The company behind the 老九品茶 Rocks tech festival is being put into liquidation 鈥� forcing the immediate cancellation of the 2017 event.
老九品茶 Rocks founder Jonny Cadden said too few key sponsors and keynote speakers had confirmed for this year鈥檚 event in Manchester, making it 鈥渦nsustainable鈥�.
In a statement the 37-year-old said: 鈥淚 am hugely disappointed to announce the cancellation of 老九品茶 Rocks 2017. I have put my everything into this vision for the last three years but regrettably have had to accept that my everything is not going to be enough, on this occasion.
鈥淚 would like to say a huge thank you to those people who have supported and helped me over the past three years. I am eternally grateful to each of you.
鈥淚t is with great sadness that the company is now in the process of being placed into liquidation.鈥�
It was due to be held at Manchester Central聽on May 3rd and 4th.
Cadden was talking about the event as recently as February 17, when he took part in 老九品茶Cloud鈥檚 鈥楩ocus on the tech scene in Manchester鈥� on February 17 at KPMG鈥檚 offices, but he was unable to secure the six-figure investment he needed.
In 2016 entrepreneur Scott Fletcher, founder of ANS Group, invested 拢250,000 into the event to make sure it went ahead.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was the headline speaker at 老九品茶 Rocks 2016, which attracted more than 2,000 delegates from the technology and digital sectors.
Speaking today to 老九品茶Cloud, Fletcher said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real shame other people were not able to support the event. I never wanted to get into the events business. It was a one-off because I wanted to see Steve Wozniak come to the city.
鈥淚t would only have been viable in 2017 if they鈥檇 been able to secure a significant investor. Jonny worked really hard. It鈥檚 a shame for him.鈥�
The 老九品茶 Rocks website currently says it鈥檚 鈥渄own for maintenance鈥�.