Top Startup & Enterprise Festivals 2013 UK & Ireland

by Startacus Admin

Top Startup & Enterprise Festivals 2013 UK & Ireland

Surprisingly as much as startup themed and related events and festivals are often ten a penny, it can be rather hard to find all the UK and Irish based events listed all in the one place.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, we thought it would be a least a good idea to at least get the ball rolling and list all the top Startup & Enterprise Festivals 2013 UK & Ireland.

But here’s where you come in - if you know of other events that you think we should list on the site - comment via the forum (link at the bottom of the post). Perhaps you have plans to run a startup and enterprise event in 2013, or we have missed a glaringly obvious major player from the list. Either way be sure to let us know and we can get the list updated. So, without further ado, here is the list in date order below (we considered alphabetical but thought that was better suited to CD collections in the end...or is that just us...)...

Social Media Week
About: Social Media Week is a worldwide event exploring the social, cultural and economic impact of social media.
We’re not sure as yet if there will be any ‘real life’ physical events for this in February in the UK or lreland, since much of this is online (hence the social media clue, in the name!) However, you should still be able to get involved in some shape or form. This one is held twice a year, so expect the same sort of event when September comes too!
When: Feb 18-22

London Web Summit
About: GeeknRolla (a UK Tech startup event which has been going for a few years, run by Mike Butcher who is one of the key players in Techcrunch) and Dublin Web Summit (a major European Tech Fest) have decided to create the London Web Summit, playing on the name and the obvious success of its Dublin big bro. Although there is not too much info as yet, it should be a must-visit if you are into Technology and Startups...
When: March 1st

Future Everything
About: The FutureEverything Summit of Ideas & Digital Invention is literally about everything! FutureEverything is about innovation in all forms, be it in research, digital media or contemporary arts and music. We hope that makes sense! This year to accompany their conference they are holding a summit designed to showcase a wide range of digital innovation projects from international artists and developers. Oh, and it’s based in Manchester, so easily accessible to those not enamoured with going all the way to London if based in the Northern half of the UK.
When: 21st - 24th March

Healthcare Innovation Expo 2013
About: If you are a healthcare startup or have a healthcare themed idea for a startup, this I assume is a good place to be. Celebrating, promoting and encouraging innovation within health care are the core aims of this 2 day event, so it might pay to take a look at this London based event, which is now in its third year.
When: 13th - 14th March

School for Creative Startups presents the Startup Showcase
About: The Startup Showcase is a two-day creative festival celebrating the best and brightest of London’s new creative startup scene. The event features a truly unique pop-up marketplace with over 100 creative businesses showcasing the hottest new products and services of 2013. There's also dozens of inspiring talks covering need to know topics for aspiring creative entrepreneurs or get your hands dirty at a creative skills workshop. Based in London.
When: 23rd and 24th March

Vice Chancellor’s Celebration of Enterprise - University of Sheffield 
About: They are on the list cause they mentioned it to Startacus! During the week of the Vice Chancellor’s Celebration of Enterprise, they will be celebrating the presence of enterprise right across the University. 
When: 15th - 19th April 

Bacon 2013
About: BACON - is a two day London based tech conference about all things that developers love.... It's a conference that not only focuses on the corporate stuff, the business stuff, but also the techy stuff that developers really like to talk about and work on - all sandwiched (sorry) into two days.
When: 12th and 13th April 

The Startup Career Launchpad
About: How this didn't make the original list we don't know. Now it's on, thanks to a kind Twitter follower and the fact that this is a pretty big beast of an event. Its a Grand Latte of Enterprise events with some cream-of-the-crop speakers and some pretty good partners too. Based in Shoreditch the event is split into two days and is relevant for both the established startup player and the wannabee self starters too. Worth a look. 
When: April 18th and 19th 

Innotech Summit
About: Promising to be different because different is good the Innotech Summit apart from the promise to take you down the road of exploration, intrigue and excitement (I am intrigued now) aims also to bring together the leading Tech startups, VC’s and Angels to network, learn about the latest developments in Hi-Tech, and I am assuming look to splash some cash. It’s about Technology and swapping business cards and is based in London.
When: April 26th

Digital High Street 2013
About: The aim of this two day event based in Halifax, West Yorkshire is to allow and empower retailers to take the digital lead in their towns and High streets going forward. Perhaps the message will be that rather than learning how to survive in the online age, you can indeed learn how to flourish, and still keep a high street presence.
When: 13th and 14th May 

The Digital Shoreditch Festival
The Digital Shoreditch Festival is a large annual celebration which connects thousands of top tier brands, agencies, entrepreneurs and creatives from East London's Tech City and beyond. We also run year round workshops, meetups, contests, networking events and a comprehensive business directory. We're here to strengthen, promote and grow the value of our vibrant community. And not forgetting - Startacus will be there too, telling our little tale and singing from the enterprise songsheet no doubt too! With plans to be the UK SXSW you have to admit Shoreditch is having its moment right now! Hope to see you there. 
When: 20th - 31st May 

EBN Congress 2013
Our first of two Enterprise / Cultural events happening in Derry, Northern Ireland. NORIBIC, The Northern Ireland Business & Innovation Centre and EBN will be taking advantage of the location of Derry~Londonderry as the 2013 UK City of Culture to put on this years EBN Congress attracting international decision-makers, business frontrunners, innovation centres, incubator managers, business analysts and angels, investors, policy-makers, academics and role model in their respective sectors. The 3 dat event will be split into three key themes: Digital, Cultural and Social Innovation.
When: 29th - 31st May 

The Business Startup Show
About: Kinda does what it says on the tin. The Business Startup show is a two day event held in London, focusing on providing a one-stop-shop of information and guidance on starting a business. Loads of exhibitors, loads of seminars and probably loads of companies trying to sell you stuff too!
When: 6-7 June

Culture Tech
About: A mishmash of culture and technology as the name aptly suggests. Now in its second year Culture TECH is a week-long festival of digital technology, media and music and happens in Derry, Northern Ireland. Expect lots of seminars, workshops and activities to do with innovation and enterprise and how this relates with technology and culture. Sitting nicely in the middle of Derry’s City of Culture Year, this festival has really good potential.
When: 9th - 15th Sept

Made Festival
About: This corporate style event manages to draw some of the most well known characters on the entrepreneurial scene. Held over three days in September last year, dates for 2013 are still to be confirmed, however expect more of the same, from panel discussions, to exhibitions, workshops and top draw speakers. With a corporate look and feel this is certainly a mainstay on the startup calendar. Oh -and it’s based in Sheffield.
When: September (TBC)

Dublin Web Summit
About: Europe’s biggest Tech Conference. Speaks for itself really and if you’re interested in Technology, innovation and startups this might be the place to be. They get some great Global guest speakers, showcase new and exciting startups and offer all of the above in terms of seminars, workshops and networking opportunities.
When: Oct 30 - 31st

GEW 2013
About: A global week long celebration of enterprise and Innovation, Global Entrepreneurship Week is back again in November 2013. Launched back in 2008, this ‘festival’ holds events and activities across the Globe (as the name suggests), including in the UK and Ireland and has an ambition to motivate and inspire current and future innovators, creators and startups. It’s big - Global in fact.
When: Nov 18 -24

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Published on: 21st January 2013