News Article

The inaugural CONNECT North East Investment Conference took place on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. More than 120 delegates, made up of technology business, bankers, financiers and professional services, came together for the event, which was put together by networking specialists, Bridge Club Ltd.

CONNECT is an international technology network that brokers connections between young technology businesses and the investment community. It brings entrepreneurs, start ups and spin out companies into contact with the resources needed to help get their ventures off the ground - technology, money, markets, management, partners, and support services. It is with this ethos in mind that the first CONNECT North East Investment Conference took place.

The conference saw Caroline Theobald “In Conversation With…” four technology businesses, all at different stages of growth, but all with a story to tell and investment experiences to share.  A selection of young technology businesses, which had been selected from a potential thirty following a rigorous pitch readiness process, pitched their business idea to a panel of investment experts and in return, received advice and suggestions as to how they could improve their pitch and refine their business idea. 

The day was a remarkable success for all concerned, but would not have taken place without the contributions and commitment of a number of people. Bridge Club Ltd is grateful to the Invest in Sweden Agency, the Seagull Project and the Embassy for Sweden for the part they played in developing the conference programme and promoting the conference to Swedish visitors. Without the financial and in-kind support of our sponsors, the CONNECT North East Investment Conference would not have gone ahead, so our grateful thanks go to Nstar Finance & Business, NEL Fund Manages, HLBBshaw, NETPark, Invitrogen and Newcastle Science City.