Business accelerators run support programmes typically with investment aiming to grow early-stage businesses in a short space of time exponentially. The programs usually last from 3 months up to a year and as well as offering capital also offer exposure and access to networks of angel investors and experienced mentors. They usually take 5-10% equity in exchange for initial seed funding averaging between £10,000 to £30,000.
Often their financial value is outweighed by the ancillary benefits of being on a business acceleration program. They also can offer specific legal support and financial support such as accounting services from partners, which can be crucial for the technology businesses that typically take advantage of these accelerators.
The accelerators listed below typically cater to early-stage technology businesses, but there is a vast range of programmes available that also cover many different areas/stage of business.
Seedcamp
Seedcamp is not a typical accelerator. There better described as a hybrid accelerator and investor which will take your company from an idea to a fully functioning product or service. They are looking for highly scalable businesses solving problems through the application of technology in global markets.
Their overall focus is on Europe, but they are open to founders and companies from other parts of the world. Typically, they look to invest in companies in a prototype or pre-revenue stage and are often the lead investor.
They also help in providing initial space, network access, education and much more to aid in building your product/service and accelerate your business’s growth. Seedcamp has a focus on founders first and ensuring transparency while accelerating the learning process and company life-cycle.
It is important to mention there an active investor and typically take a board role as an observer in any company they invest in. To date, Seedcamp has funded more than 250 companies who have gone to raise more than a £1,000,000,000 in follow on funding.
Funding/duration: £100,000 for 7.5% for pre-seed investment with further co-investment in seed rounds up to £2,000,000 (there are significant investment amounts available for exceptional circumstances).
The programme duration depends on the company/investment (Seedcamp have pivoted further away from an accelerator model more towards a very hands-on early stage fund, they did use to run a more traditional style accelerator with a three-month programme, it is unclear if this is still run).
Location/contact: London
Startupbootcamp Fin Tech
The Startupbootcamp Fin Tech programme is a financial service focused accelerator programme me looking primarily for companies innovating in blockchain, mobile security, SME finance solutions, financial inclusion, robo advisor/AI and identity management.
For each programme, they select ten startups providing expert-led masterclasses in all areas of business development, access to corporate financial partners, global network access to mentors and investors. They also offer hands-on mentors, free coworking space for your entire team, investor access, many perks and discounts, free access to many in industry events as well as a demo day at the end of the program.
Funding/duration: €15,000 for 6-8% in equity. The standard programme duration is 3 months.
Location/contact: London (Rainmaking Loft, St Katherine Docks)
Entrepreneur First (EF)
EF is Famous as one of the first accelerators to bring together talented individuals who do not know each other and forging these individuals into entrepreneurs and formidable startups teams. The startups created are focused purely on deep technology and solving significant solutions in global markets. A recent example of success if the acquisition of one of their AI startups called Magic Pony by Twitter in recent years.
On the programme, you’ll receive access to hands-on mentors, experts and investors with a focus on fast growth and technology development. If your looking for a project this programme might be a good fit for you, be warned it is a highly competitive process.
Funding/duration: £16,600 – £19,900 for startups created during the programme in exchange for 8% equity (this may vary for startups that join the programme with 1 or more founders). The programme duration is unknown.
Location/contact: London
Startplanet NI
Initiated in 2015, the Startplanet NI is a business accelerator for technology startups and early-stage ventures in Northern Ireland.
They’re particularly interested in startups with the potential to attack large global markets quickly with a very scalable business model. The programme offers seed investment, accountancy support, legal support, workspace, networking access and seminars.
Funding/duration: £20,000 – £100,000 in exchange for 6% equity (case by case valuation). The standard programme duration ranges between 3 and 9 months.
Location/contact: Belfast, Northern Ireland
The Sirius Programme
Founded in 2013 and run by the UKTI, the Sirius Programme is a government-backed accelerator programme to support graduates entrepreneurs from across the globe to relocate their businesses to the UK. The program provides 20 startups each year with funding, entrepreneur visa UK support, setting up a business bank account and much more, making a business move to the UK very straightforward for young entrepreneurs with high growth potential businesses.
Funding/duration: £35,000 in cash and £20,000 in services in exchange for 10% equity. The programme duration is 12 months.
