Claudia Cavalluzzo

Venture Café Edinburgh launches on Thursday 20 November at Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI).

Powered by Venture Café Global Institute, the world’s leading innovation ecosystem activator, and delivered in partnership with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), Venture Café Edinburgh will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, academics and policymakers.

Its goal is to accelerate collaboration and fuel Scotland’s next generation of breakthrough ventures.

Venture Café Global Institute has activated more than 20 innovation ecosystems across the globe, from Boston and Tokyo to London and Berlin.

Through its signature Thursday Gatherings — regular, inclusive and curated events — the network brings together more than 100,000 innovators each year, creating the connections, collaborations and momentum that drive innovation forward and transform bold ideas into real-world impact.

Claudia Cavalluzzo, director of Venture Café Edinburgh, said: “Venture Café is about opening doors — connecting people, ideas and opportunities that might otherwise never intersect.

“Scotland has incredible research, creativity and entrepreneurial energy. Our role is to amplify that strength by building a vibrant, inclusive community where the best ideas flourish and thrive.

“Isolation is the enemy of innovation; collaboration is its greatest ally.”

Pippy James, chief product officer at ARIA, said: “Breakthroughs happen when different people, ideas and disciplines collide.

“That’s why we’re proud to partner with Venture Café to launch their presence in Edinburgh — creating an open, energising space for Scotland’s world-class innovators.

“This is about providing the environment where founders, researchers and investors can meet, collaborate and spark the next wave of world-changing technologies.”

Professor Marion Thain, director of Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), added: “Edinburgh Futures Institute is delighted to host Venture Café in Scotland.

“As a hub for innovation and academic-industry collaboration across a range of sectors, including traveltech, fintech, creative and public services, EFI is keenly aware of the role universities can play in supporting entrepreneurship and partnerships.

“Hosting Venture Café in Edinburgh aligns with our mission to turn interdisciplinary research and creativity into real-world impact.”