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Entrepreneurship in Manchester

Entrepreneurship in Manchester
Entrepreneurship in Manchester
From industrial revolution birthplace to digital innovation powerhouse, Manchester exemplifies urban reinvention through technology, creative industries, and academic excellence. This northern English city has developed particular strengths in advanced materials, digital health, and media technology, supported by institutions like the University of Manchester – home to graphene discovery – and MediaCityUK. Founders choosing Manchester access specialized technical talent across multiple domains, operating costs approximately 40% below London, and the UK's largest regional creative and digital ecosystem outside the capital. The innovation landscape features organizations including Manchester Science Partnerships and The Landing at MediaCityUK, with specialized facilities like the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre providing unique resources. Manchester's combination of scientific excellence, particularly in materials science, creative industry strength, and authentic northern character makes it increasingly attractive for entrepreneurs building startups requiring sophisticated technical development, creative content production, or innovations bridging physical and digital domains – all with British business advantages at substantially lower costs than London.
From industrial revolution birthplace to digital innovation powerhouse, Manchester exemplifies urban reinvention through technology, creative industries, and academic excellence. This northern English city has developed particular strengths in advanced materials, digital health, and media technology, supported by institutions like the University of Manchester – home to graphene discovery – and MediaCityUK. Founders choosing Manchester access specialized technical talent across multiple domains, operating costs approximately 40% below London, and the UK's largest regional creative and digital ecosystem outside the capital. The innovation landscape features organizations including Manchester Science Partnerships and The Landing at MediaCityUK, with specialized facilities like the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre providing unique resources. Manchester's combination of scientific excellence, particularly in materials science, creative industry strength, and authentic northern character makes it increasingly attractive for entrepreneurs building startups requiring sophisticated technical development, creative content production, or innovations bridging physical and digital domains – all with British business advantages at substantially lower costs than London.
Manchester founders in numbers
The startup community in Manchester shows a healthy mix of people still exploring ideas (57%) and those already building something (43%). This balance between early-stage thinking and committed founders shapes the local scene. Looking at the numbers, the median age of founders in Manchester is 28.5, with an average age of 33.2. Most are in the 25-32 age range, which makes up 38.8% of the community. When it comes to background, 56% of founders in Manchester have technical skills in areas like engineering or software development, while 44% come from business roles such as operations, product, or marketing. This mix creates plenty of opportunity for strong co-founder matches. Popular areas of interest include Recruiting, Internet, Legal Services, and Food. Many founders in Manchester also speak more than one language, adding fresh perspectives to the city’s startup ecosystem Impacts are {13},{14},{15},{16}.
Commitment Type
More than (57%) of Foundersbase founders in Manchester, are exploring startup ideas, while (43%) are committed to an idea.
Age
The median age of Foundersbase founders in Manchester is 28.5, while the average is age 33.2 with a maximum in the group of founders aging 25-32.
Type of Founder
About (56%) of Foundersbase founders in Manchester are technical (Engineering, AI/ML), while (44%) are non-technical (Product, Marketing, Operations).
Top industry interests
Discover the industries that Foundersbase founders in Manchester are most passionate about.
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