We’re delighted to announce that our Northern family have unveiled Northern Stars, a brand new initiative designed to support ambitious digital entrepreneurs from across the North of England, by connecting digital founders and showcasing their talent on the national and international stage.

Northern Stars will raise the profile of inspiring digital startup businesses and broaden the startup community’s connections with investors and a wider support network.

Working in partnership with organisations at local, national and international levels, Northern Stars offers digital entrepreneurs a series of regular events, missions and networking opportunities.

Northern Stars launches with a competition to find 10 of the most inspiring tech startups based across the North.

Speaking from the Tech North briefing in Leeds, Claire Braithwaite, Head of Tech North, commented: “Tech North is focused on celebrating the fantastic digital businesses we have across the region. The Northern Stars competition will create a showcase of 10 exceptional tech startups based across the North, and provide a real opportunity to showcase the North’s brightest and best entrepreneurial talent.”

Commercial Secretary at the Treasury Lord O’Neill said: “Tech North shows us that the Northern Powerhouse is about much more than devolution. It’s about nurturing the creativity and talent in our Northern Cities too, and this initiative plays a vital role to ensure our leading digital entrepreneurs can reach their full potential. We’re matching that ambition too by investing in tech startup incubators to support innovative new digital hubs in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Through better connecting digital expertise across seven key cities, it will give the digital economy in the North a huge boost, showing the rest of the world just how innovative it can be‎.”

Digital startups are invited to enter the Northern Stars competition through an online application. Following applications, there will be a series of Northern Stars pitch events, in partnership with Crowdcube, taking place in Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Sunderland in September and October.

From the shortlist built up through the events and online applications, 20 finalists will be chosen by an independent selection panel, made up of respected tech industry leaders. These founders will be invited to the Northern Stars final to pitch their startup in front of the audience and the expert judging panel, who will name the 10 winning startups of Northern Stars 2015.

Each of the winners receives a place in the Tech North pavilion at TechCrunch Disrupt; meetings with some of Europe’s leading early stage investors and mentors; a place at a dedicated investor pitch event at Bloomberg; access to other high value events and business leaders; along with skills development workshops delivered by expert mentors.

All companies applying to Northern Stars will be automatically entered into the Northern Stars network and kept informed of future events and initiatives.

The Tech North briefing took place in Leeds yesterday in front of a packed theatre of founders, CEOs and digital business leaders. Find out more about Tech North and Claire’s vision.

Do you have an inspiring digital startup business and a fantastic story to share? Sign up to the Northern Stars competition, and join Tech North as they showcase the vibrant digital talent in the North of England.