At Tech Nation we’re creating a national network connecting ambitious digital tech entrepreneurs across the UK.

Whether you’re a founder looking for connections or support, a stakeholder embedded in a local community or are simply interested in what’s going on in a region, our Entrepreneur Engagement Managers (or ‘EEMs’ for short) are on the ground in towns and cities and ready to help.

In this series of articles, we’re telling you more about our EEMs’ roles and views about tech in the country. Here we speak to Kate Patton, our North East Entrepreneur Engagement Manager based in Newcastle.

Tell us a bit about yourself

Kate Patton: I’m native Texan who has made the north of the UK home, working in the Scottish tech scene for the past decade in a variety of roles – including account management, business development, and commercial consultancy.

I’m passionate about tech and how it can revolutionize lives. My first touchpoint came (and I’m very much dating myself here!) with my undergrad in photography. Halfway through the programme, the first digital SLR from Canon came out – and what a game-changer that proved to be.

I’m constantly curious about disruptive tech and meeting those bright, ambitious, and imaginative individuals that are creating it. That’s why I’m so excited to be part of Tech Nation and more importantly the North East tech ecosystem

What wins have you had since starting? What impact have they made?

I’ve only been in the role for a month having joined remotely. However, I feel that the win has been that I have been welcomed so quickly and warmly by a variety of stakeholders and founders in the North East. This has allowed me to host regional talks with confidence and support from the region, and I very much look forward to deepening and strengthing these relationships going forward.

Have you met any exciting companies?

I have! Wordnerds, Leaf Grow, Tharsus, and Skignz, to name a few. I’m interested in engaging and learning about what other emerging tech is starting to shape the region – such as robotics, space tech, health/age tech, Net Zero, ecommerce, immersive tech, and applied AI.

What challenges are founders facing in your region?

Funding/investment is one of the greatest challenges for my region. Another is helping startups to scale effectively. There are some exciting initiatives and passionate people who are making great strides to change this in the North East and I’m here to support them.