Silicon Mingle Newcastle x ACT: A Byte in the Sun
'A Byte in the Sun' is the June edition of Silicon Mingle, Newcastle's friendly tech and startup mixer, running as part of the TechNExt 2026 festival as a fringe in partnership with the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT).
We will be taking over the rooftop terrace and cocktail bar at The Grove in Byker for an evening of drinks and BBQ delights — courtesy of our partner ACT, who'll be joining us with a delegation visiting from the United States.
The format is deliberately low-key: no panels or pitches - just good people, a great atmosphere, some fun food and the kind of unhurried conversations that turn into co-founders, hires, customers and friendships.
We're expecting a healthy mix of startup founders, operators, engineers, developers and independent app makers from across the North East, alongside our visiting friends from across the pond.
The Grove itself is well worth turning up for — a beautifully restored Byker venue with one of the nicest rooftops in the city. Doors from 6:30pm, wrapping up around 9pm — just in time for kick-off...
⚽️ 🏴 🇭🇷 England's World Cup '26 opener with Croatia kicks off at 9pm and will be screened free on The Grove's outdoor screen — feel free to stick around on the terrace and watch with us.
Food and drinks courtesy of ACT 🍕🍹
BBQ with meat, veggie and vegan options available 🌱
🚶♀️ Getting home safely: WalkSafe.io
A quick heads-up:
Silicon Mingle and ACT may take a few photos at the event to share on our website and social media pages. If you'd rather not be in any pictures, just let us know on the night.
About Developed: UK
This event is part of Developed: UK, an event series that brings together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders to discuss local startup realities and how UK-level policy decisions increasingly shape the way teams build, launch, and scale. The goal is simple: build a stronger country-wide and cross-border community, discuss what’s working (and what isn’t) for tech innovators, and carry those insights and relationships from the Developed: UK Tour into broader conversations about digital policy and competitiveness in London.
About the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT)
ACT is a global membership organisation representing technology startups, scaleups, and independent developers building across the digital economy. We work with our members and governments around the world to advocate for policies that reward and inspire tech-driven innovation while providing resources to help you raise capital, scale globally, and create jobs.
Questions? Ideas? Want to get involved?
Reach out to Karl:
Email: [email protected]