This post should have been written on 1st August 2013 when I sold Northern Tech Awards to GP Bullhound, a boutique investment bank, as I was emotionally fired up on that great scorching day in Manchester.
Since 2004, I founded few businesses, some have gone horribly wrong and others have thrived. Northern Tech Awards was not a business, but a key asset that emerged from Techcelerate. It was setup as the highlight of the year, when I used to run over 20 events a year, and our strong community of 2,300 tech entrepreneurs, senior managers of tech companies, investors, deal makers and service providers demanded of a key annual event.
Running a tech startup is damn hard. I have scars to prove it. Northern Tech Awards was the annual event, where the community as a whole recognised those startups which stood above the rest of us. It was a night to dress well, be recognised and celebrate in style.
My tiny team and I ran Northern Tech Awards for three years with no budget, and it was getting bigger in terms of expectations for us to manage effectively. And out of the blue, Hugh Campbell of GP Bullhound came with an offer I could not resist. Big thanks goes to Garyy Partington of Apadmi and RealityMine, the only unbeatable winner of the three years we ran the Awards, who introduced me to Hugh the afternoon of this years Awards.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who made it happen, from the judges who gave their time and put up with my spreadsheets, to sponsors, applicants and attendees, and not forget to mention my wife Nishani who continues to put up with my entrepreneurial efforts, and my good friend Stuart Scott-Goldstone who has not yet given up on me.
I look forward to supporting the new team, especially Hugh and Bev from GP Bullhound to continue and build upon our success.
In case you wonder, yes, we drank Champagne, and I do have a picture to prove it!