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Leathes Prior are proud to announce that they have agreed a 3 year deal with Sync Norwich and the UEA to be primary sponsors of Sync the City.

Sync the City is a 54 hour event that brings together the region’s budding entrepreneurs, experienced business mentors and technology experts. Around 12 teams are chosen to build their own digital start-up from scratch, to then pitch the business idea to the public and a panel of expert judges. Last year, judges included James Duez, Executive Chairman of Rainbird Technologies, Rebecca Lewis Smith, Managing Director of Fountain and Neil Garner, CEO of Thyngs. The prize for the winning team, voted by the judges, is £4,000, and the people’s choice voted by the audience will also win £1,000.

John Fagan, founder of Sync Norwich and Sync the City said; "Leathes Prior have been supporting the start-up community in Norwich for last 2.5 years by sponsoring our monthly SyncNorwich events. SyncNorwich & UEA are really excited to welcome Leathes Prior as Primary Sponsors of Sync the City for the next 3 years. Leathes Prior embody the spirit of the event, through sponsorship, mentoring, competing and pitching winning ideas!”

We recognise the growing influence of Norfolk as a hub of start-up and technology businesses, and Sync the City has increasingly become a symbol of the region’s success in the sector. Sync the City is a great event that gives entrepreneurs, who may never get a chance, the opportunity to make their idea into a reality.  

In recent years, our very own trainees have put themselves out of their comfort zones by participating in the event, which has helped them gain invaluable experience in developing their public speaking and wider commercial acumen.  

Dan Chapman, Partner at Leathes Prior, said “having enjoyed attending and participating in the event over the past few years we are delighted to be able to commit to the long-term sponsorship of Sync the City.  We recognise the huge importance of the technology sector to our local community, the spirit of which is embodied in the growing success of Sync the City.  We hope that both our financial support and the support of our lawyers will assist the event in continuing to expand and give the future generation of entrepreneurs a platform on which to develop their ideas.”

Last year, Myles Chingara and Lily Beel faced the judges with pitches for start-up businesses Gá and Seren respectively. Of the event, Myles said; “Sync the City was an invaluable experience which provided me with insight into the world of start-up companies and provided an opportunity to present and exchange ideas with others in a forum unlike any other I have ever encountered. The positive environment partnered with the collective efforts of all involved to produce intricate work made this event worthwhile.” We are also proud that Lily’s idea Seren, a safe space for people effected by mental health illness to meet up, won the people’s choice award!

Next year Nina Ryan, a solicitor in our Corporate & Commercial team, has agreed to be a business mentor to help the teams prepare for the big pitches and guide them through the process. Nina has previously competed in the event so has great knowledge of how it works and will be able to provide valuable insight to the competitors.

We really look forward to the coming years’ events held from 14 to 16 November at Open, and will no doubt see the development of even more great business ideas. You never know, one of these ideas could be the next Facebook.

For more information regarding the Sync the City, visit our Technology page, email us on info@leathesprior.co.uk or give us a call us 01603 610911