AMBITIOUS businesses and entrepreneurs seeking funding to grow are being offered the opportunity to meet with potential investors and lenders as part of VentureFest Tees Valley.

Taking place on Tuesday, May 22 at Wynyard Hall, VentureFest is a celebration of innovation on Teesside.

The day will be packed with a programme of inspirational keynotes, workshops and a unique chance for growing businesses and entrepreneurs to secure funding through FinanceCamp.

Matched to the needs of individual businesses, a series of ten-minute one-to-one meetings with investors and lenders enables businesses at all stages of growth - large and small, well established and newly launched, commercial and non-profit making - to access the funding they need.

Gary Giles, founder of Teesside-based OGEL, which has prototyped an innovative new building method, said: “FinanceCamp gave us the tools and support we needed to assess our next steps for business growth, opening up a new network of contacts and allowing us to properly understand investor expectations.

"Since then, we’ve been able to take stock and strategically unpick our next steps to seek the right funding for us.

"I’d absolutely recommend businesses to attend.

"Whether they are actively looking for investment or confused as to what the best funding options are for them, the event is a must.”

There will be a spectrum of active investors from outside the Tees Valley area, as well as those from within the region, making FinanceCamp a true one-stop opportunity for businesses to find the funding solution that works for them.

Simon Green, director at VentureFest Tees Valley, said: “Over the last few years we have seen some impressive ideas come out of the region.

"It isn't always easy though for these ideas to secure finance.

"FinanceCamp is a key element of VentureFest Tees Valley, designed to simplify what can be a complex process for growing businesses to secure the funding they need.

"We look carefully at each business who registers to match them with the investors and lenders most suited to the type of finance they’re seeking, maximising their chances of securing funding.

"I’d urge any business or entrepreneur looking to grow their operation, launch a new product or expand to attend VentureFest Tees Valley and register for FinanceCamp.”

Businesses of any size or sector can apply to take part - whether they’re an entrepreneur looking for a £1,000 start-up loan or an established business searching for millions of pounds for growth.

Registtration can be done at venturefest.tv

Working with funding experts from Ward Hadaway and UNW, and as part of the FinanceCamp investor readiness programme, businesses will also be offered a range of support designed to provide investor insight and help with preparing and perfecting their business pitch ahead of the main event.

VentureFest Tees Valley's founding partners are Innovate Tees Valley, Tees Valley Combined Authority and the Knowledge Transfer Network.

It receives funding from the £6.5m Innovate Tees Valley programme, led by Teesside University with partners Nepic, the Materials Processing Institute and Digital City and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund