About you
Previously I was CEO of Ignite, one of Europe’s first accelerator programmes, and more recently was part of the management team at Hyperloop One. I’m the founder of Newcastle Tech Trust, a private sector initiative to provide support for tech startups and scaleups in North East England, and CEO and co-founder of a B2B startup called Ricochet.
Unique to Newcastle?
There’s a really exciting scene developing around ageing and how technology can help tackle societal challenges. We’ve a huge opportunity to focus on this sector and create a new multi-disciplinary, multi-generational network of entrepreneurs, investors and research in the region.
Strengths & Challenges
We have a significant challenge in identifying and growing angel investment in the region, and ensuring there is informed education about how investments in the tech sector are structured. We need every startup and scaleup founder to support the next generation of entrepreneurs, and recognise the most efficient way to improve the region’s fortunes is by ensuring every new founder has access to informed support and best practice.