Businessmen behind a push to make the borough a tech-city have said their plans gained plenty of momentum last year and are hoping 2013 will be just as successful.

Croydon Tech City, a forward thinking group headed up by Jonny Rose, has already held three successful events proposing how the town can become a second tech city.

The Government touted concept of a tech city refers to a cluster of over 400 early stage technical and digital start-ups in the Shoreditch and Old Street area, such as Soundcloud, Yammer and Last.fm.

Both Google and Amazon recently moved to the area to be closer to technical and commercial talent.

Now a group of Croydon businessmen are spearheading a drive to also make Croydon a digital business hub.

More than 150 people in total have attended the Tech City events with speakers including Saif Bonar, founder of Matthews Yard; Simon Bird, founder of DotMailer one of Croydon’s largest software companies and businessman Nigel Dias.

The group's last event was in December.

Mr Rose, 26 and a recent graduate from Exeter University, said he has been delighted with the response towards the group so far.

He said he wanted the Tech City brand to continue developing this year and is hoping ideas that emerge from the group will catch on.

"We want to make Croydon Tech City into organisation of local advisers, experts and service providers that can benefit the community as a whole,” he said.

“We're adamant that as well as building this exciting and dynamic community that meet monthly, we also want to have an impact outside of the meetups.

“As well as establishing Code Clubs in Croydon primary schools and creating a few startups with any interested locals. I want this to be a year in which Croydon Tech City puts Croydon back on the map and raises its national profile in a way that is positive.”

Mr Rose added: “I have already had interest from the Government, the Tech City Investment Organisation, and strangely University College Dublin, all of whom are watching the Croydon Tech City movement with interest.

“Hopefully, Croydon Tech City will make larger business start coming back to the borough rather than leaving.”

The Croydon Tech City 2013 Launch event is Thursday 24th 7.30pm at Matthews Yard.