Barclays Eagle Labs has partnered with Venturefest South (VFS) to launch VFS Connects, a dedicated digital portal integrated within Barclays Demo Directory. This partnership creates a direct pipeline for the Venturefest South innovation community to connect with a curated network of over 1100 verified investors and corporate partners.
Through VFS Connects, founders can build comprehensive digital profiles showcasing their core technologies, business models, and growth metrics. The platform cuts through traditional networking and systemic barriers by allowing investors to filter opportunities precisely by sector, funding stage, and strategic fit, while corporates can leverage the directory to connect with emerging technology firms and seal partnerships.
For Black and African founders, this integration provides a mechanism to bypass traditional bias and geographic barriers that have historically limited access to venture capital. By combining Venturefest South’s zero-cost regional exhibition platform with the Barclays Demo Directory, Black tech entrepreneurs gain a merit-based visibility engine. This visibility directly complements Barclays’ broader ecosystem initiatives, such as the Barclays Black Founder Accelerator and the Black Venture Growth Programme, creating a seamless pathway from diverse-led incubator spaces straight into a high-intent investor pipeline.
Established in 2023 to solve funding challenges such as geography and limited visibility, which disproportionately impact underrepresented entrepreneurs, the Barclays Demo Directory has quickly evolved into an enabler of strategic investments. In 2024, Beauhurst reported that 9.1% of all UK startups that raised capital utilised the platform.
Ed Gould, Chair at Venturefest South, said: “Venturefest South has always been about creating meaningful connections between the people building innovative businesses and the investors, organisations and partners who can help them grow. This collaboration with Barclays allows us to extend those connections beyond the festival itself. Our innovator community will have another opportunity to put their businesses in front of relevant investors and corporates, while our 2026 cohort will benefit from increased exposure in the run-up to VFS26. It adds real value to being part of the Venturefest South community and strengthens our ambition to support innovation and business growth across the Central South.”
Benjamin Storey, Head of Barclays Demo Directory at Barclays Eagle Labs, said: “We’re delighted to support Venturefest South through this collaboration, helping innovative businesses across the South Coast gain greater visibility with investors, corporates, and commercial partners. By bringing the Venturefest South community onto the Barclays Demo Directory, we’re creating a strategic pathway for ambitious founders to access funding, build valuable connections and explore new market opportunities. Together, we’re strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem and helping more businesses accelerate their growth journey.”
