PLATFORM Conference

Since January 2024, our monthly, half-day PLATFORM events have been inspiring, educating & connecting ambitious business owners & leaders, funders, investors & advisers from across the North East of England, Teesside & Scotland.

Our new, 1-day PLATFORM Conference in Newcastle upon Tyne on Tuesday 28th April 2026 will focus on the people, processes, technology & finance that will provide rocket fuel for you & your business!

Agenda

9am-10am: Arrivals, networking & exhibitors
10am-10.20am: Introduction from Paul Lancaster (Founder & Event Producer, PLATFORM | UK Startup & Scaleup Week | Stellar Business Events)
10.25am-11.05am: Keynote from Ian Kinnery (aka The Scale-Up Coach) who has spent 20yrs building & scaling businesses & coaching leaders because the toughest part isn’t strategy, it’s thinking clearly)
11.10am-11.55am: Panel discussion with service providers hosted by Charlotte Nichols (Founder & Managing Director, Harvey & Hugo) featuring:
- Nicky Jolley (Founder & Managing Director, HR2day Limited)
- Adeel Bashir (Founder & Legal Director, Nouveau Legal)
- Stuart Bramley (Founder & CEO, Mira Marketing)
- Andrew Farrell (Senior Accountant, Optimal Accountancy Limited)
11.55am-12pm: Award Presentation by Ammar Mirza CBE (High Sheriff of Tyne & Wear)
12pm-1pm: Lunch & Networking with Exhibitors
1.05pm-1.45pm: Keynote by Dr Marc Owens (Teamwork & Technology Consultant, Teaming Smart) on ‘Overcoming Troubles: The Science of Teamwork’
1.50pm-2.35pm: Panel discussion with tech / digital leaders hosted by Paul Lancaster (Founder & Event Producer, PLATFORM | UK Startup & Scaleup Week | Stellar Business Events) featuring:
- Kat Bond (Head of Partner Success, Xero)
- Mark Renney (Founder & Managing Director, Wubbleyou)
- Scott Cardow (Founder & CEO, Precursor Security)
- Mitali Deypurkaystha (Founder, Impact Icon AI)
2.40pm-3.10pm: Mid-afternoon coffee / tea break
3.15pm-3.55pm: Fireside chat with Lee Hartley (CEO, Castrius Capital Partners & Founder, Fairstone Group) about how he built one of the UK’s biggest wealth management companies & the new £10bn investment fund he is pulling together for businesses based in the North East of England!
4pm-45pm: Panel discussion on funding & investment hosted by Neil Stephenson (Angel Investor, Stephenson Ventures & Co-Founder, Stellar Business Events) featuring:
- Michael Williams (Investment Executive, NEL Fund Managers)
- Rebecca Minchella (Investment Manager, Maven Capital Partners)
- Ciaron Gallagher (Entrepreneur, Angel Investor & Co-Founder, Unity Angels)
4.50pm-5pm: Closing remarks & departures
5.30pm-Late: After party / networking event nearby