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Find a co-founder in Leeds

Leeds is one of the main economic centres of the North of England, with a large financial and legal services sector, a major role in national health administration and a digital community that has grown steadily over the last decade. Channel 4’s move of its national headquarters to the city has also strengthened its media and creative scene.

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In short

To find a co-founder in Leeds, publish your project on EasyCofounder targeting Leeds and West Yorkshire, describe the role and sector precisely, and use the city’s strong digital community, university innovation hubs and health ecosystem to meet candidates in person. Leeds suits founders in health tech, fintech, data and media who want a dense, collaborative network.

Health is a distinctive strength. NHS England has a significant presence in Leeds, and the city combines teaching hospitals, university research and digital health companies, which makes it a natural place to find co-founders who understand clinical needs, health data and public sector procurement.

The University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Trinity University train thousands of graduates each year. The University of Leeds runs Nexus, an innovation hub that connects businesses and startups with researchers, a useful entry point for founders looking for scientific or technical partners.

On EasyCofounder, describe your project, the profile you need and how you plan to work. Talent from Leeds and Yorkshire lists its skills and availability, and you can contact the most relevant people directly before meeting them in the city.

The startup ecosystem in Leeds

  • Digital health hub

    National health bodies, hospitals and health tech firms make Leeds one of the best places in the UK to find a co-founder with clinical or health data experience.

  • Finance and legal services

    Banks, insurers and law firms employ many specialists in risk, compliance and operations, a pool of business co-founders for fintech and B2B software.

  • A festival of digital

    Leeds Digital Festival brings together the local tech community each year through talks and meetups, an easy way to meet developers and founders.

  • Nexus and university links

    The University of Leeds’ innovation hub connects companies with academic expertise, helpful for deeptech, materials and health projects that need a research partner.

  • Media and creative skills

    Broadcasters, production companies and agencies attract designers, content and marketing talent, valuable for consumer and media startups.

  • Yorkshire-wide network

    Bradford, Sheffield, York and Manchester are within reach, which widens the search for specialist profiles while keeping in-person meetings practical.

Find your co-founder in 4 steps

  1. 1

    Create your free profile

    Describe your skills, your availability and what you bring to a founding team.

  2. 2

    Publish your project

    Say which role you are looking for (CTO, CEO, CMO…), the commitment expected and the equity on offer, in Leeds.

  3. 3

    Let the matching work

    Filter talent by skill and location, or get suggestions of compatible profiles from the AI matching.

  4. 4

    Talk, then meet

    Chat through the built-in messaging, test your collaboration on a first project and put your agreement in writing in a shareholders’ agreement.

Frequently asked questions

Is Leeds a good city for a health tech startup?

Yes. The concentration of national health organisations, hospitals and researchers makes it easier to test ideas with clinicians and find a co-founder who understands how health services buy technology.

Where do developers meet in Leeds?

Local meetups, the annual digital festival and coworking spaces in the city centre are good starting points, alongside a targeted search for software profiles on EasyCofounder.

Can I find a business co-founder in Leeds if I am technical?

Yes. Leeds has a large pool of professionals from finance, law, retail and media, many of whom are interested in moving into a startup with a clear plan and fair equity.

Should my co-founder and I both be based in Leeds?

It helps in the early months, but many teams work between Leeds and other northern cities. Agree on regular in-person days and a shared way of working from the start.

How do I start my co-founder search in Leeds?

Publish your project on EasyCofounder with Leeds as the location, contact the most relevant profiles, and plan a few working sessions together before discussing equity.

Can a public sector background help a Leeds health tech founder?

Very much so. Someone who has worked inside health services understands procurement, data governance and clinical safety expectations, and can open doors that remain closed to purely technical teams.

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