In a special turn of the tables on the ‘SuperConnector Show’ podcast, Paul Lancaster (Host, Founder & Event Producer, PLATFORM | UK Startup & Scaleup Week) was interviewed by Jyoti Kishnani, a Doctoral Student in Business Administration at Northumbria University & Organisation & Delivery Effectiveness Advisor at Resolved Group. The conversation explored Paul’s journey, the evolution of his business over the past 10yrs & the philosophy behind building a thriving regional business community through events.
The Evolution of the PLATFORM Community
Paul’s career, spanning music, marketing & startup / scaleup support has always been centred on connection. He noted that this ethos started early, drawing inspiration from the community spirit of the rave, acid house & techno music scene in the 1980s & 1990s plus the DJs who focused on the vibe & ensuring the clubbers had a good time, rather than just on their own celebrity status. He attempts to carry this spirit into his current work.
His events have evolved over time to focus on supporting the North East of England & Teesside, driven by a desire to champion the region & address external forces & internal mindsets that he felt were holding it back.
- Newcastle Startup Week: A 5-day, multi-venue, citywide event that successfully ran three times in 2017, 2018 & 2019, attracting 600, 600 & then 800 delegates respectively.
- Founders’ Friday: A monthly, day-long event in Newcastle that ran between July 2018 & February 2020
- PLATFORM: Launched in January 2024, this is a more condensed, informal & inclusive monthly morning session than Founders’ Friday (typically 9am-12:30pm). PLATFORM events are currently held monthly in Newcastle, quarterly in Sunderland & Middlesbrough & 3-4 times a year in Edinburgh.
- UK Startup & Scaleup Week: After running another 5-day, multi-venue, citywide event in Sunderland in June 2025 which attracted 420 delegates, this is now a purely online resource featuring weekly blogs, videos, podcasts & guides to help people understand how to start & grow a successful business in the UK.
The Blueprint of a Successful Networking Event
The PLATFORM events are structured to ensure maximum value for attendees, who range from entrepreneurs & business owners to funders, investors & service providers:
- Relaxed, Inclusive Networking: The first half-hour is intentionally relaxed, with an emphasis on helping people connect with others who they otherwise might not get to meet but can help them grow their business.
- Insights Briefing: A discussion led by Paul & others covering regional updates, events, business support initiatives & available funding or investment opportunities.
- Show & Tell: A literal platform for businesses, usually in their first 2 years of trading or with a new product, to talk about their offerings & receive feedback. This often leads to new collaborations, client work, advice & funding.
- Fireside Chat / In Conversation With… An interview with a successful entrepreneur or business leader who shares their journey, key milestones, challenges overcome & lessons learned.
Community Impact & Philosophy
The value of the community is demonstrated through tangible results:
- Jyoti shared that her network grew significantly through attending PLATFORM events & she was even offered a job at Resolved Group after meeting Chris Carroll (Founder, Resolved Group) who was doing a fireside chat / interview!
- Another attendee secured a demo for her software within the first 30 minutes of networking at a recent event which resulted in a new client signing a contract a few days later.
- Other businesses have obtained funding & investment after meeting the right people at a PLATFORM event.
- Paul’s efforts were recognised when he was presented with a ‘High Sheriff Award for Meritorious Community Service’ for his support of the business community at the PLATFORM Conference in Newcastle in April 2026.
Paul emphasises that effective networking is about listening more than talking & giving more than taking. Attendees should focus on showing interest, asking questions & offering value, such as making an introduction, rather than pushing a sale, which builds rapport & long-term relationships.
Challenges & Future Focus
Paul aims to run his business without reliance on government grants or funding. He secures sponsorship to cover core costs, usually by attracting money from larger businesses who wish to support the grassroots community & have relevant products or services to offer while maintaining a “soft sell” approach.
Paul & his business partner, Neil Stephenson, also provide low-cost business growth consultancy, investment readiness support, mentoring & coaching for PLATFORM event attendees with ambition to scale up. However, it is always a challenge to get people to pay for things when they are so used to getting everything for free.
He suggests a change in mindset is needed in the North East of England & Teesside, which he feels is “still too reliant on grants & funding” from local & national government sources which stifles growth as there isn’t a lot of funding available for startups or established small & micro businesses. He believes that just like Britain was once described as ‘a nation of shopkeepers’, it now needs to become a “nation of buyers” that makes an effort to support local, independent businesses that make each village, town & city unique.
Regarding the future, Paul acknowledges the role of technology & is exploring ways to use AI tools to scale connection by better matching people & pointing them toward the resources they need, supplementing the essential in-person human connection.
Advice for Young Founders
Paul’s key advice to young founders & entrepreneurs is to believe in yourself – to “pick yourself” & commit to your vision. Most importantly, he stressed the value of investing time in nurturing your network. He believes a strong network, built on goodwill & helping others, is invaluable, will follow you throughout your career & makes pivoting into new roles much easier.
ps You can also listen to this interview (& more) on Paul’s ‘SuperConnector Show’ podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible or Spreaker via our ‘Podcasts‘ page.
