Tech Nation Relaunches with Ambitious £10bn Startup Funding Goal
By Anushka Malhotra
1 minute
Investment

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Quick Read: Tech Nation relaunched under new leadership, targeting £10bn in startup funding over 5 years. Carolyn Dawson, CEO of Founders Forum Group, heads this reimagined initiative alongside Brent Hoberman. The revamped Tech Nation aims to support startups globally, fostering the next unicorn companies. Their focus includes expanding beyond London and securing commercial sponsorships like HSBC Innovation Banking for ecosystem growth.

Tech Nation Relaunches with Ambitious £10bn Startup Funding Goal

Tech Nation, a prominent entrepreneurial support network, has made a significant comeback, unveiling a bold mission to assist startups in securing a collective £10bn in funding over the next five years.
Photo: Carolyn Dawson OBE, CEO Founders Forum relaunches Tech Nation at Birmingham Tech Week. Photo Courtesy: Edwin Ladd
Following a temporary closure due to a missed government grant opportunity, the Founders Forum Group took over the reins in April, marking the birth of 'Tech Nation 2.0.' Led by CEO Carolyn Dawson and Brent Hoberman of Firstminute Capital, this revamped initiative aims to elevate startups globally, responding to evolving founder needs, fostering international expansion, and nurturing the next unicorn ventures.
Photo: Ian Stuart, CEO HSBC UK, Carolyn Dawson OBE, CEO Founders Forum, Erin Platts, CEO HSBC Innovation Banking, Roland Emmans, Head of Technology Sector & Growth Lending, HSBC UK, and . Photo Courtesy: Edwin Ladd

One of the key objectives is to ensure half of its startup network thrives outside London, aligning with efforts to expand beyond the capital. The reinvigorated Tech Nation will also continue endorsing the Global Talent Visa until at least 2024, offering vital support to talent beyond borders.
Now operating without public funding, Tech Nation has partnered with HSBC Innovation Banking as its inaugural sponsor. Erin Platts, CEO of HSBC Innovation Banking UK, expressed excitement about propelling the UK's innovation ecosystem to new heights.
The relaunch signals a fresh start for Tech Nation, committed to empowering startups and propelling the UK as a global innovation leader.
Sources:
Bignell, F. (2023) From the ashes of Tech Nation, rises tech nation 2.0 for UK smes, The Fintech Times. Available at: https://thefintechtimes.com/from-the-ashes-rises-tech-nation-2-0-for-uk-smes/.
Murden, T. (2023) Tech nation relaunches with £10 Billion pledge, Daily Business. Available at: https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2023/10/tech-nation-relaunches-with-10-billion-pledge/.
Scammell, R. (2023) Relaunched tech nation sets £10bn startup funding target, UKTN | UK tech news. Available at: https://www.uktech.news/growth-strategy/tech-nation-relaunch-funding-target-20231017.
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Greater Things Secures Seed Funding to Scale Support for Idea-Stage Founders Across the UK

Greater Things, the organisation behind one of the UK’s most inclusive early-stage founder support models, has secured seed funding from a group of strategic business angels. This raise marks a significant milestone in their journey to empower non-technical, idea-stage tech founders and scale their impact nationally.
Since launching, Greater Things has focused on removing traditional barriers to entry in tech entrepreneurship. Their programmes combine pre-seed capital, structured guidance, and AI/no-code-powered MVP development, enabling founders to build and launch ventures without requiring a technical co-founder.
Over the past three years, Greater Things has delivered high-impact support to more than 55 founders, working in partnership with regional authorities and universities across the West Midlands. Their efforts have been backed by organisations such as the West Midlands Combined Authority, Birmingham City University, and SuperTech WM, laying a strong foundation for scalable, inclusive innovation.
Jof Walters, Founder & CEO Greater Things said:
With 75% of Seeds Programme founders still active, the data speaks for itself: this partnership works.
Hilary Smyth-Allen, CEO, SuperTech WM said:
We’re proud to be recognised as one of the most inclusive and effective early-stage investors in the UK—and we’re just getting started.
This seed investment will allow Greater Things to accelerate the pace and reach of their investment programmes, with plans to expand operations across the UK. The focus remains on founders at the earliest stage — those with promising ideas but limited access to capital or technical teams — offering them a structured path from concept to product.
By Anushka Malhotra
29 May
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