GRAFT is the annual gathering where Northern tech founders, investors and operators come together to solve the real challenges of scaling from £1m to £100m.
After the sell-out success of the inaugural event in May 2025, GRAFT isn’t just returning – it’s levelling up. Its mission remains simple: give Northern tech founders the connections, insight and practical tools they need to scale fast and build globally competitive companies.
A founder-first experience built for growth
GRAFT isn’t your standard tech meetup or inspirational keynote wrapped in buzzwords. It’s a practical, founder-centric gathering designed to address the most pressing questions on every founder’s mind:
- How do I get funded and what do investors actually want to see?
- How do I find product-market fit and accelerate market traction?
- How can I scale from local success to regional, national and global opportunity?
- Who should be in my network to unlock genuine growth?
These aren’t theoretical questions. They’re the day-to-day blockers for tech founders aiming to grow past £1m ARR and into serious scale. At GRAFT, they’re tackled directly through roundtables, investor-led sessions, and honest founder conversations.
Real stories, real strategies from founders who’ve done it
GRAFT doesn’t just talk about growth, it showcases the journeys of founders who’ve lived it. At the 2025 edition, attendees heard from leaders like:
- MusicforPets founder Amman Ahmed, who scaled to 50 million users and exited to a major entertainment label,
- WAC’s Georgina Fairhall, who raised £1m+ backing for a socially impactful startup,
- Ryft’s Alex Mackenzie, talking Series A growth and global scaling.
These are the founders who have crossed the terrain that many are still navigating and they’re bringing practical lessons, not just inspirational quotes.
Connect with investors who are actively backing Northern Tech
GRAFT creates direct access to investors who are genuinely looking to back Northern founders. The 2025 event welcomed VCs and angel groups including HAATCH, Praetura Ventures, GC Angels, GrantTree and others.
This is not surface level networking. It is meaningful connection with investors who have capital ready to deploy.
Workshops and interactive sessions built for impact
The working sessions at GRAFT are deliberately practical, covering areas such as:
- Access to capital
- Scaling leadership
- The exit roadmap
- Achieving a product market fit
Founders walk away with tools they can use immediately.
Why GRAFT matters now?
The North’s tech ecosystem is growing quickly. Talent is rising, capital is increasing and ambition is high. But the challenge remains the same. Turning strong Northern tech companies into global competitors.
GRAFT exists to help close that gap.
Join us at GRAFT 2026
GRAFT returns on 11 March 2026 at Sister, Manchester, with an even deeper focus on founders who are scaling or ready to scale far beyond the early stages.
Whether you are approaching £1m ARR, preparing for a major raise or building towards £100m, this is the room you need to be in.
Tickets are now live. Step into the network, expertise and opportunity that can help define your next chapter of growth.
