Disruptive Innovators Network

What Disruptive Innovators Network does

Disruptive Innovators Network (DIN) is a UK-based membership organisation founded in 2018 and headquartered in Middlesbrough that serves social housing providers seeking to accelerate innovation across the sector. Its membership spans organisations collectively responsible for 1.7 million UK social homes, including named providers such as Beyond Housing, Bromford Flagship, Riverside, Stonewater, Platform Housing Group, Places for People, Southern Housing, Anchor, Onward Homes, Freebridge Community Housing, and Citizen Housing Group. The organisation is led by founder Ian Wright, who brings over 20 years of housing-sector experience.

DIN's core product is a tiered subscription membership that grants access to four member channels — Leadership, People & Culture, Digital & Data, and Property — together with the Housing AI Forum community and a portfolio of executive development programmes covering Connected CEO, CEO Compass, and Next Stop CEO cohorts. The product surface has been extended through three operating subsidiaries or affiliates: SHED, a procurement framework co-founded with Procurement for Housing; SUSY, an AI learning platform delivered in partnership with Uptake AI; and DSAF, a Data Science Analytics Forum. Proprietary research assets include the On the AI Pulse survey and the If Homes Could Talk programme. Delivery is supported by a multi-partner ecosystem including Switchee (named main delivery partner for 2026), Uptake AI, Anthony Collins, Bromford, Housing Digital, and PayPoint.

The business model is membership-driven: monthly fees are tiered by housing stock size from £430 to £1,200 per organisation, with pricing reportedly locked until December 2026. Revenue is supplemented by joining fees, CEO programme charges, event sponsorship, and revenue shares from delivery partners through SHED and SUSY. The team is intentionally lean at 1–10 employees, generating leverage through partner orchestration rather than headcount expansion.

Name

Disruptive Innovators Network

Legal name

Disruptive Innovators Network Ltd

Website

https://disruptiveinnovatorsnetwork.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Disruptive Innovators Network is a UK membership organisation, founded in 2018, that supports social housing providers — collectively managing 1.7 million homes — through tiered channels, CEO programmes, AI learning (SUSY), and a procurement framework (SHED).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Middlesbrough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: DIN generates revenue primarily through annual/multi-year membership subscriptions for social housing providers. Membership fees are structured based on the organisation's housing stock size, with organisations paying a one-off joining fee plus a recurring monthly subscription. After the initial 12-month minimum term, membership continues month-to-month with one month's notice for cancellation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Disruptive Innovators Network (DIN) is a membership community for social housing organisations in the UK, providing organisation-wide access to networking events, conferences, webinars, study visits, research forums, and learning resources across four delivery channels: Leadership, People & Culture, Digital & Data, and Property. It sells annual/monthly memberships with fees tiered by housing stock size, and operates research initiatives such as the 'On the AI Pulse' survey and the 'If Homes Could Talk' connected homes project.

Product overview

Disruptive Innovators Network (DIN) is a membership organisation for social housing providers, not a unified software product. The core offering is an annual membership that provides organisation-wide access to a portfolio of services across four delivery channels: Leadership, People and Culture, Digital and Data, and Property. Key offerings include the Housing AI Forum (for AI adoption), On the AI Pulse (research initiative), If Homes Could Talk (connected homes research), Curiosity to Clarity (research capability building), and CEO Programmes (Connected CEO, CEO Compass, Next Stop CEO). Additional services include Lightning Pitches (startup presentations), DIN Labs (technology testing), Data Science Analytics Forum (DSAF), SHED procurement framework, in-person conferences, DINCasts (recorded conversations), and Innovators Assemble (expert panel). Membership includes access to events, webinars, study visits, and a network of delivery partners and suppliers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• On the AI Pulse: Research initiative to understand AI adoption and usage in social housing
• If Homes Could Talk
• SHED
• SUSY
• DINnovation Day
• Connected CEO
• Curiosity to Clarity
• DINCasts
• DINLabs

