Hear the business and personal story behind Simworks, founded in Dudley in 2005 and grown to an award-winning manufacturer and supplier of immersive media based attractions to brands worldwide including Dreamworks, Ferrari, Sony Pictures, Marvel, BBC and more.

Learn how maintaining a continual innovative R&D strategy that has seen the introduction of 14 media based attractions into Simworx’s product portfolio.

Hear from business supported by the programmes that formed part of the WM Innovation Accelerator, the different models of support offered and the benefits of participation. Find out how you can get involved with the extended programmes in the coming year.

Innovation is a key driver of growth for businesses and for the region, underpinned by a rich and diverse offer of innovation support. Find out how new regional and local innovation support strategies are being shaped to serve different business need; how public and private funding are coming together to deliver new offers; and how businesses can benefit from engaging with innovation support.

Hear how local businesses have benefited from collaborations and new markets through engaging with Horizon Europe and other European Programmes. Discover how the region's success in reaching the final of 2024 EU Capital of Innovation competition will open numerous avenues for the WM innovation stakeholders to build fruitful new partnerships in Europe.

One approach to development and scaling of early-stage businesses is through collaboration between corporations and start-ups who have useful technology or approaches. Find out about different ways that founders can build these relationships to identify challenges and opportunities; gain access to vital resources and markets; and/or to support their business growth.

You may think you are offering a great product or service, but unless you design and market it from a customer/ user perspective it may never be a commercial success. Hear from businesses that were transformed by rebranding or redesign as well as some of the creative experts there to help you.

To maximise the benefit of our rich socio-ecomonic diversity in the West Midlands, how do we ensure the full diversity of innovators and entrepreneurs get the chance and access to networks and support to enable exploitation of their ideas and technologies, as well as encouraging innovation and enterprises that serve diverse users.

The Grand Finale of the day when the finalists, who have made it through the earlier heats of the Minerva PitchUp competion, pitch their businesses and YOU get to decide the final winner for 2025!