Newcastle featured in Wired Magazine’s ‘Startup Cities’ series

We were very excited to see Newcastle upon Tyne featured in Wired Magazine‘s ‘Startup Cities’ series this month (March / April 2018 issue)!

This is an important milestone for the North East startup community as getting positive media coverage in such an influential national publication (circulation of 53,000 people) isn’t easy but can make a positive impact in terms of talent attraction and retention and inward investment, not to mention help inspire and boost the morale of Newcastle-based businesses.

If you can’t get hold of a copy of the magazine, you can read it on the Wired website or in our version below:

Newcastle

The North Eastern city’s long history of innovation makes it a popular location for startups.

From Robert Stephenson’s locomotive to Joseph Swan’s incandescent light bulb, science and technology have long found a home in Newcastle and the North East. “Newcastle has a history of innovation going back hundreds of years, with some of the world’s greatest inventions coming from the city and its’ surrounding area,” says Paul Lancaster, founder of Newcastle Startup Week.

The city’s technological spirit remains alive and kicking today, due to the presence of world-leading universities and a vibrant startup scene. The kingpin is Sage, one of the largest enterprise software companies in the world, whose headquarters have remained in the region since being founded in 1981.

Ask around and you’ll find a close-knit network of entrepreneurs from all over the world, drawn by the lure of talented graduates and low living costs. “You can get started and make things happen very quickly in the city at a much lower cost than anywhere else in the country,” says Doug Jones, Community Development Lead at Government-backed initiative Tech North. A recent report by Tech City UK (the ‘Tech Nation 2017‘ report) counted more high-growth companies in Newcastle than in London.

New developments in the city, including a £30 million National Innovation Centre for Data, an ‘Innovation District’ in the up-and-coming Stephenson Quarter and a North East Futures University Technical College due to open in 2018, will ensure Newcastle maintains a thriving tech scene.

Notable tech/digital businesses:

Leaf Music

This streaming social network connects artists with fans. Although it’s run from the banks of the Tyne, most of its’ traffic comes from Latin America. The app makes recommendations based on the listener’s streaming history.

Founded: 2014
Investment raised: £2.26m
Founders, Gilbert Corrales, Melvin Salas, Daniel Salas, Helga Alvarez
leafmusic.com

TrendListr

TrendListr is an online marketplace that curates vintage clothing for women, with a men’s marketplace building inventory too. It has built a strong seller community to connect with a global network of retro-fashion fans.

Founded: 2016
Investment raised: N/A
Founders: Louisa Rogers
trendlistr.com

Perfected3D

3D printing hasn’t yet fulfilled its make-anything-anywhere potential but Perfected3D aims to lower the barriers to entry. It automatically cleans up modelling data and enhances designs, which it then sends to 3D printers. Clients include Microsoft and Ubisoft.

Founded: 2017
Investment raised: £800,000
Founder: Joe Stevens
perfected3d.com

Gym Plan

Gym Plan, formerly known as Fit Gurus, is a fitness app that provides personalised fitness and nutrition plans. The service also offers chat facilities with advisers and personal trainers.

Founded: 2014
Investment raised: £400,000
Founders: Dave Stidolph, Paul Slater
gymplanapp.com

Moltin

Moltin offers customisable e-commerce APIs for small (and now large) businesses. The service handles every aspect of e-commerce, from stock management to checkouts, in response to challenges firms face when working for an agency.

Founded: 2013
Investment raised: £1.5m
Founders: Chris Roach, Adam Sturrock, Jamie Holdroyd
moltin.com

See for yourself

If you want to see for yourself why Newcastle is such a great place to start and grow a business, our 5-day ‘Newcastle Startup Week’ festival on 14-18 May 2018 is the perfect way to get to know the city. Book your ticket by clicking / tapping on the button below:

Buy Newcastle Startup Week tickets


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