Partnership aims to light up business scene

Two North East entrepreneurs have teamed up to launch Stellar Business Events.

The Sunderland-based venture aims to revolutionise networking and business gatherings across the region.

The collaboration brings together Paul Lancaster, founder of UK Startup Week (formerly Newcastle Startup Week) and PLATFORM events, with Neil Stephenson, a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor.

The duo’s goal is to create inspiring, supportive environments for ambitious business owners and leaders to connect and thrive.

Combining Paul’s expertise in organising standout business events with Neil’s commercial acumen and scale-up experience, the duo say Stellar Business Events promises a fresh approach to professional networking.

Paul said: “Since 2016, I’ve grown an events business which is strongly rooted in the North East of England but has huge reach nationally and it’s our intention to scale out our offering into new markets and new geographies. 

“Over the past 12 months we’ve run 21 x PLATFORM events in Newcastle and Sunderland that have attracted over 700 business owners and leaders and we intend to expand this to Teesside in Q1 of 2025 and then up to Scotland shortly after, giving us a truly Northern UK footprint.

“In addition, our five-day, multi-venue UK Startup Week festival is due to take place in Sunderland between 2-6 June 2025 with a series of energising events that will inspire and educate people how to start and grow their business in the North East and wider North of England. 

“Our last Startup Week festival in Newcastle attracted just over 800 delegates from across the UK and we expect a similar number in Sunderland in June.”

Neil added: “I’m excited to be working with Paul to build out this proposition nationwide as I understand the value of good networking to find customers, partners, employees and sometimes even investors.

“I’m also hoping we can find opportunity to develop a new Angel Investor Network alongside the events as a way to help seed fund the next generation of businesses. 

“The ever-expanding tech / digital / e-commerce market and the new AI and Virtual Reality worlds bring huge opportunities to build new and exciting businesses at scale. We aim to be right at the centre of that new revolution.”

The pair are eager to engage with business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs interested in using their PLATFORM or UK Startup Week events to expand their reach, raise their profiles, or host successful business gatherings.

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