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The Shepherd’s Bush Comedy Festival has announced a new technology-focused addition called Gigglebyte, which will feature a series of tech talks, workshops, panel discussions and events.
The festival, which is aimed at residents, entrepreneurs, start-ups and those working in the tech and creative sectors, has been launched in a bid to cement Hammersmith and Fulham’s
spot as a leading tech and creative hub in London following the launch of the council’s industrial strategy last summer, which aimed to make the borough the best place to do business in Europe.
Gigglebyte has been created to “harness the power of comedy and humour to inspire and support entrepreneurs”.
In particular, organisers Upstream hope that the festival will help to tackle sexism in start-up investment. The festival will be offering female entrepreneurs the opportunity to enrol in stand-up comedy lessons, with business and humour coach Sarah Archer, as a way of improving their investor pitching.
“We are delighted to announce the arrival of Gigglebyte, which marks a major step forward in realising our ambition to make Hammersmith and Fulham a leading tech and creative destination in London,” said Prema Gurunathan and Jenni Young, joint Managing Directors of Upstream.
“Gigglebyte will fuse comedy with tech to blur boundaries, challenge creativity and create new opportunities for collaboration – while providing laughter along the way.
“The festival will draw on the borough’s existing creative heritage and growing tech credentials, which includes the burgeoning White City innovation district, which is home to some of the most exciting tech, creative and media companies in the UK, including; YOOX NET-A-PORTER, OneWeb, BBC Studios, ITV and White City House.
“We’re particularly keen to equip more female entrepreneurs with the skills they need to pitch with confidence and we’re delighted that Sarah Archer will be demonstrating how the art of stand up can help with pitching to investors.”
