Tech Nation Announce Rising Stars - A Pitch Competition for Early-Stage Tech Start-Ups

The nationwide competition allows startups across the UK to showcase their talent and secure a spot at London Tech Week.

In its sixth year, Rising Stars aims to give businesses the platform to show their potential and secure funding opportunities with a range of investors in the UK tech community.  

Last year's winners included Purrmetrix, digiLab, VidiVet, Trumpet, Augnet, Stratigens, BioLedger, IncluTech, OneShot AI and JUST: Access. Each received a bespoke support package, including the opportunity to show their company to investors, accelerators, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders.  

Rising Stars aims to offer a platform to tech startups at both a local, regional, and national level.  

David Dunn, CEO at Sunderland Software City said:

“Early-stage tech companies need to spread the word about their offering and the Rising Stars competition is a great opportunity to do this on the national stage. I would encourage any recent and growing startup to apply.”

The application process:

Early-stage tech startups from across the UK are asked to submit a virtual pitch via Instagram, alongside a questionnaire on the Tech Nation website explaining why they should be titled a rising star.  

The more buzz, likes, shares, and comments your pitch received the stronger your application will be.  

Finalists will be invited to pitch in person at one of the six regional locations  across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, North England, Midlands, and South England.

Winner’s package

• Unparalleled exposure
• Tailored support
• Networking
• Global recognition

Top 3 Finalists prize

• 30-minute branding session with Founders Makers to help build your business value proposition.
• 3 hours’ worth of therapy sessions with professionals.
• Exposure to Tech Nation, Founders Forum, and London Tech Week’s social channels with a 360K reach.
• An opportunity to be invited to attend Founders Forum Global.
• Become a VenturePath member and gain quarterly growth diagnostics and strategies to increase growth.

Regional Finalists

• Ten one-to-one coaching sessions with Manageable.  
• Resources, tools, discounts, and marketing collateral to help elevate your startup.  
• Exposure at Tech Nation, Founders Forum, and London Tech Week.  

Working with Tech Nation

Dedicated to accelerating the growth of the UK’s tech sector, Tech Nation is the leading platform for knowledge.  

Founded by the Founders Forum Group, they place founders at the forefront of tech growth and empower them to grow their businesses.

In the last 10 years, Tech Nation has collaborated with over 5,000 businesses, accelerating 1,250 of them through 48 specialised growth programmes. Together, these companies have raised an impressive £28,1 billion, making a substantial contribution of over £600 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy.  

Whether you'd like to access cutting-edge solutions, gain insights into emerging tech trends or simply be a part of the conversation, partnering with Tech Nation offers a variety of benefits. You can find out more here.

Looking for business support?

At Sunderland Software City, we are passionate about helping businesses in the North East become recognised thought leaders. From exploring new ideas to learning the basics of setting up a business, our friendly team of experts are on hand to support you every step of the way.

Simply get in touch today.