Location/contact: London
R/GA IoT Venture Studio
The R/GA IoT Venture Studio was born in 2016 and is an accelerator programme for early, mid and late stage startups or companies developing connected hardware products and software services. The program is particularly specialised for firms involved in digital technology, fintech or smart city technologies. The programme covers everything from industrial engineering to sales, marketing and much more (IOT = Internet of Things).
Funding/duration: £75,000 in exchange for 6% equity. The standard programme duration is 3 months.
Location/contact: London
Startupbootcamp InsurTech
Startupbootcamp InsurTech is a program for startups developing technology for or in the insurance industry. The program aims to support the creation and development of world-class insurance products and in the long build industry-leading insurance companies.
Funding/duration: €15,000 for 6% equity. The standard programme duration is 3 months acceleration and one month’s free office space after the programme.
Location/contact: London
StartupBootCamp IOT
StartupBootCamp IOT is a Connected Devices accelerator programme for early-stage ventures building physical products or software in the Internet of Things space, specifically companies working on connected devices with industrial or consumer applications. To apply, you will need a prototype that is working and at least two co-founders.
Funding/duration: €15,000 in exchange for 6% equity. The programme duration is 3 months and 2 months free office space.
Location/contact: London
TechStars
Techstars is arguably one of the worlds most successful accelerators, their London chapter is open to all kinds of digital technology but tends to focus on early-stage deeptech or other sector startups with more traction.
The added advantage of Techstars apart from the world-class program is the network of founders, investors and startups they have amassed, arguably better than any other accelerator in this regard. You also have the cache of a being a Techstars Alumni but bear in mind before applying the programme is very tough to get into. Each cohort they take is 13 startups in size; several groups are run each year.
Funding/duration: €15,000 with an optional convertible note of €70,000 (the first sum in exchange for between 6 and 10% equity). The standard programme duration is 12 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Dotforge Accelerator
DotForge is a 3-stage accelerator programme me providing Pre-Seed companies with capital, education and a comfortable environment. There firmly targeting early stage technology companies, taking them through from ideation to commercial launch and beyond.
Their further qualifying the companies they accept onto the program by the potential social impact a company or technology a company is developing can have, their mainly looking for companies who can act as catalysts for positive social change (they will support CIC’s and charities).
They will work with to raise a further round post participating in one of their programs. Regarding being different from other accelerators, they seem to have a particular focus on industry engagement with an extensive corporate network offering access benefits regarding partnerships, sales, investment and acquisition.
Funding/duration: £5,000 per founder with a maximum of £15,000 in initial seed investment available. The standard programme duration is 13 weeks.
Location/contact: Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds
Ignite
Ignite is a comprehensive programme from concept ideas to later-Stage companies in the software industry. The program is mostly carried out remotely, meaning any UK startup would be able to take part in Ignite. There is some onsite work carried out, and you will work closely with mentors throughout the process.
Regarding criteria, to apply for an Ignite program, you’ll need to have an MVP, be a team of at least two founders and be working on your project/business full time. They also run a pre-accelerator programme me providing a day-long course for founders who are in the very early stages of creating their business or ideating.
Funding/duration: £25,000 for 5%, with a contribution of a further 1% to their founder’s equity pool which is owned by the founder and the Ignite team. The standard programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: Manchester (Mostly remote)
Entrepreneurial Spark & Hatchery
One of the world’s biggest free accelerator for start-up and scaling businesses, ESpark accepts applicants from the idea stage to those who have been running for up to 4 years (£1,000,000 turnover). They also offer a free service for a 2-tier accelerator process. The main programme begins with a 3-day boot camp.
Entrepreneurial Spark run four programs covering the critical stages of an early stage business; these programs are Sprint, Enable, Grow and Scale. Depending on the programme you join, you will receive office space (some London based) at one of their hubs, an intensive education programme, network access and much more.
The Entrepreneurial Spark brand covers Scotland, while the Hatchery brand covers other cities across the UK.
Funding/duration: Entrepreneurial Spark does not offer investments or ask for equity. The standard programme duration is 6 – 18 months.
Location/contact: Edinburgh, London, Bristol, Ayrshire, Cardiff, Brighton, Birmingham, Cardiff and Newcastle (remote program available, so globally open to applicants).
Bethnal Green Ventures
Bethnal Green is primarily an early stage investment fund but also run an intensive acceleration program to support startups in launching and grow who have clear goals that positively impact millions of lives.
