More than 500 entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders are set to descend on Sheffield this month as a major new summit looks to strengthen connections across the North’s technology sector.
The Northern Tech Summit will take place at the Crucible Theatre on 21 and 22 October, bringing together startups, scaleups, investors, policymakers, public sector leaders and technology specialists from across Northern England.
Organised by TECH SY under the theme ‘collaborate to compete’, the two-day event will explore how closer relationships between cities, regions and organisations can support growth, attract investment and strengthen the North’s position within the global technology sector.
The summit builds on the South Yorkshire Tech Summit and comes at a time of significant growth for the region’s technology ecosystem.
Figures published by global data intelligence platform Dealroom estimate the wider Northern technology ecosystem to be worth £82bn. Earlier this year, Sheffield and South Yorkshire was also named the UK’s leading region in the ‘Rising Stars’ category of Dealroom’s Global Tech Ecosystem Index, which measures fast-growing technology ecosystems across more than 325 cities in 77 countries.
South Yorkshire’s tech ecosystem is now valued at a record £3.7bn, representing fourfold growth since 2019, while businesses across the region secured more than £52m in early-stage investment during 2025.
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, said of the event:
“Two years ago, at the South Yorkshire Tech Summit, we made the case that if the North is going to compete globally, we need to collaborate more closely across our regions. The Northern Tech Summit is about turning our ambition into action.
“From Barnsley's emergence as the UK's first Tech Town to the startups and scaleups driving innovation across our communities, South Yorkshire is proving what's possible.
“But our ambition doesn't stop at our boundaries. By bringing together partners from across the North, we can build stronger connections, attract more investment, support more high-growth businesses and make the case for the North as a globally competitive tech powerhouse, so all of us can stay near and go far.”
Among the headline speakers is Yoram Wijngaarde, founder and CEO of Dealroom, who will discuss his journey from investment banking in London and New York to building an international technology business.
Wijngaarde founded Dealroom in 2013, creating a data intelligence platform tracking high-growth companies and venture capital ecosystems around the world. Earlier this year, the company raised $7m to support its growth plans.
His keynote will explore his entrepreneurial journey and offer advice on building and scaling a successful technology business.
He will be joined by Tom Adeyoola, executive chair of Innovate UK, alongside speakers including Manchester Digital managing director Katie Gallagher OBE, Northern Gritstone head of NG Innovation Services Joanne Hosker and British Business Bank local growth managing director Mark Sterritt.
Other confirmed names include representatives from the Royal Academy of Engineering, National Wealth Fund, Sovereign AI, Sunderland Software City, Tech West Yorkshire and Hypha Private Equity.
The first day will run from 10am to 3pm at the Crucible, focusing on individual sectors alongside the challenges and opportunities surrounding greater collaboration between technology ecosystems across the North.
A separate Startup Showcase will follow at Trafalgar Warehouse from 3pm, giving emerging businesses an opportunity to connect with the wider technology and investment community.
Day two returns to the Crucible from 9am to 3pm, turning the focus towards the practical and political connections required to bring regional ecosystems closer together and support future growth.
Across both days, the programme will feature panel discussions, debates and networking opportunities, while showcasing startups and scaleups from across Northern England.
Tracey Johnson, project director at TECH SY, said: “There's a lot of investment, work and effort going into promoting and supporting the tech economy in the North at city and regional level. This Summit will show that the North is more than the sum of its parts, with the capacity to challenge the most successful, globally recognised ecosystems, and grow incredible businesses within it.”
Overall, organisers hope the summit can provide a platform for businesses to make new connections, learn more about support available across Northern England and identify opportunities to collaborate beyond their immediate regions.
A full two-day Northern Tech Summit ticket costs £14, with tickets for the separate Startup Showcase priced at £5. Both are available at techsy.co.uk.
