WITH only two days to go to Venturefest York - the region's first-ever free science and technology exhibition and conference for entrepreneurs and business start-ups - there is one last opportunity to get involved.

More than 1,000 people, including entrepreneurs of all ages, those from business start-ups and growing businesses, investors, business angels, venture capitalists and young entrepreneurs from the region's education sector, are expected to gather at the Ebor Stand at York Racecourse on Thursday.

The event is the culmination of a year's organisation, following a visit by York Professional Initiative (YPI) to a similar event in Oxford. With Venturefest Oxford having been established five years ago, YPI felt it was time to have the North's answer to the successful enterprise.

The new Ebor stand, in its five-floor entirety, will be the meeting place for venturers and financiers, and it is hoped that it will inspire at least £1 million-worth of capital injections into brilliant regional corporate ideas. Di Johnson, Venturefest York's sponsorship manager, said she had just one more sponsorship opportunity available. "We would appreciate a commitment of £2,000 to sponsor the 'People's Choice' in the Venturefest York business awards competition," she said.

The event kicks off at 8am at a breakfast seminar with guest speaker Andy Kitchener, who founded e-business solutions company Shopcreator.

The official opening at 9.30am will be by Professor Tony Robards, pro-vice Chancellor of the University of York, Venturefest York chairman, and winner of the 2003 Evening Press Lifetime Achievement Award.

The opening address will be given by Professor Alan Barrell, the entrepreneur in residence at Cambridge University.

Throughout the day there will be four different seminar "tracks", namely Attracting investment, Building The Business, Achieving Success and Enterprise Inspirations.

Enterprise Inspirations will be run by North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership (NYBEP) with Young Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber and the University of York. More than 150 young people from 30 schools and universities across the region will showcase work they have done.

The climax to the event will be a dinner, at which winners of the Venturefest York awards will be announced.

Eight companies will be pitching for investment prizes - the first prize a business support package worth £20,000, including free accommodation at York Science Park and £10,000 in professional advice.

Updated: 09:57 Tuesday, February 03, 2004