Tech Nation preparing to relaunch as new owners look to act as ‘lightning rod’ for insurtechs

Tech Nation is set to relaunch this week after being acquired by the Founders Forum Group.

Set to be called Tech Nation 2.0, the new business will aim to support technology business, including insurtechs, and help them grow.

It will be announced at Birmingham Tech Week, which starts today (16 October 2023).

Founders Forum Group chief executive Carolyn Dawson will deliver a keynote at the event that will outline plans for Tech Nation 2.0.

“Our mission is to build a world in which all tech entrepreneurs have access to the knowledge and communities they need to succeed,” she said ahead of the launch.

“Tech Nation 2.0 will champion all kinds of tech founders, highlighting their needs and fighting for our incredible industry from seed stage to success story.”

Support

Tech Nation invited expressions of interest from organisations over acquiring the business in January 2023, with the government’s digital growth grant being withdrawn and awarded to Barclays.

After acquiring the firm earlier this year (24 April 2023), Founders Forum said it would “continue to execute against Tech Nation’s mission to empower tech entrepreneurs, scale innovative startups and provide a united platform for UK tech founders”.

Tech Nation 2.0 will offer firms support through its Climate, Libra, Future Fifty and Rising Stars programmes.

Meanwhile, its research and insights arm has been designed to produce data-driven reports on the UK’s technology ecosystem and equip scaleup founders with broader industry knowledge.

Brent Hoberman, Founders Forum Group cofounder and chair, said: “By bringing back Tech Nation, we can act as a lightning rod to support the UK’s most exciting businesses and founders, bringing together a full spectrum of brilliant talent and growing a new generation of global powerhouse companies.

“At a time when cities and markets around the world are competing for the best and brightest, we will help the UK continue its momentum as the European magnet for technology entrepreneurs.”