A series of informative roadshows designed especially for early-stage startups and founders are underway across Greater Manchester this summer.
The free Startup Activator roadshows launched with an event in Urmston yesterday (July 23), with further roadshows across the region throughout the summer.
Manchester Digital, the region’s tech industry body, was awarded funding in April from the Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the free workshops are the first events in a year-long planned schedule of activity.
Katie Gallagher OBE, managing director at Manchester Digital, said: “The Startup Activator workshops are the first stop for founders right across our city region to find out about the ongoing support for startups that we’re rolling out.
“This year-long programme for startups has been designed by experts and former founders to give a real boost to the region’s startup landscape, and ensure they are fully equipped with the support and knowledge they need to grow and scale-up.”
Alice Pickersgill, who has recently joined Manchester Digital to deliver this programme, added: “We’re so pleased to offer a free workshop across Greater Manchester, which are designed to be able to reach founders and entrepreneurs from all areas, at all stages and from all types of diverse backgrounds.”
Amanda Allan, Director of Barclays Eagle Labs, said: “We’re really excited to work closely with Manchester Digital on this expansion of their Startup Activator programme, supporting businesses across the whole of Greater Manchester.
“Using our Ecosystem Partnership Programme, we’re allocating funding to organisations like Manchester Digital who are already plugged into their regional ecosystems. We are proud to be able to support these projects which are designed to help early-stage tech entrepreneurs. This ensures our on-going commitment to support the tech sector which is vital to the continued growth of local economies across the whole of the UK.”
The roadshow workshops are open to anyone with an idea or interested in starting a tech business, those with an existing business considering a tech spin-out, as well as those with an existing tech startup looking for guidance and a support community. The roadshows will feature a workshop on the key foundations for growth delivered by our Startup Coach; an interactive breakout session for the attendees to review and bounce ideas off each other; and an opportunity to learn more about phase 2 of the support.
Phase 2 of the programme will launch in October to support 100 businesses over a six-month period via a cohort programme featuring a series of webinars and on-demand content, mentoring, expert masterclasses, a community of other founders, and introductions to further support across the region.
The programme offers fully-funded support for 200 startups and founders, over an initial period of 12 months. The Startup Activator programme was launched in 2023, supported by Bruntwood SciTech, TLT, Kao Data and Zoho, to provide free support to startups from their idea stage to early traction – offering resources, mentorship and community connections.
Dates for the upcoming Startup Activator roadshows are:
- Manchester city centre, July 25
- Oldham, August 8
- Bolton, September 4
- Bury, September 5
- Tameside, September 10
- Rochdale, September 11
- Stockport, September 12
A date for Wigan will be announced shortly. All attendees must book a free space using Eventbrite, where you can also find exact locations and further details.
