Technology entrepreneurs searching for funds no longer have to attract the eye of Silicon Valley investors, according to an industry expert.
Jon Bradford, former managing director of London-based start-up accelerator Tech Stars, said a growing number of investors wanted to fund businesses outside the US tech hub.
Speaking at the annual Norfolk Developers Conference in Norwich, which attract more than 400 people, Mr Bradford told businesses to make the most of the opportunity.
'There are an increasing number of investors who are interested in investing in non-Silicon Valley businesses,' he said.
He said investors liked to spend time with businesses, so Norwich firms should reach out to potential funders outside the city.
'How you can be part of the process is by getting on trains and in cars and making people feel like they are physically closer than they may or may not be,' he added.
'The rest of the world is a bigger market to Silicon Valley. The opportunity is not the Valley it's everywhere.'
Mr Bradford was among workshop leaders at the three-day event in the King's Centre in Norwich, which included both technical and business-focused workshops.
It was launched with a key note speech from Florida-based developer Michael Feathers, director of R7K Research and Conveyance, who flew over for the conference.
Mr Feathers said it was important businesses understood the importance of technology. 'I sometimes feel like they don't really get it,' he added.
Organiser Paul Grenyer, co-director of Naked Element, said: 'I'm really pleased, I never believed for a moment we would get 405 people here. People were still buying tickets after I went to bed last night.'
He added the key aim was to get traditional businesses and tech firms to work more closely together.
Workshops included how to grow a business from just two people to 10, and information on technical recruitment.
Are you launching a new technology business? Email sabah.meddings@archant.co.uk
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