Your guide to Sync the City 2024 - Gain new skills and launch a new startup company!

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Sync the City, which will take place from Thursday 28 November to Saturday 30 November 2024 at the King’s Centre in Norwich. With tickets for the event now on sale through Eventbrite (and expected to sell out soon!), this is your guide to the event.

Your questions answered…

What is Sync the City?

The event is a 52-hour challenge (based on the concept of a hackathon) for people with a business idea, aspiring developers, designers and marketing experts – as well as those who are just looking to get new skills and have fun. If you sign up, you’ll gain hands-on experience of developing a startup company and receive expert mentoring and guidance from leaders within Norwich’s business community.

What is the structure of the event? I’m not sure what to expect if I take part.

At the very start, you’ll be given the opportunity to make a “one minute pitch” for a business idea. It’s a very supportive and encouraging environment, as we know that this can feel nerve-racking – so our ethos is that there are no bad ideas (and making a pitch is not compulsory).

Following a vote, teams will be formed to work on the most popular ideas. Mentoring will be provided to each team by leaders from Norwich’s business community over the next couple of days, to support you in developing the business ideas. Each team will then make a final pitch for the idea they’ve developed at the prizegiving ceremony on Saturday. Our judges will choose winners and cash prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.

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Will I have to work overnight? What about food and drink?

No, you’re not expected to work overnight – and indeed the King’s Centre won’t be open. It is a demanding experience, and so you’ll need your sleep! And to support you, your ticket will include food and drink for the three days, with catering at the King’s Centre.

Is the event just for people at the start of their careers, or those currently working in related fields?

Not at all - the event is for people at all different stages of their careers and lives and working in all different areas. Students and people at the start of their careers have the chance to work with leading experts and to develop their skills. Those who are older have amazing life experience, which gives them invaluable skills and expertise to offer other participants. Often, we find people of all ages discover they have skills that they had never fully appreciated themselves before.

What do people say about the event?

Since Sync the City was co-founded by John Fagan (from technology company Scribe) and the University of East Anglia (UEA) 10 years ago, it has transformed lives and led to innovative spin-out companies and innovations – such as the Safepoint app for lone workers, developed by UEA graduate Callum Coombes after winning a prize at Sync the City in 2017 for pitching this idea. You can watch and interview with Callum – and some other previous participants – on the Sync the City website. We always receive great feedback from everyone taking part in the event, with many enjoying it so much that they come back each year.

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How is the event financed?

We are only able to keep ticket prices low thanks to many people giving their time for free, and thanks to the generous support of our amazing sponsors:

Primary sponsors:

Aviva

Connected Innovation

Greater Anglia

Supporting sponsors:

BrewDigital

Langham Recruitment

Norfolk County Council

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Other sponsors:

Adaptavist

Artlist

Work in Norwich

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If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected] for more information.

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