Startup Events in Crawley

Tech Connected Business Networking - Launch Event

Crawley, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Create meaningful business connections, spark new ideas, and explore how technology is helping organisations

Connecting Businesses Through Technology, Innovation and Growth

Limited places available to encourage meaningful conversations, valuable introductions, and quality networking.

We're excited to launch Tech Connected Business Networking, a brand-new bi-monthly networking event bringing together ambitious business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals and innovators from across Sussex and the South East.

Hosted at the Crawley Innovation Centre, Tech Connected is designed to create meaningful business connections, spark new ideas, and explore how technology is helping organisations improve efficiency, drive growth and gain competitive advantage.

Technology now plays a role in every business, regardless of sector. Through our growing network of partners, suppliers and business leaders, Tech Connected aims to create a community where businesses can learn from one another, share experiences, and discover new opportunities enabled by technology.

Whether you're a start-up, SME, established organisation or professional adviser, Tech Connected offers a welcoming environment to network with like-minded people who are passionate about business growth and innovation.

Launch Event Details

📅 Date: Wednesday, 8th July 2026

🕓 Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm

📍 Venue: Crawley Innovation Centre

🎟️ Cost: £10 per person

Your Ticket Includes

✔ Refreshments and networking

✔ FREE entry into our launch prize draw

✔ Announcement of our nominated charity partner

✔ Expert guest speaker presentation

✔ Opportunities to connect with local business leaders and innovators

Guest Speaker: Gerry Lawrence - Director, Freeman Clarke

Innovator | Mentor | Speaker | Technology Leader

We are delighted to welcome Gerry Lawrence, Director at Freeman Clarke and one of the UK's leading technology leadership specialists.

Gerry has spent more than three decades helping organisations use technology to accelerate growth, improve efficiency and unlock new opportunities. His experience includes building the technical team of a start-up ISP that achieved a £66 million exit, founding one of the UK's first internet-based CCTV services, leading technology functions within publicly listed organisations and delivering transformational technology projects across multiple industries.

Today, Gerry leads Freeman Clarke's Southern Home Counties practice, helping ambitious businesses access experienced CIO, CTO and IT Director expertise to align technology strategy with business goals.

Gerry's Session (TBC)

Technology Leadership for Business Growth

In today's fast-moving business environment, technology is no longer simply a support function—it is a critical driver of growth, efficiency and competitive advantage.

Gerry will share practical insights into how business leaders can:

Align technology with business objectives
Improve operational efficiency through smarter systems and processes
Strengthen cyber resilience and reduce business risk
Successfully navigate digital transformation initiatives
Identify opportunities for innovation and growth

Expect practical advice, real-world examples and actionable takeaways that can be applied immediately within your own organisation.

Connect with Gerry on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrylawrence/

Learn more about Freeman Clarke:
https://freemanclarke.com/people/gerry-lawrence/

Why Attend?

Meet and connect with local business professionals
Learn from an experienced technology leader
Share ideas and experiences with like-minded organisations
Discover how technology can help drive business growth
Become part of a growing local business community
Support a local charity (to be announced at the event)

About Tech Connected

Tech Connected was created to bring together businesses that recognise the important role technology plays in modern business success.

Our aim is to build a collaborative community where organisations can network, learn and grow together while embracing innovation and new opportunities.

Future events will take place every other month and feature guest speakers, networking and business-focused technology insights.

Stay Connected

We're launching a dedicated LinkedIn page where we'll share event updates, future dates, speaker announcements and technology insights.

Follow us on LinkedIn and be part of the Tech Connected community from the beginning.

#TechConnectedCrawley

Book Your Place

Spaces are limited, so secure your ticket today and join us for the launch of Tech Connected Business Networking.

We look forward to welcoming you.