Products and services

• DIN Membership Annual or monthly membership subscription providing full access to DIN's programme of events, conferences, webinars, research forums, and learning resources for the entire organisation in the social housing sector. Membership is sized to the organisation's housing stock.
• Leadership Channel Focused content and programme for developing leadership skills and mindset for CEOs, executive leaders, and future leaders, including programmes such as Connected CEO, CEO Compass, and Next Stop CEO.
• People and Culture Channel Resources, programmes, and events for building positive, high-performing cultures including agile resourcing labs, accountability shift sessions, and inclusion programmes.
• Digital and Data Channel Helps housing providers strengthen digital capabilities and harness digital technology and analytics through the Housing AI Forum, data workshops, and technology showcases.
• Property Channel Supports housing leaders in embracing property technologies including connected homes, AI-enabled compliance, and sustainable retrofit solutions through forums, roundtables, and supplier showcases.
• CEO Programmes Curated series including Connected CEO (private WhatsApp channel with exclusive research), CEO Compass (for first-time CEOs), and Next Stop CEO (for aspiring CEOs).
• On the AI Pulse Comprehensive AI survey and research project for social housing, combining a sector-wide survey with a Delphi panel of experts to track AI adoption, barriers, and opportunities.
• If Homes Could Talk Largest exploration of connected (smart) homes in social housing, investigating barriers to IoT adoption and developing recommendations for scaling smart home technology.
• SHED - Social Housing Emerging Disruptors Procurement framework established with Procurement for Housing (PFH) to connect innovative suppliers with housing providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Member organisations collectively manage 1.7 million homes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SwitcheecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwitchee serves as DIN's main delivery partner for 2026. Switchee provides connected home solutions for social housing, with their smart devices and sensors capturing data to help housing providers understand in-home conditions, identify risks like damp and mould earlier, and improve operational efficiency. The partnership supports Awaab's Law compliance and enables data-driven housing management.
• Uptake AIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUptake AI serves as DIN's AI learning partner, delivering AI upskilling programmes to help housing professionals develop skills to use AI effectively and ethically. Andrew Whyatt-Sames, Co-founder of Uptake AI, is listed as an expert contributor.
• Anthony CollinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnthony Collins solicitors deliver DIN's Housing Law Series, providing legal expertise on AI opportunities, technology, and transformation in social housing. The partnership includes an annual conference, quarterly roundtables, and ongoing collaboration through AC's tech and transformation team.
• BromfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBromford contributes to DIN's Research Forum through Paul Taylor (Innovation Coach) and Rob Rowlands (Curator of Curiosity). The 'Curiosity to Clarity' programme helps organisations improve how research is used across housing, moving from data drowning to evidence-informed decisions.
• Housing DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationHousing Digital serves as a delivery partner for DIN's Digital and Data channel, contributing expertise in digital transformation and housing technology.
• PayPointcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayPoint serves as a delivery partner for DIN's Digital and Data channel, with expertise in payment solutions and digital services for housing providers.
• VoicescapecoreTechnology or IntegrationVoicescape serves as a delivery partner for DIN's Digital and Data channel, providing innovative solutions for housing communications and engagement.
• Octopus EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOctopus Energy is featured as a study visit destination for DIN members to learn about innovative culture and customer service practices. Additionally, Octopus partnered with DIN and Together Housing on tariff and energy solutions.
• IKEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKEA Greenwich is featured as a study visit location for sustainability and future-proof practices in the property channel.
• Procurement for HousingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPFH collaborates with DIN on SHED (Social Housing Emerging Disruptors), a procurement framework that helps connect innovative suppliers with housing providers.
• CorponetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as a study visit destination in Amsterdam, providing learning opportunities for DIN members on innovation practices.
• National RobotariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Robotarium in Edinburgh is featured as a study visit destination for DIN members to explore robotics and AI technology applications.
• Hartree CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hartree Innovation Centre in Liverpool is featured as a visit destination for property channel activities on technology and innovation.
• Elevate ColourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOke Eleazu, former CEO of Many Pets and founder of Elevate Colour, is listed as an expert contributor guiding inclusive and welcoming culture creation.
• Pathway AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTom Manning, founder of the Pathway Academy, contributes to DIN's 'accountability shift' sessions on building accountability capability.
• GravitasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a delivery partner contributing leadership and executive expertise.
• Yellow Cat InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSusie Braam and Katie Careless MBE, founding partners, serve on DIN's Innovators Assemble panel providing innovation expertise.
• The Unforgiving MinuteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a delivery partner providing time management and productivity expertise.
• The Housing Finance CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a delivery partner providing housing finance expertise.
• UKRI (UK Research and Innovation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a delivery partner providing research and innovation expertise.
• Rob Rowlands ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRob Rowlands serves as DIN's 'Curator of Curiosity' and researcher in residence, leading the AI Pulse research project.
• CPD CertifiedminorOthersDIN is CPD registered, with selected events accredited for continuing professional development.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HouseMark: UK housing-sector data, benchmarking and insight service for housing providers; the most direct comparability given founder Ian Wright was previously Deputy CEO/Director at HouseMark, and both serve the same UK social-housing member base with subscription-driven insight content.
• Housing Quality Network (HQN): UK housing-sector support, training and consultancy network selling memberships and events to social-housing providers — a closely comparable subscription/membership model with shared audience of housing CEOs and operational leaders.
• Campbell Tickell: UK housing-sector executive search, leadership and advisory consultancy; runs housing leadership programmes and published the AI-and-Social-Housing report with DIN, making it a tightly comparable peer competing for similar housing-CEO budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH): Larger UK professional membership body for housing practitioners and organisations; overlaps with DIN on professional development, events, and policy influence, but operates at broader scale and with a chartered-membership accreditation model.
• National Housing Federation (NHF): UK trade association representing housing associations; broader scope (lobbying, policy, member services) than DIN but competes for the same membership budgets and content attention from social-housing leadership teams.

Others

• Centre for Cities: UK urban-policy research and events think tank; an adjacent peer in policy-oriented research, events and housing-relevant insight that competes for the same 'innovation-and-policy' thought-leadership attention from senior housing executives and policy-makers.
• Inside Housing: UK social-housing sector news, analysis and events brand owned by Newsquest; competes for the same housing-leader attention with content and events, and serves a closely overlapping audience of housing association executives.

Regional players

• Northern Housing Consortium: UK membership organisation for social-housing providers with a northern/regional focus; directly comparable membership-network model and content/event programme, but explicitly regional in scope rather than national.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disruptive-innovators-network
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCn1a2d3d4e5f6g7h8i9j0k1l

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Disruptive Innovators Network