Tech East

Exciting News! Last week, we kicked off the launch of the Norfolk FinTech Report 2024 in style! Hosted by Fuel Studios Norwich , the event was buzzing with #FinTech and #Insurance enthusiasts, alongside local entrepreneurs and regional stakeholders eager to dive into the latest insights. And now, the wait is over! We're thrilled to unveil the Norfolk FinTech Report 2024, showcasing Norfolk's rise as one of the UK's leading InsurTech hubs outside of London. Plus, get ready for some big predictions - the emerging FinTech cluster could soar to a whopping £100M within the next three years! Here's a glimpse of what you'll find in the report: Norfolk boasts 24 FinTech firms, collectively securing a remarkable £49M in investments. Did you know? Norfolk shines with a high proportion of female FinTech founders, surpassing any other region in England, outside London, with a remarkable 17%! Download your copy here: Norfolk FinTech Report 2024 https://lnkd.in/eWcws9nY Explore more on how Tech East is shaping the Future of FinTech for Norfolk: Discover here https://lnkd.in/eVajuPHf None of this would be possible without the incredible support and dedication from numerous individuals and organisations. A huge shoutout to Norfolk County Council for their funding via the Norfolk Investment Framework, and a heartfelt thank you to the amazing team at Whitecap Consulting , Julian Wells, and Josh Dracup. Special thanks to all the individuals and organisations involved in making this project a reality. Your support has paved the way for the development of Norfolk's vibrant FinTech ecosystem, and we're just getting started! Lisa Perkins, Fiona Lettice, Chris Sargisson, John Dugmore, Tim Robinson, Katie Snell, Shân Millie, Devon Struthers, Ricky Cowan, Roberta Willner, Steve Davidson, Paul Mace, Ben Luckett, Lucia Murgie, Anna Douglas, Raphael Markellos, James Allen, Scott Cogman, Mark Saunders, Amelia Brackenbury-Read, Max Mason-Gransby, Yahia Abdelkarim, Sai Venkat Reddy Guduru, Oliver Howard, Rachel Prew, James Charles Adams, Kirsty Jarvis, Janine Hirt, James Blower, Charlie Wright Let's continue to champion Norfolk FinTech on a national scale!

From World Summit AI in Doha to Global AI Show in Dubai! I have joined Aya Aker to share the great work we are doing at 1956 Individuals and how it can transform customer engagement. A great example is streamlining event check-ins. This morning’s lengthy check-in process highlighted how tech events need to embrace tech better. With 1956 Individuals, we can: • Speed up check-ins with barcode scanning. • Answer delegate questions in real time and in their language. • Elevate the attendee experience with seamless AI-powered interactions. Conference highlight so far is a talk called ‘Smart Rivals: How Innovative Companies Play Games That Tech Giants Can’t Win’ by Harvard Professor Feng Zhu. Based on 15 years of research - showing that amplifying a strong competitive advantage is crucial. The example used was Domino's which is first a tech company. Their growth in stocks outperformed the tech giants since 2010 and their innovation started with a pizza tracker online, to now being able to order through 15 different channels such as Messenger and your TV. It is now using AI to predict if you are likely to order pizza! Looking forward to more case studies and conversations over the next 2 days! If you’re here or curious about bringing AI innovation to your business, let’s connect. #ArtificialIntelligence #AIInnovation #EventTech #AIWithHeart

Following on from last week’s UK Tech News event in #Norwich here is the full write-up. It was a fantastic evening investigating the opportunity to further unlock the potential of Norfolk and Suffolk’s tech ecosystem. Read it below ⬇️⬇️⬇️ cc: Sarah Mintey MBE Tom Wood Joe Faulkner Julian Munson Sarah Bosworth Mary-Jo Hill Kirk Woolford Roberta Willner Lisa Perkins UKTN Huw Sayer Fiona Lettice Chris Sargisson Michael Cavanagh Kirsty Jarvis Ben Luckett Charlie Wright Robin Milton Kelly Boosey Orian M. Laura Hood James Tarling Matt Skipper Peter Brady

Does the UK need its own equivalent of STATION F, the mega hub for tech startups on the left bank of the Seine in Paris? Are we being ambitious enough? Philip Salter of The Entrepreneurs Network poses this question, and here are my thoughts. Station F resembles a latter day 'Grand Projet'. It's hugely impressive to look at, very Parisian. It clearly provides lots of space for startups, events, programmes. But how 'full' is it really on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis? When I visited in April 2022 (admittedly not long after the pandemic) it was very, very quiet there. If such a building were to be dropped into the UK one question would be where? The obvious place would be London between King's Cross and Euston to connect it to the Midlands, the North and to Cambridge. However there might be unintended consequences for those other important tech ecosystems (similar to the arguments of which cities would benefit from/lose out from HS2) and there would definitely be some negative effects for other regional tech ecosystems such as Bristol/Bath, Wales, Norfolk/Suffolk, Cornwall. Same problem would apply in any location in the UK given our creaking rail and road infrastructure. So probably not a brilliant idea. Similarly, what would be the local impact be on the healthy, federated system of incubators, co-working spaces and innovation hubs across London itself? Is there a market failure here in the UK? Probably not? But we know from e.g. the recent collapse of Second Home that it's difficult to turn a profit in this space. A Station F equivalent in the UK could accidentally turn out to be a playground bully. The UK tech scene is a 'team game', sometimes a bit fragmented with different players leading on different activities in different regions: on international engagement (e.g. Department for Business and Trade and London Tech Week) on support programme delivery (e.g. Barclays Eagle Labs and Tech Nation) on workspace (e.g. Plexal and Oxford Innovation). Each to their own and we all talk to each other. In my role at UK Tech Cluster Group I see incredible vibrancy in regions where like-minded people and organisations like Tech East work very hard to ensure every UK region, every UK city, every major UK town has its own 'fully functioning' tech ecosystem, whether mature, growing or embryonic. Don't kill the golden goose. I hope that Government's new Industrial Strategy and possible future Digital Strategy will take a long, hard look at the tech sector across the regions and nations and tread cautiously with what sound like bold, ambitious ideas...be careful what you wish for.

