manchester

Silicon Mingle returns to canal-side Lock 91 for its last-Wednesday-of-the-month tech networking evening. No panels, no pitches, no presentations — just relaxed conversation with people from across Manchester's tech scene, from founders and freelancers to investors and operators. The Manchester crew includes David Levine (founder of Manchester Angels), angel investor and exited founder Vladimir Mulhem, and community leads across analytics, marketing and sustainability. Good for anyone curious about the local ecosystem who wants to make genuine connections over a drink on the terrace.

THE networking evening for Manchester's tech entrepreneurs, investors and startup founders. Brought north after 70+ sold-out London editions and a 3,000-strong community, this high-calibre format gathers operators, angels and VCs in a relaxed setting at The Anthologist on St Peter's Square. A recent AI Pitch Night drew 100 top operators including YC, Antler and Entrepreneur First founders alongside leading angel and VC investors. Informal networking over drinks (non-alcoholic welcome drink included), 6-9pm, business smart-casual.

A relaxed networking evening for the people driving healthtech innovation in Manchester: startup founders, medtech engineers, clinicians, researchers, developers and investors working on technology that improves health, wellbeing and clinical outcomes. Whether you are building a digital health platform, working with wearables, or developing AI tools for diagnostics, this is a no-pressure space for meaningful conversations (non-alcoholic welcome drink included). Part of Network One's wider UK network of tech-driven communities.

with Brian Wang (Programme Director, Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)) · Dr Parsa Pirhady (Postdoctoral Researcher in Breast Cancer Prevention, University of Manchester / Nucleate) · Jacob Thompson (Chief Scientific Officer, ADDER-VAX Ltd) + 1 more

This week's Venture Café Thursday Gathering, delivered with ARIA, explores its Sculpting Innate Immunity Opportunity Space, bringing researchers, founders and innovators together to look at how world-leading biological research becomes breakthrough therapies and companies. The headline panel, 'Turning Complex Biology into Commercial Reality', features Brian Wang (Programme Director, ARIA), Dr Parsa Pirhady (University of Manchester / Nucleate), Jacob Thompson (CSO, ADDER-VAX) and Andrew Ruffler (Director, Venture Café Manchester), on the challenges of moving from the lab to the marketplace. Pizza, networking and 60-second lightning pitches throughout. Free, no registration required to attend.

Venture Cafe Manchester's weekly Thursday Gathering asks how we build a future where commercial success and community impact go hand in hand. Social value is no longer a CSR checkbox but a driver of funding, procurement and cross-sector partnership. As a neutral ecosystem convener, Venture Cafe brings together mission-driven founders, public-sector buyers, procurement leads and investors to break down silos and spark practical collaboration across Greater Manchester. Free, open and inclusive; at SISTER, Renold Building.