HOST launches Fund Your Tech to help Greater Manchester start-ups access cash

Digital technology companies from Greater Manchester are set to receive a free to access two-day masterclass to support with securing funding to help develop innovations and accelerate their growth in the region.

Fund Your Tech, developed by HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology at MediaCityUK, will bring together leading industry experts and HOST partners, including InnovateUK Edge, Inventya and Counting King.

The two-day innovation funding masterclass will focus on providing an understanding of the current landscape of grant funding and alternative finance options available to digital tech companies, along with practical workshops on how to access them.

This includes guidance on grants for business R&D and innovation from InnovateUK for digital businesses, and specialist one-to-one funding support and advice.

Fund Your Tech is open to Greater Manchester-based digital technology businesses with less than 250 full-time employees, a turnover of less than £43 million or a balance sheet of less than £37 million with the ambition to grow, innovate and scale-up.

Greater Manchester is one of the fastest-growing technology hubs in Europe, home to 19,000 digital technology and creative businesses and the North West has the highest creative cluster outside of London.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 Group, operator of HOST, said: “Many digital technology businesses in the North West have experienced challenges during the pandemic, so we know how imperative it is for them to access the funding support they need to fuel their growth.

“We aim to nurture companies on their business journey, and we hope that this unprecedented opportunity with Fund Your Tech will support those businesses who need it the most, while also helping to accelerate the region’s recovery.”

Fund Your Tech is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities. IN4 Group, operators of HOST, is working with GC Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company to provide fully-funded business support. The Hub assists businesses at all stages of their growth journey with a broad range of services, including one-to-one and peer-to-peer support, events, specialist programmes and funding.

The masterclass is a hybrid event and will be held virtually and in-person on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 September. For further information and to register, visit: https://www.hostsalford.com/programmes/fund-your-tech/