded Innovator spaces supported by Solent Freeport. Applications close 24 September 2026.
To apply, businesses should contact Solent Freeport directly at [email protected]. Successful applicants will then be confirmed with Venturefest South ahead of the Festival.
Solent Freeport will also have its own stand at the Festival of Innovation, where the team will be sharing more about the impact it is making across the region and the opportunities available to businesses. Anyone attending the Festival is encouraged to come along, meet the team, and find out more about Solent Freeport’s work across the Solent.
Tickets for Venturefest South’s 10th anniversary Festival of Innovation are available now at venturefestsouth.co.uk. Businesses interested in exhibiting can find out more and book their space at venturefestsouth.co.uk/exhibit-at-vfs.
For more articles like this, visit our Innovation channel.
