Prolific North can now reveal the first wave of industry leaders set to appear at GRAFT 2026, the second edition of this popular Northern tech event for anyone interested in scaling, innovating, or connecting with the region’s tech scene.
After a successful debut last year, GRAFT returns to Manchester on 11 March at Sister, bringing together Northern tech founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders. Attendees can expect expert insights, panel discussions, and practical workshops focused on scaling tech businesses, unlocking funding, and showcasing innovations.
The event will kick off with a welcome from Matt Robinson, head of nations and regions at techUK, looking at where the Northern tech sector stands today, how it compares to global leaders and what the next stage of growth could look like.
This year’s keynote fireside chat features Somayeh Taheri, CEO and co-founder of UrbanChain. She’ll be revealing all about how her tech business has moved well beyond the start-up phase, the shifts required to lead a high-growth team and why her “soonicorn” is rewriting the rules of the green energy market.
Scale-up founders take the stage next in a no-fluff panel session covering pivots and IPOs with Thomas Clayton, co-founder of intelliAM, and cross-border expansion with Fergal O’Connor, founder of Buymedia.
From the investor side, lightning talks will give a rapid-fire view of “deployable capital” in 2026, covering valuations, term sheets, and what makes Northern founders say “yes”, featuring Patrick Gordon (Beringea) and George Mensah (Sure Valley Ventures).
The founder perspective is also front and centre as Rojin Yarahmadi, co-founder of Newcastle-based Polybox, will reveal the unfiltered reality of taking on investment, lessons from shifting direction under pressure, and what it really takes to scale a data-driven start-up in the North.
Find out more about the agenda, speakers and how to get your tickets here.