Aside from positive social impact, they’re looking for teams who need capital, space and education to build and scale their ideas. They will provide invest, six months free office space, network access, mentors and access to a lifelong alumni network or portfolio company founders.
Funding/duration: £20,000 for 6% equity (with potential for a further £50,000 in funding). The standard programme duration is 3 months.
Location/contact: London
Collider
Collider is an investor and accelerator with a focus on supporting the growth of marketing and sales related technology aimed at large and small businesses. They’re looking for early-stage companies with a minimum viable product, teams with impressive and credible backgrounds and who are SEIS/EIS eligible.
Collider has close links to the industry with a reasonable level of corporate access for those looking for partnerships or who are targeted at the corporate market and need customer access. The London accelerator programme has been running for five years, and they have also just launched a program in Amsterdam for those looking to travel a bit further.
Funding/duration: £50,000 for 8-12% equity with a program fee of £15,000, meaning the real investment is £35,000. They also offer £100,000 investment for 8-12% equity but will take a £30,000 programme, meaning the investment you will receive is £70,000. The standard accelerator programme duration is 3 months.
Location/contact: London
JLAB
Running since 2013, JLAB is owned and operated by the John Lewis Partnership, one of Britain’s largest retailers and supermarkets (owner of Waitrose). JLAB is a corporate accelerator programme with a very clear goal in that there looking to help scale/invest in businesses that can become part of the John Lewis or Waitrose supply chain.
So, if you are running a retail or product-focused technology company, you will be most likely to apply to the program, which said you could also be a disruptive distribution solution or operations tool, anything that can contribute to John Lewis.
The distinct advantage of this accelerator is the access to experts at one of the worlds largest retailers and the ability to sell your product.
Funding/duration: Up to £100,00 (Investment is only for teams who complete the program and are deemed successful/interesting for JLAB, more so a competition than an accelerator in this way). The JLAB accelerator programme duration is 15 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Barclays Accelerator (TechStars)
Run by one of the world’s largest and most successful banks, the Barclays Accelerator is firmly focused on exciting and disruptive early-stage fintech companies (there is, however, no actual limit on company size).
The program is operational run by Techstars with Techstars also providing the funding. Aside from funding you will gain access to critical people and decision makers at Barclays, gain mentorship from leading Fintech entrepreneurs and industry experts, gain access to a collaborative workspace with cutting-edge facilities, gain investor access through pitch days and become a TechStars alumnus (which comes with some impressive benefits and network access).
Funding/duration: Approx. £80,000 (£120,000), standard TechStars 6% equity taken is assumed but not confirmed as of yet. The Barclays Accelerator programme duration is 13 weeks.
Location/contact: London, New York, Cape Town and Tel Aviv
Climate-KIC Pathfinder Programme
Climate-KIC is a significant innovation initiative from the EU designed to combat climate change by providing support and developing climate-related technologies. They run an accelerator programme called Pathfinder for biotech and clean-tech companies who are delivering climate-related solutions.
There explicitly looking for early-stage companies with some traction or blue sky ideas. Aside from grant funding, you will receive access to an influential network of partners working on breakthrough related climate technologies, including both businesses and academic/research organisations.
Funding/duration: Up to €50,000 in grant form. The standard programme duration for the Climate-KIC Pathfinder Programme is 3 – 6 months.
Location/contact: London (they also have representatives across most of Europe).
Catalyst Programme
Started in 2012 and run by University of Southampton Science Park, the Catalyst Programme is an accelerator programme for early-stage ventures focused on scientific or tech lead breakthroughs. Applications are open to startups and entrepreneurs worldwide.
Each cohort is made up of 8 startups, and you will get access to mentors, lab space, office space, funding expertise and access to investors with accounting software and support and more.
Funding/duration: £1,000 grant fund available. The standard programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: Southampton
MadLab Arts & Tech Accelerator
MadLab Arts & Tech Accelerator is a creative accelerator programme targeting artists and other creatives using digital technologies in their work. Alongside grant funding, you will receive studio space, access to expert mentors in the art/science technology space and other creative entrepreneurs.
Funding/duration: £10,000 grant available. The MadLab Accelerator programme duration is 4 months.
Location/contact: North West
Geovation
Geovation is an accelerator in London. They run two main accelerator programme s, the first PropTech is run in tandem with the HM Land Registry and supports technology businesses in the property industry who use geospatial data in their products/services. The second program is called GeoTech and is open to application for any technology startup conceiving location-based services or products.
