Thursday Gathering
You belong at Venture Café. Yes, you.
Meaningful ideas and big changes are sparked when serendipitous connection collides with intention. Every week at our flagship program, the Thursday Gathering, we connect creators, entrepreneurs, investors, coworkers, students and visionaries to build strong, inclusive and equitable innovation ecosystem.
No matter your industry, aspirations or background, there’s a place and a purpose for you at Venture Café. So, welcome! We can’t wait to meet you.
You belong at Venture Café. Yes, you.
We believe that innovation is a process to improve the human condition. Every week at Venture Café, we connect creators, entrepreneurs, investors, coworkers, students and visionaries to build strong, inclusive, equitable innovation ecosystems in cities throughout the world. We believe that meaningful ideas and big changes are sparked when spontaneity collides with intention, so we provide you with high-touch programming, engaging meeting spaces, expansive storytelling opportunities and digital learning environments that reduce barriers and enable the greatest impact.
No matter your industry, no matter your aspirations, no matter your background, there’s a place and a purpose for you at Venture Café. So, welcome! We can’t wait to meet you.
Our Credo
Make yourself at home
Be welcoming and friendly… and help keep the place tidy.
Be inclusive
The community thrives because we welcome participants without regard to color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or disability.
Be interested
Learn about other guests’ projects, explore new perspectives, consider the absurd. Ask yourself how can I help?
Connect responsibly
We are not a bar, this is not a happy hour. If you think it is, you are in the wrong place.
No hard sales!
Innovation is about top level thinking, not bottom line outcomes. Focus on building relationships that will last.
Have fun!
Challenge yourself to think outsides of your norms and grow. Be willing to provide constructive feedback and share your ideas.
View our upcoming and past events
Tech with Purpose: Driving ROI, Social Impact and Talent Growth in Manchester
Venture Café Manchester: One Year On
GROW AI: From Innovation to Adoption in Greater Manchester
Ambitious Science, New Models: Focused Research Organisations & the UK Funding Landscape
Innovation Festival 2026: Manchester Venture Builder Demo Day
Shaping the Future of Women’s Health: Tech, Equity & Innovation
Built Locally, Scaling Globally: The Essential Guide to Expanding and Scaling in the U.S
Make The Case: How Great Ideas Win Support
The Next Move: Where Innovation Goes Next
Summer Pause – No Gathering This Week Thursday Gathering
Summer Pause – No Gathering This Week Thursday Gathering
The Art of Creating: Cultivating Your Creative Edge
Beyond Profit: Innovation for Social Value
Sculpting Innate Immunity: New Vistas for Health
From Pitch to Partnership
