Alt Labs

08/10/2026

Our CEO’s been featured! 🔍

We’re proud to see Imran Anwar showcased in the latest edition of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum 2026 magazine, themed Ambition, alongside a fantastic group of leaders and entrepreneurs driving growth across the North.

In his feature, Imran talks about the slightly unexpected route that led him to start his own businesses, all the way from his professional sports dream, to entering the digital and innovation sectors, and eventually through to founding Alt Labs and Flok . 🚀

He also talks about Alt Labs’ growth beyond the UK, his deep connection to the North East, and his wider commitment to supporting entrepreneurship here and further afield, including through Flok .

He’s sharing the cover with an inspiring line-up, including Bethany Ainsley, Lee Hartley, Aneta Majerska, Kate Rose, Deborah Wylie, and Paul Callaghan, CBE, DL, FRSA. 👏

Bethany Ainsley, one of our Tees Valley Labs alumni, talks about her upcoming documentary where she is helping challenge society’s perceptions and platform the voices of domestic abuse survivors.

There’s some brilliant work happening across our region, and lots worth taking a look at. 🙌

A big thank you to the Entrepreneurs’ Forum !

07/10/2026

Goodbye September🍂

It’s fair to say it’s been a particularly busy month for the team at Alt Labs, and we’ve kicked off the new season in the best way!

We’ve hosted some fantastic events here at Flok , made some great new connections both locally and further afield, and had the privilege of attending some really exciting events taking place across the Tees Valley.📍

This month has been a great reminder of the importance of community, a strong ecosystem, and creating opportunity for the region’s entrepreneurial talent.

Scroll through to see more of what we’ve been up to! 👉

01/10/2026

01/10/2026

Innovate today, transform tomorrow.💡

Are you an entrepreneur with a business idea? Or an organisation facing a challenge you’re not quite sure how to overcome?

That’s where Alt Labs comes in.

For years, innovation has been at the heart of what we do, and our venture support programmes and initiative’s have reflected this.

We’ve had the privilege of working with founders, organisations, education providers, local governments, and large corporations, meeting them where they are, and helping them develop solutions that push them forward. 🚀

From innovation and business support programmes, to venture building, challenge-led projects, workshops, and even our community hub here at Flok , our work takes many forms.

We’ve had some great success stories along the way, and we’re proud to share a few of them!

Ready to start your innovation journey? 👉

21/09/2026

That’s a wrap on What the Flok is Coworking! 🎤💻

It was a fantastic turnout on Friday morning at Flok’s introduction into Coworking event, led by Flok’s Community and Events Manager, Daniella Ryan!

The session began with a relaxed tour of the space, giving guests the chance to explore coworking areas, meeting rooms and some of the special perks that come with being part of the Flok community, including (of course) the pink kitchen facilities. ☕️

Danni shared a bit about Flok’s origins and its diverse culture, sharing CEO, Imran Anwar’s hope to create “an environment that supports people, no matter where they are in their journey”.

Flok is what you make of it. It can simply be a profressional workplace but can also work as a safe place to socialise, a networking hub to meet fellow businesses, investors, or even find your next opportunity! 🚀

It was great to hear from some of Flok’s longest community members, Danny Reed, Peter Calvert, and Jordan Atkinson, known as Flokkers, who shared how Flok has benefited their business journeys!

We also had a lovely introduction from Sharon Braithwaite about the support Barclays Eagle Labs , provides for start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs from right here in Flok. As well as a talk from our Innovation Coordinator Michael Crean, who announced the new Flok Founders Club membership for those who want a taste of coworking without the long-term commitment. 🙌

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, to our wonderful guest speakers, and to Dani for smashing her first event hosting!

If you missed the event or would like to find out more about coworking options, click Flok or pop in for a tour. 📍

The Flok team would be happy to show you around!

funnellabs.tech northern_school_of_marketing

08/09/2026

🎤 Meet Danny 👋

Danny Reed is the Founder of The Northern School of Business and Marketing, creator of the RAMMS Framework and a Digital Marketing Lecturer. He’s been part of the Flok community since 2023!

Since then, he’s found that working for yourself doesn’t have to mean working by yourself.

For Danny, Flok is about having people around you; people you can chat to, bounce ideas off, learn from and grab a coffee with.

It’s the kind of place where you can turn up to get some work done, but end up leaving with a new idea, a useful connection or just a really good conversation.

And that’s what makes coworking so valuable. You’re still doing your own thing, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Danny will be sharing a bit about his Flok journey at our “What the Flok is Coworking?” event on the 18th of September.

Come along, meet the community and find out what coworking is really like!

Book your ticket today via the link below for a chance to win a FREE week of coworking 👀

🔗https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-the-flok-is-coworking-tickets-1992767619594?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/09/2026

An afternoon spent with Civic Future on their regional tour, hosted by Tees Valley CA !📍

Civic Future supports the next generation of MP’s, civil servants, leaders, and individuals who can help shape and improve the future of public life and the landscape of the civil service. Their visit was an opportunity to explore the Tees Valley’s digital sector and to showcase our potential.

The session was led by our Head of Product and Projects, Roger Spurr, and Head of Venture Support, Steve Dougan, who spoke with two separate focus groups throughout the afternoon.

From showcasing our digital capabilities, including AI, app development, coding, and so much more, to sharing how we support new businesses through innovation and delivery of incubator and accelerator programmes like Tees Valley Labs, the team shared so many exciting things we’re exceptionally proud to be building.👏

It was also an excellent opportunity to show off Flok ! Steve was an excellent tour guide, and it was great to see them all exploring the space and get a taste of the supportive community and culture we’ve built here.

A big thank you to the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Civic Future for taking the time to visit, learn more about what we do, and explore the potential we have on offer here.

We hope to see you again soon! 🚀

07/09/2026

It’s a new month, which means it’s time for our August round-up!☀️

As we transition into autumn, a season of change, let’s reflect on a month that had us looking to the future.

We’ve formed some wonderful new partnerships for upcoming projects, continued to grow our connections in and beyond the North East ecosystem, and worked hard creating new opportunities to support our Young Entrepreneurs Programme.

We can’t wait to see what September has in store! 🍂

07/09/2026