Funding/duration: £10,000 for the first six months )with a further £10,000 if you can create and deliver a prototype at six months). The standard programme duration for the Geovation Accelerator programme is 6 months.
Location/contact: London
London Distro Dojo (500 Startups)
Founded in 2016 by 500 Startups London, the London Distro Dojo is an accelerator programme for later / mid-stage technology companies who are serious about scaling.
Each cohort is made up of 20 startups, and alongside investment, you will get access to entrepreneurial training, office and workspace and mentorship from industry leaders in your field.
The program focuses on driving user acquisition during the accelerator period; this is to help ensure companies go on to raise significant sums of investment post the programme. The Dojo does not accept applications; you will have to get a referral from one of their network of 3,000 entrepreneurs, investors and founders.
Funding/duration: £100,000 – £200,00 investment for 3-7% in equity. The programme duration is 12 weeks for the London Distro Dojo Accelerator.
Location/contact: London
Seedbed Accelerator
Established in 2015, the Seedbed Accelerator is an accelerator programme for startups in the Social Enterprise sector. The programme gives you access to loan funding, workspace and seminars designed for social entrepreneurs.
The accelerator is one of ten projects supported financially by the Social Incubator Fund from the UK government. To be eligible, you will need to have a social venture based in South West England.
Funding/duration: £1000 loan finance available. The standard programme duration is unknown for the Seedbed Accelerator.
Location/contact: Devon
Design Council Spark
An accelerator programme from the Design Council, the Spark Programme has been built to fund and support 13 innovative projects and products in each cohort from idea to prototype.
Funding is provided at the end of the programme in the form of grant funding competition, alongside funding during the programme you will receive access to design experts, one to one mentoring, core workshops across several areas of business and more.
Funding/duration: £15,000 – £200,000. The Design Council Spark Accelerator programme duration is unknown.
Location/contact: London
CyLon
CyLon is one of the world’s leading business accelerators for startups in the cybersecurity space. The programme provides initial funding in exchange for a small amount of equity and provides access to industry expertise/experience to start-ups who are building the future of cybersecurity.
Funding/duration: £15,000 for a small amount of equity. The CyLon programme runs for three months, twice a year in London and Singapore.
Location/contact: London
Enterprise Campus programme
The Enterprise Campus programme is an accelerator programme founded in 2012 and is focused on providing investment and support for technology companies pre-startup or have recently set up.
They take cohorts of up 20 startups and provide one-to-one mentorship, workshops, expert seasons and access to tax, legal, accountancy and intellectual property experts. To be eligible for the programme you must have carried out or been carrying out a masters or PhD at a Scottish University.
Funding/duration: £25,000 – £50,000 (no equity, funding terms unclear). The Enterprise Campus Programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: Glasgow
First Bourne
Founded in 2016 and managed by Creative England & Silicon South, the First Bourne is an accelerator programme for digital technology startups.
The programme takes eight startups in each cohort and provides funding alongside workshops, mentoring, demo days, access and to investors and more.
Funding/duration: £25,000 for everyone and £50,000 for two companies (in the form of an equity investment or interest-free convertible loan). The standard programme duration for the first Bourne Accelerator programme is 3 months
Location/contact: Bournemouth
TrueStart
TrueStart is a seed accelerator programme for early-stage companies in the consumer and retail space with a particular focus on product and retail technology-focused businesses.
The accelerator is owned by the True Capital Group, a retail investment fund who can provide follow-on funding the right companies. Details on the programme are sparse but assume standard accelerator space, mentorships and learning over a set period.
Funding/duration: £25,000 – £50,000 for 4.5% or 9% equity. The TrueStart programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: London
Deep Science Ventures
Deep Science Ventures is an accelerator started in 2016 who specialises in working with deep tech companies who are involved in the life sciences, health, manufacturing, engineering, digital technology, energy and environmental industries. They’re looking for pre-startup and very early stage companies for the programme.
With the investment, you will also be given mentors, seminars, funding advice, standard legal support and accountancy support as well as investor network access for follow-on funding.
The program is mainly geared towards helping entrepreneurs/academics who are Post Doctoral Candidates or Phd’s in science-related fields that are seeking to commercialise their research.
Funding/duration: £30,000 for 15% equity. The Deep Science Ventures Accelerator programme lasts 6 months.
