How Newcastle's Northstar Ventures is creating new opportunities with an ageing population

A new innovation and networking group is launching in Newcastle this week which will look at both the challenges and opportunities within our increasingly ageing population.

The global innovation platform, Aging 2.0, is launching its Newcastle Chapter this Thursday (May 24), the second in the UK after London.

The Aging 2.0 initiative aims to bring together the likes of North East entrepreneurs, startups, businesses and investors to connect, collaborate and share ideas.

Founded in New York in 2012 and run by a team in San Francisco, Aging 2.0 supports innovators taking on the biggest challenges and opportunities in aging.

Northstar Ventures’ investment director, Stephen Price will serve as the Newcastle Chapter Ambassador.

He said: “We already have great world-leading strength and assets within ageing in our city and the launch of the Chapter will allow us to build on this and join the Aging 2.0 global community.

“We’re fortunate to have one of the most vibrant startup scenes in the UK and the Chapter will be encouraging local entrepreneurs to consider the wealth of opportunities presented by the largest underserved market opportunity on the planet.

“We want to make Newcastle the epicentre of disruptive innovation within aging and completely change the tired old narrative about the ageing process and our older adults.”

Speakers at the launch event include Mike Morgan from the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, Shantelle Million from MiCarePlan, Chris Gibbons from Accenture and Ray Clarke from Hedgehog Labs - all of whom will be sharing their stories and interests in the ageing space.