11 March 2026 - Sister, Manchester
Scaling, Innovating & Connecting Northern Tech
Returning after a great debut, GRAFT brought together the North’s top tech minds, CEOs, founders, investors and policymakers to scale, innovate and lead. The event featured expert insights, dynamic discussions and game changing connections that will help drive the future of Northern tech.
Investors seen at GRAFT
PXN Ventures
Merica Ventures
Grant Tree
GC Angels
Haatch
Solidbond
Palatine
Fhunded
Brewin Dolphin
Octopus Ventures
British Business Bank
GRAFT... will return..
The North: A Thriving Hub for Tech Innovation
The North of England is home to a fast-growing tech ecosystem, where startups scale, innovation thrives, and opportunities are endless. With world-class talent, ambitious founders, and a collaborative community, the region is shaping the future of tech. Now is the time to be part of it.
Northern Tech in Numbers
Who Attends GRAFT?
Entrepreneurs
Founders, CEOs and Business Owners.
Innovators
CTOs and Innovation Specialists.
Backers
Investors, Accelerators and Incubators.
Regulators
Policymakers, Local Authorities.
what Makes GRAFT Different ?
The North has plenty of potential- but few platforms for actionable collaboration.
GRAFT fills that gap.
- Insights: Exclusive findings from GRAFT.
- Scaling: Hands-on workshops for scaling challenges.
- Funding: Meet investors, VCs, and accelerators.
- Networking: Connect with founders and industry leaders.
2026 Agenda
09:30
Pick up your badge
(pink for founders, blue for investors) and begin networking. Light refreshments provided.
10:00
The GRAFT ethos & Welcome to GRAFT 2026!
Get ready because GRAFT 2026 is kicking off strong. This first session isn’t just a warm-up; it’s a reality check and a reset. We’ll be 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.
Expect honest insights, clear data and a focused look at what needs to happen next. It’s a chance to bring the industry together and push things forward because the North isn’t just gaining momentum, it’s ready to lead.
- Alexandra Balazs, Managing Director, Prolific North
- Matt Robinson, Head of Nations and Regions at techUK
10:30
Keynote fireside chat with Somayeh Taheri, CEO & Co-Founder of UrbanChain: The 1% journey
In the high-stakes world of Deep Tech, the statistics are brutal: only 1% of businesses ever truly make it. UrbanChain is a fascinating Northern success story that has now moved well past the start-up phase (secured £5.25m in series A) into disrupting the UK energy market and beyond.
Join us for a chilled, open conversation with Somayeh Taheri, Co-Founder & CEO, as we unpick her journey so far, the shift required to lead a high-growth team, and why the ultimate foundation of a 1% success story is the unwavering belief in your own mission when the rest of the world is still catching up.
Based in Manchester, UrbanChain is a “soonicorn” rewriting the rules of the green energy market. By using AI and blockchain to connect consumers directly to renewable generators, they’ve moved from a disruptive idea to a Series A powerhouse with over £5m in fresh backing. This is a masterclass in navigating complex, regulated markets and scaling a high-velocity “Deep Tech” firm in the North.
11:00
Panel: Why Scale Here? IPOs, international moves, and Northern dominance
Scale-up founders. 30 minutes. Zero fluff. We’re talking IPOs with IntelliAM, cross-border expansion with Buymedia, and high-velocity growth with UrbanChain. If you want to know how the North’s top 1% build, pivot, and exit, this is the only seat you need to be in.
- Thomas Clayton, Co-Founder & CEO of IntelliAM
- Fergal O’Connor, Founder of Buymedia
- Hannah Churchman, Head of Innovation and Growth – Manchester – Bruntwood SciTech
11:30
Speed Networking Break
Facilitated conversations between founders & investors – no pitching, just real talk.
12:00
Lightning Talk – The Founder Perspective
Building a startup is rarely a straight line. Newcastle-based Polybox began with a vision for smarter analytics, but the real story lies in the pivots required to find true product-market fit. In this 10-minute lightning session, Rojin shares the unfiltered reality of taking on investment, the lessons learned from shifting direction under pressure, and what it actually takes to scale a data-driven startup in the North.
- Rojin Yarahmadi, Co-Founder of Newcastle-based Polybox
12:10
Lightning Talk -The Investor Perspective
What does “deployable capital” actually look like in 2026? A rapid-fire view from the other side of the table on valuations, term sheets, and what makes a Northern founder a “yes.”
- Patrick Gorton, Investment Associate at Beringea
- George Mensah, Principal at Sure Valley Ventures
- Gareth Llewellyn, Investment Director at Northern Gritstone
12:30
The GRAFT Roundtables (Round 1)
We’re splitting into 5 focused groups of no more than 15 people. No slides, no pitches, just a moderated, off-the-record conversation where you can trade “scars” and strategies with peers at your level. Chatham House Rules. You choose the table; you set the agenda.
- Table 1: Access to capital
- Table 2: Scaling leadership
- Table 3: The rollercoaster of achieving product-market fit
- Table 4: Moving the sales process beyond the Founder
13:15
Lunch & Networking
Join us for a networking lunch, where founders and investors can connect and chat.
14.00
The GRAFT Roundtables (Round 2)
Your chance to hit the topic you missed in the first round. New peers, same unfiltered honesty.
- Table 1: Access to capital
- Table 2: Scaling leadership
- Table 3: The rollercoaster of achieving product-market fit
- Table 4: Moving the sales process beyond the Founder
15.00
Closing Remarks
15.15
Talks End
Our Sponsors from 2026
Leighton
