Innovation@leeds
Innovation@Leeds aims to strengthen the foundations of the Leeds innovation ecosystem: stimulate and support tech clusters, drive collaboration with diverse communities and catalyse progress towards our Innovation vision.
An exciting line up of events, mentoring and accelerator programmes will give people access to the kind of know-how, training and networking opportunities that can test and refine their ideas, whilst also strengthening Leeds’s reputation as a place that connects world-class research, start-ups, scale ups and innovative talent.
Super Squad
Super Squad in partnership with Leeds City College, will give young people in Leeds a voice on the future of finance and the opportunity to develop ideas which could change the way financial products and services are created.
100 diverse teenagers from Leeds will have the chance to join a 6-week paid work experience and develop critical skills for their future career.
LegalTech in Leeds
LegalTech in Leeds aims to foster innovation in legal and digital sectors by helping to drive digital adoption, improve access to legal services, and support entrepreneurs seeking to work in LegalTech.
LegalTech in Leeds will be hosting ‘The Big Hack’ to find new technology-based solutions to challenges faced by the legal sector.
If you are interested in getting involved in ‘The Big Hack’, REGISTER HERE.
On Wednesday 26th April, LegalTech in Leeds will also be hosting their 2nd Showcase conference. If you would like to attend, REGISTER HERE.
No Code Lab
No Code Lab returns to Leeds in May 2023 with their second live super hack, bringing together non-techies from local businesses, charities and NFPs and pairing them with no code wizards to see what solutions they can build in just eight hours! We’ll then see the teams go head-to-head in a pitch-off. Expect a fun, lively event and prepare to be amazed at the power of no code.
FinTech North: Challenge Leeds
FinTechNorth will challenge the Leeds Fintech and Financial Services community to connect, collaborate and innovate.
A selection of challenges faced in the Financial sector will provide the foundation for a series of innovation workshops to explore how technology and new approaches can be used to solve real issues. The workshops are designed to create an immersive experience for entrepreneurs and established FS institutions to form deeper connections and understanding of the business issues faced by Financial services firms.
If you are a Financial Services organisation with a specific challenge area they'd like to explore or you are an innovative tech firm operating in the FinTech market - then get in touch!
14 February 8:30, is also the launch of the Leeds City Region FinTech Report 2023 - Tickets HERE
Music Leeds
Launchpad Music Innovators is a new programme to empower original copyright creators and managers of music intellectual property, to maximise the potential revenue generated, and the ability to create and sustain new music enterprises in Leeds.
If you are an artist or music who write original music and / or create recordings, or you operate in a role who manages their output (as an artist manager, record label, publisher or similar derivative role), Launchpad Music Innovators will walk you through, and ensure you are collecting all the relevant income from your copyrights.
Spike Digital
Digital Sport North is here to bring together sport and digital people from all backgrounds, to create a community and encourage the industry to thrive and grow in the North.
This community is to help people working in, or those that aspire to work in and around the world of sport and tech. We’re here to bring those people across the North of England to improve networks, business potential and develop careers.
Whether you’re working in media, broadcasting, publishing, betting, gaming, for clubs, governing bodies, agencies or other related sports and digital businesses we want to hear from you.
VMC23
The BPIF’s 10th Visual Media Conference (VMC23) will take place in Leeds on the 4th April 2023 at the Rose Bowl, Leeds Beckett University.
VMC 23 is an inspirational one-day conference and exhibition that provides a vivid insight into marketing communications with international speakers and case studies including Kellogg’s, Lexus and Tony’s Chocolonely. Showcasing the industry and the impact of culture the emphasis is on practical solutions for the themes of the conference.
The conference is free to the creative and digital community to pre-register now to secure one of the limited places. Register HERE
Include Me & Unmute me
Include Me was founded in Leeds in 2020. Driven by lived experience and amplified by the challenges and isolation of diverse founders building and scaling their businesses.
From this came the D-List, profiles of over 100 exceptional entrepreneurs and innovators, representing a variety of backgrounds, sectors, emerging technologies, ethnicity, and abilities.
D-List will showcase regional talent whilst inspiring current and future generations through role models they can relate to, which is vitally important for those who belong to traditionally underrepresented groups.
Fund Her Leeds
FundHerNorth are committed to supporting female founders and bringing together women in the investment industry to support and invest in them.
Working with YABA FundHerNorth have developed a programme specifically designed for diverse female founders. The programme will include:
Validating your Business Model
Preparing your business for Growth
Accessing Funding
Develop a Business Pitch
Meet the Investors
ONETECH LEEDS
OneTech and Leeds Libraries want to change the face of early-stage entrepreneurs and founders innovating in Leeds. Through this new project OneTech, experts in supporting diverse start ups will collaborate with Leeds Libraries to bring founders together to discuss business challenges, explore the resources on offer, including a Business Bootcamp in April to help early stage founders understand the roadmap ahead.
This support is for budding entrepreneurs who want to find out more about what it takes to start and grow a start up,
Al Tech North
AI Accelerator is a hands-on support programme designed and delivered by AI Tech UK.
The programme enables start ups, founders and businesses to discover the power of digital transformation with AI, how it can benefit you and offer you a competitive advantage in your industry. There is also an opportunity to participate in the Hackathon and pitch session showcasing your ideas and capabilities to an ecosystem looking to collaborate.
The AI accelerator sessions will cover:
AI for start ups
AI solution ideation
AI Business Application & adoption
Overcoming data challenges in AI
Open Ethics Assessment
Are you ready to learn & apply AI to your business with the help of Leeds City Council and AI Tech UK? Apply now!
Sustainable Leeds
Through Innovation@Leeds, Sustainable Ventures, leaders in accelerating and investing in climate tech are collaborating with NEXUS to support 10-15 Leeds businesses with the potential to scale ambitious net zero solutions. A tailored innovation plan will be developed for each SME based on an initial discussion of their key challenges and upcoming milestones.