Open Tech Calendar

Meet the Local Experts: Insider Tips from Successful Entrepreneurs

Join us for an exciting and informal Q&A session where Sheffield’s business community can learn from leaders across all sectors. Whether you're in tech, retail, services, or manufacturing, this event will provide invaluable insights from top local entrepreneurs who have successfully built and grown their businesses in Sheffield.

This interactive event from experts—leaders in their respective fields— offers a unique opportunity to hear first-hand experiences from seasoned local entrepreneurs, learn how they overcame obstacles, and discover practical strategies for success. Whether you're a startup founder, small business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, you'll leave inspired with actionable tips to help you avoid common pitfalls and drive your business forward.

In addition to expert advice, you'll have the chance to ask questions of any nature and network with like-minded professionals, creating valuable connections within the Sheffield business community and making sure that you have strategies for your business growth. Don’t miss this chance to learn from those who’ve been there and take your business to the next level.

We’re also excited to welcome special guest Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, who will be joining us to offer his perspective on supporting local businesses and fostering growth in our city.

Light refreshments will be available at the venue.

Meet the Panelists:
1. Tim Lindley - Serial Entrepreneur/Property Developer and Consultant Business Advisor Business Sheffield
2. Tim Nye - Proprietor of Marmadukes Bakeries and Coffee Houses
3. Lee Duncan - Former Professional Boxer now Business Entrepreneur
4. Dash Tabor - Founder and CEO of TUBR
5. Mike Kent - Co-Founder and M.D. of Kitlocker

https://Meet-the-Local-Experts.eventbrite.co.uk

https://Meet-the-Local-Experts.eventbrite.co.uk

Tue 15th Oct 2024 5:30pm (Europe/London)

Tue 15th Oct 2024 7:30pm (Europe/London)

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Bagging Your First Investment - Raising Funds from Personal Connections, Angels, Banks and the Crowd

In this final session of the TechForge Accelerator for tech startups, we discuss a range of options for raising investment into your business. Whether you need £5,000 or £500,000, many founders find that they just cannot move forward without some external investment. Thankfully, there are several options out there including Debt (borrowing), Equity (sale of shares in the business) and Crowdfunding (from the general public). This session gives you a tour of these options and helps you understand which are for you. We look at more detail on equity investment too and cover some of the things you will need to know, to pull off your first deal.

The session will be led by one of our highly experienced Tech Scale-Up Advisors.

https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/content/events/techforge-accelerator-workshop-5-bagging-your-first-investment-raising-funds-from-personal-connections-angels-banks-and-the-crowd/

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bagging-your-first-investment-raising-funds-from-connections-angels-tickets-931993847687

Tue 8th Oct 2024 9:45am (Europe/London)

Tue 8th Oct 2024 12:15pm (Europe/London)

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Building Your First Version (aka MVP): Tips and Tricks for Getting it Right!

The penultimate session of our Accelerator for tech startups covers the all-important step of building your first (software) prototype, sometimes known as an Minimum Viable Product or MVP. In this session, we cover why an MVP is such a critical stage and how you can get it right. We go on to help you work out what should be in an MVP and what should not, appraise several different routes for achieving an MVP and give tips on how to manage the project.

The session will be led by one of our highly experienced Tech Scale-Up Advisors.

https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/content/events/techforge-accelerator-workshop-4-building-your-first-version-aka-mvp-tips-and-tricks-for-getting-it-right/

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-your-first-version-aka-mvptips-and-tricks-for-getting-it-right-tickets-929796796247

Tue 1st Oct 2024 9:45am (Europe/London)

Tue 1st Oct 2024 12:15pm (Europe/London)

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How to Generate Income - Monetisation & Pricing Strategies for Tech Startups

The third session in our Accelerator for tech startups looks at a variety of methods for generating income (so-called Monetisation). One of the most exciting aspects of software-based businesses is the innovative approaches they use to bring money in. Whether you are planning to charge fees or subscriptions or are exploring some of the more unusual routes such as ad revenue or digital currencies, there may be options you haven’t spotted before. Join this session not just to learn about some interesting alternatives, but also to delve into detail on pricing models and levels for your products and services.

The session will be led by one of our highly experienced Tech Scale-Up Advisors.

https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/content/events/techforge-accelerator-workshop-3-how-to-generate-income-monetisation-pricing-strategies-for-tech-startups/

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-generate-income-monetisation-pricing-strategies-for-tech-startups-tickets-929793014937

Tue 24th Sep 2024 9:15am (Europe/London)

Tue 24th Sep 2024 12:45pm (Europe/London)

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Free Money & Support - Grants, Accelerators and Other Opportunities for Tech Startups

The second session of our Accelerator for tech startups is an introduction to the many forms of support, both financial and non-financial, that can help enormously as you grow your business. We explain the benefits of Accelerators and Incubators, Mentoring and Networking and how to make the most of these, as well as offering a quick tour of various Grants that you might be eligible for.

The session will be led by one of our highly experienced Tech Scale-Up Advisors.

https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/content/events/techforge-accelerator-workshop-2-free-money-support-grants-accelerators-and-other-opportunities-for-tech-startups/

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-money-support-grants-accelerators-other-opportunities-for-tech-tickets-929785402167

Tue 17th Sep 2024 9:45am (Europe/London)

Tue 17th Sep 2024 12:15pm (Europe/London)

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From Side Hustle to Startup - The Journey Ahead for Tech Founders

The TechForge Accelerator from Business Sheffield comprises of 5 in-person workshop sessions designed to support the needs of technology-centred startups, especially those involving software. The TechForge Accelerator is best suited to founders who are at an early stage – for example you might just have an idea, be working on a prototype (or MVP), or have done some initial trading.

You can book into one or more workshops in the series, depending on your needs. The workshops last just over 2 hours with an opportunity to network at the end.

The first session of our Accelerator gives you an overview of the ‘journey ahead’. As well as the providing you with a tried and tested routemap, the session is full of practical advice and tips on some of the steps you will need to take, and pitfalls to avoid, in order to create a strong foundation for your software-based startup.

The session will be led by Chris Wheater and Morgan Killick - our highly experienced Tech Scale-Up Advisors – both themselves founders who have scaled and exited tech businesses.

https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/content/events/techforge-accelerator-workshop-1-from-side-hustle-to-startup-the-journey-ahead-for-tech-founders/

Tue 10th Sep 2024 9:45am (Europe/London)

Tue 10th Sep 2024 12:15pm (Europe/London)

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