Digital World 2014
Doing Business with Data
at Millennium Point, Birmingham
on Tuesday 6 May 2014 [Participants]
Evening reception talks from 5:30-9pm
Focus of the event
Big data. Open data. The potential for creating innovative businesses seems limitless. Our communities are looking for useful solutions to complex issues such as mass transit flow, better health systems and effective portals that help us work in new ways.
The Digital World speakers will show how big and open data can be used by individuals and by companies looking to grow. The event is open to all: to those who create, visualise and analyse our data universe; to those seeking new business ideas or research; to those who rebel as well as revel in the opportunities big data brings.
Confirmed Speakers
Steffan Aquarone is an entrepreneur and co-founder of mobile money app Droplet, which lets you load money onto your phone and send payments to anyone for free. His projects involve disruptive business models and collaboration between large groups, and include the feature film Tortoise in Love, which involved an entire village in Oxfordshire.
Caroline Beavon is a former broadcast journalist who now specialises in data journalism, infographics and visualisations. She works with a wide range of companies (including local authorities, SME's, charities, technology corporations, emergency services and publishers) to help them communicate efficiently through online and printed materials. She specialises in public-facing data and press/PR graphics.
Robin Vickers is Founder and Executive Director of Digital Life Sciences, which won Start-Up and NHS Partnership Awards from Medilink West Midlands in 2013. He is driven to stimulate economic growth by developing digital tools including Healthcare Without Walls and the NHS Information Revolution, and advised on digital activation of NHS London for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Vicky Sargent is leading the Making a Difference with Data programme, directs Boilerhouse Media, and leads digital projects for public and private sector organisations. She is a member of the Department of Communities and Local Government Data Panel, Birmingham City Council’s Smart City Commission, and the Society of Information Technology Management's Better Connected and Website Performance service team. She just published Do You Do Digital?
Max Little is a Lecturer at Aston University and will cover "Crowdsourced medical research: engaging people, opening up the science". He has a background in applied mathematics, statistics, signal processing and computational engineering, and tackles complex problems in biomedicine and geosciences using multidisciplinary quantitative approaches.
Andrew Mackenzie is a Freelance researcher and member of the West Midlands Open Data Forum steering group, Cabinet Office Open Data User Group and founder of the West MIdlands Open Data User Group aka Open Mercia. His current projects include a documentary on Open Data, for which he is interviewing people in the open data world including developers, policy makers and activists.
Andy Cowin is co-organising this event with Science Capital, and we welcome your suggestions for speakers as well as enquiries about supporting this and future events.
Schedule
Business plan pitching by Juma El-Awaisi and Style Squid from 4-5:30pm. Expert review panel includes Phil Waller , Giles Brindley, Richard Miner and Geoffre Beanland.
Open Data Forum with Andrew Mackenzie from 3-5pm.
The canape and drinks reception starts at 5:30pm.
Talks begin at 6pm, and are followed by lively panel discussions.
Dinner and dessert will be served from 8-9:30pm.
Free drop-in clinic
Mazars is offering a clinic for innovative companies or their owners to discuss any tax or accounting issues with an expert. The clinic will be held on May 6 between 3 - 5:30pm at Millennium Point Room MP381 (in the atrium by the elevators). Mazars are the 5th largest firm of accountants and tax advisers in Europe and work with a number of innovative companies, both large and small, across all business sectors. No appointment is necessary. If you would like to take advantage of this offer but cannot attend on this day, please do not hesitate to contact Peter Jelfs at peter.jelfs@mazars.co.uk or 0121 232 9585 to arrange a more convenient time.
Register Now
Tickets are fully refundable until 2 weeks before the event.
Note: There are instructions for paying with a credit card here.
Business Plans
Participants are invited to present their plans at Science Capital events for a free private consultation during the afternoon with a panel of legal, business, financial and investment advisors who are experienced in developing commercialisation strategies.
Pro-bono support is available to presenters from firms including FD Solutions, Mazars, HGF, Quarto Perspective and Wragge & Co.
Prizes of up to £2000 are available from the Technology Strategy Board and will be given to the best teams giving sound plans and convincing presentations. Places are limited. Register below soon to secure your place.
Growing Businesses?
Before the evening talks we offer an afternoon business plan session where you can present your business plan in private to experts and receive expert advice. Plus £2000 from the TSB is being given away to the best teams and plans.
Academics and directors of small companies and start-ups give a talk (free 1 minute pitch or 5 minute presentation) followed by a round-table discussion and 1-1 feedback from professional experts.
Our advisors provide pro bono follow-up consultations to help you get your ideas off the ground.
Tell your story
Interviews are videotaped and reports delivered to our partners in the press including The Information Daily, thanks to the generosity of our partners.
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