TECH SEEDS -Take your tech startup to the next level

Introducing Tech Seeds: our super successful 6-week fully-funded programme. For those entrepreneurs who are business-ready and wish to take their startup to the next stage, our industry professional talks and workshops aim to get you pitch-ready.

With 6 weeks of talks from experts in their field, these sessions have been designed to guide and make sure those entrepreneurs out there are heading in the best direction for them and their startups.

Join us every Wednesday for the next 6 weeks ( with a short pause for the Easter Holidays) as we present a series of expert sessions from us and our partners, delivering invaluable advice tailored to key startup essentials, propelling you and your venture to new heights.

All sessions will be held in person: This allows you, as a member of our Tech Seeds cohort, to question and converse with the experts directly and to take full advantage of the brilliant networking opportunities each evening.

You will also have access to 1-2-1 mentoring with our advisors for the 6-week programme and the chance to engage and network with some of the best people in the tech sector in the North East.

To take part in the 6 weeks, you don't have to attend every single session as it's often not possible, but we expect at least a minimum of 3 to be applicable for the programme.

Week 1: Ideation & Lean Canvas with our Startup and Growth Manager Mark Gardner

Date & Time: 19/03/25, 6pm-8pm

This session will cover:

• Guidance on how to get to where you want to be with your startup

• How to research and plan ahead

• Business Barriers

• Going through a business plan/ Lean Canvas from ideation to planning

Week 2: Tech Spec and Infrastructure with Jon Leighton, Director of Land Digital.

Date & Time: 26/03/2025

This session will cover:

• Functional specification, what it is and why you need one

• Tech trends - AI, VR, Blockchain

• Customer Journey

• The No-Code route

• Branding, such as company name, logo, etc

• The importance of testing and feedback

Week 3: Launching A Tech Startup - Lean Startup Principles and Startup Failures with John Ferguson, Head of Architecture & Engineering Security at IRIS Software Group.

Date & Time: 02/04/25, 6pm - 8pm

This session will cover:

• Share the story behind a startup idea.

• Walk through the steps taken to get it off the ground using Lean Startup principles.

• Discuss how customer feedback led to multiple pivots.

• Reflect on why the idea ultimately failed—and why that was the best possible outcome.

Week 4: Digital Marketing with Steven Parker, Managing Director at Phonetic Digital!

Date & time: 09/04/25, 6pm - 8pm

• Identifying the most important content for your business

• Content creation tips Developing a content strategy

• Building an online brand

• Understanding your audience and PR

Week 5: Financial Advice for Startups with Josh Sanghera of Blu Sky Chartered Accountants.

Date & time: 30/04/2025 6pm - 8pm

This session will cover:

• The best financial advice for your business in its early stages

• Funding and grants

• Business and revenue models

• What it means to be investment-ready

Week 6: The Pitch @ The Beam

Date & Time: 07/05/25, 6pm - 8pm

The Final! After five weeks of engaging content and expert guidance, we're excited to invite you to The Pitch for the culmination of our program: our in-person pitching session. This is the moment where the Sunderland Tech Seeds cohort will showcase their refined pitches in front of a panel of experienced judges.

This session offers a real opportunity for participants to gain valuable insights and feedback from industry experts, providing a crucial step towards becoming investment-ready. It's the perfect chance to put all the skills and knowledge acquired over the past weeks into action and receive constructive critiques to refine your pitch further.

Referrals:

We also have an exciting offer as part of the Tech Seeds series, we now have a referral scheme! If you have previously attended a Tech Seeds programme and recommend someone for this intake and they attend x3 sessions, you will be rewarded with a £50 Amazon Gift Card – for more information and to put someone forward (they will still need to register through this Eventbrite link) please get in touch. Likewise, if you have any questions or accessibility requirements, send us an email at:

Hekla Goodman-Parker at: Hekla@sunderlandsoftwarecity.com

Mark Gardner at: mark.gardner@sunderlandsoftwarecity.com

Róisín Coull at: roisin.coull@sunderlandsoftwarecity.com

Thank you, and we look forward to having you as part of our latest Tech Seeds cohort!