Tech Nation, the national growth platform for UK tech companies, has unveiled plans to relaunch at Birmingham Tech Week on 16 October 2023.
Tech Nation as we knew it shuttered up in March after the government pulled its core funding, however the brand was rescued by Founders Forum Group the following month. Tech Nation seeks to unite the UK’s tech community and fight for a better environment for the UK’s tech start-ups and founders.
Carolyn Dawson OBE, CEO of Founders Forum Group, will give a keynote address at the Tech Leadership Breakfast – the official opening of Birmingham Tech Week – laying out her vision for the future of the industry champion.
Dawson said: “Our mission is to build a world in which all tech entrepreneurs have access to the knowledge and communities they need to succeed. Tech Nation 2.0 will champion all kinds of tech founders, highlighting their needs and fighting for our incredible industry from seed stage to success story.”
The formerly government-funded organisation will continue to provide growth and a network for founders from seed stage through education, events, scaleup programmes, and research. Tech Nation continues to act as the endorsing body for digital technology applications under the Global Talent route, and applications continue to be processed as normal while the Home Office works to confirm the long-term option for the endorsement of digital technology applications.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said: “The UK is an unrivalled hub for the very best in technology startups. Tech Nation can play a huge role in helping those businesses grow, as we cement the UK’s status as a science and tech super power by 2030.”
FF Group co-founder & chair Brent Hoberman addedd: “By bringing back Tech Nation, we can act as a lighting rod to support the UK’s most exciting businesses and founders, bringing together a full spectrum of brilliant talent and growing a new generation of global powerhouse companies.
“At a time when cities and markets around the world are competing for the best and brightest, we will help the UK continue its momentum as the European magnet for technology entrepreneurs.”
To date, over 40 cohorts and 1,000 companies have successfully graduated from Tech Nation’s growth programmes. Alumni include Skyscanner, Darktrace, and Monzo, as well as three of the UK’s ‘decacorns’: Revolut, Wise, and Farfetch. To date, Tech Nation support has generated £600m of Gross Value Added for the UK economy.
Tech Nation will relaunch with the following core products:
- The Climate Programme will support climate tech startups through world-class advisory curated by entrepreneurs and offer direct access to investors, multinational corporations, thought leaders, and policy makers to scale emissions-reducing technologies, foster investment, drive adoption of green solutions, and shape climate-friendly policies for a sustainable future.
- The Libra Programme will amplify and connect underrepresented founders and provide them with the knowledge, connections, and tools to scale their tech startups. It will offer access to funding opportunities and connections to investors and mentors.
- Future Fifty is a scaling programme for the most promising UK-based technology ventures. Established as the nation’s most prestigious programme for ambitious founders and their leadership teams, the programme’s new ambition is to showcase and celebrate the best of British tech while providing founders access, growth, and a community that fosters founder wellbeing.
- Rising Stars is Tech Nation’s pitch competition for early-stage tech startups. Rising Stars will offer a platform to showcase tech startups at a local, regional, and national level. This exposure will significantly boost their brand visibility, attract potential customers, partners, and investors.
Concurrently, Tech Nation’s Research & Insights arm will continue to produce data-driven reports on the UK’s tech ecosystem and equip scaleup founders with the broader industry knowledge they need to grow game-changing businesses.