Hi🌍 Greetings from Doha! 🇶🇦 I’m here at World Summit AI, where the conference has just kicked off, and ethics is taking centre stage in this morning’s sessions. A few key takeaways so far: 🔹 The speed of AI development is outpacing traditional governance systems, creating challenges for policymakers worldwide. 🔹 AI cannot be governed in isolation due to its deep integration into every aspect of our lives and industries. 🔹 The technical complexity (like the “black box” problem) raises serious concerns about trust—how do we justify decisions powered by opaque AI systems? 🔹 AI will reshape jobs as we know them, creating both challenges and opportunities in the workforce. 🔹 AI is becoming a competitive advantage for companies and nations, but collaboration could unlock its true potential. For 1956 Individuals, ethics is a foundational pillar. Our approach ensures transparency, accountability, and trust, especially when navigating the complexities of human-AI interactions. We believe that ethical AI isn’t just a requirement; it’s an opportunity to lead with integrity and empathy. Lastly, an intriguing discussion is emerging—could Large Language Models (LLMs) be giving way to more focused and efficient Small Language Models (SLMs)? These specialised models may represent the next frontier in AI innovation. #WorldSummitAI #EthicalAI #FutureOfWork #AIIntegration #Innovation #AIWithHeart #WSAIQatar

Enjoy a 50% discount on our venue bookings for all events hosted until February 28, 2025! Whether you're planning a conference, workshop, or networking event, this is your chance to bring your vision to life in the heart of Cambridge's vibrant tech ecosystem. Get in touch - hello@mantlespace.co.uk 👉https://lnkd.in/exWP3wnp #bradfieldcentre #meetings

Deadline this Friday for the Broadland & South Norfolk Business Awards 2025! We're proudly sponsoring the Business Growth category this year and we're excited to celebrate the amazing businesses we have in our region. No matter how big the achievement, there's still time to chose from the 10 categories to nominate your business in. Entries close on 13th December! ✨ https://bit.ly/4fVEl6u hashtag#BSNBizAwards Broadland District Council South Norfolk Council

🚀 Ready to grow your business and join a thriving community? Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway is offering an incredible opportunity to help you scale, connect, and thrive. ✨ Get 2 MONTHS FREE office space! Perfect for businesses looking to downsize, upgrade, or find a fresh start. But hurry—this offer ends 28th February 2025! Full T&Cs are on our website. 📞 Call us today on 01206 405500 to arrange a tour with our Centre Manager. We’d love to show you around and discuss how we can support your business growth. 🌐 Learn more here: innovationcentre-kg.co.uk 📲 Stay updated—follow us on social media! #BusinessGrowth #InnovationCentre #OfficeSpaceOpportunity

What a superb evening in Norwich with UKTN powering up the question: How do we unlock potential in the tech economy of Norfolk and Suffolk? Great panel with Sarah Mintey MBE Tom Wood and Joe Faulkner plus me. Deftly chaired by Oscar Hornstein and a warm welcome from our hosts at Norwich University of the Arts by Kirk Woolford. Challenging questions from a lively audience, there was a genuine buzz in the room. And back home to Suffolk in time for a late walk with the dog! Onwards into 2025!

Last chance to register: 📢 Unlocking Tech Potential in Norfolk & Suffolk. 💡 Join us for an engaging discussion inspired by the latest UKTN report on the Norfolk and Suffolk tech landscape. Our panel will explore key topics such as: - The barriers to growth in the region’s tech industry - Unique strengths that set Norfolk and Suffolk apart - Strategies for tech founders to secure funding - Steps to position the regional tech sector on the global stage Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with industry leaders shaping the future of tech in Norfolk and Suffolk. Panelists include: Tim Robinson  Joe Faulkner Sarah Mintey MBE  Tom Wood 🗓 Wednesday, December 4th - 5 - 7pm GMT 📍Norwich University of the Arts, 4 Duke Street Norwich NR3 3AJ Secure your spot ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eXFcFGWx 🔗 KPMG UK Connected Innovation Tech East #TechInsights #NorfolkTech #SuffolkInnovation #TechEcosystem