Location/contact: London
The Accelerator
Established in 2015, the Founders Factory runs an accelerator for early-stage companies in the areas of fintech, creative/design, well-being and health or education.
The accelerator is backed by six corporate partners include L’Oreal, Aviva, Guardian Media Group, Holtbrinck, Easyjet and CSC, with all these companies operating in their primary areas of investment and as such these companies can support accelerator companies.
Funding/duration: £30,000 in exchange for 5-8% equity. The Accelerator programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: London
North of England Life Science Accelerator
The North of England Life Science Accelerator is run by the BioCity group as a programme for pre-startup companies in the life science, health, and well-being sectors.
Funding/duration: Undisclosed amount in the form a convertible note (a business loan if unpaid converts to equity). The standard programme duration is 12 months for the North of England Life Science Accelerator.
Location/contact: Cheshire
WiderPool
WiderPool is an accelerator programme established in 2015; it is designed for later stage companies specialising in fintech, telecoms or a range of other digital technologies. The programme focuses on corporate customer acquisition for firms in a growth phase.
Funding/duration: Up to $250,000 in exchange for an undisclosed minority stake. The WiderPool programme duration is 14 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Wayra
Owned by the Telecoms giant Telefonica, Wayra started in 2012 runs a range of seed accelerator programmes for early-stage digital technology companies, many of these programmes are detailed on this list as they vastly differ in criteria and material.
Wayra does also put out general calls for startups, and you can check for their latest programs on their site. Their cohort companies have raised over $150 million following the programme.
Funding/duration: Up to $50,000 in cash and service equivalent in exchange for the variable amount of equity. The standard Wayra Accelerator programme duration is up to 12 months.
Location/contact: London
L Marks
L Marks is a corporate innovation agency who runs accelerator programme for some of the UK’s largest corporates, similar to Wayra but they do not run their programme., but do however make an investment in startups alongside corporate partners. Most L Marks accelerators are listed here, you can check for new calls on their site.
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration for the L Marks Accelerator depends on the specific program.
Location/contact: London
ASOS Accelerator
A Wayra run accelerator programme on behalf of the online fashion retailer ASOS, ASOS Call programme is for early-stage companies and entrepreneurs in the design, fashion and creative industries. The accelerator has a focus on fashion technology businesses.
Funding/duration: Up to $50,000 in cash and service equivalent in exchange for a variable amount of equity. The standard programme duration is up to 12 months.
Location/contact: London
Kitchen Table Projects
Kitchen Table Projects operates an accelerator programme me for early-stage companies in the Food and Drink sector.
Funding/duration: Up to £100,000 in exchange for 15% equity. The Kitechen Table Projects Accelerator programme is 12 months long.
Location/contact: London
Drive
Run by L Marks on behalf of Belron, the Drive is an accelerator programme for 25 early and late stage B2B technology companies targeting global markets. The focus of the accelerator is on businesses that can help Belron operate better and improve their services.
Funding/duration: Up to £100,000 in exchange for a negotiable amount of equity. The Drive programme duration is 12 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Propel
Run by Invest Northern Ireland, the Propel accelerator caters for early-stage and pre-startup Northern Irish technology companies who are aiming to become significant product exporters. Each cohort is 40 startups in size.
Funding/duration: Up to £20,000. The Propel programme duration is 2 months (1st phase) followed by 10 months (2nd phase).
Location/contact: Belfast
Barclays Eagle Lab, Flight programme
In partnership with Barclays and Creative England, the Barclays Eagle Lab – Flight programme was started in 2017 to provide cohorts of 8 companies in the creative and design sectors; companies must also be able to demonstrate a significant positive impact on peoples lives. Startups can be early, mid or late stage, basically any stage of development.
Funding/duration: Up to £25,000 in the form of an equity investment or interest-free convertible loan (equity taken varies of valuation agreed). The programme duration is 12 weeks.
Location/contact: Brighton and Hove
Pioneer 10
Pioneer 10 is operated by Oxford Innovation and is for entrepreneurs/startups at all stages of development or growth.
Funding/duration: Up to £25,000 of services. The Pioneer 10 programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: Mansfield
EDF Blue Lab
The programme is run for EDF by L Marks, and as an accelerator the EDF Blue Lab assists young technology startups who work in the energy industry, specifically those improving the lives of energy consumers, developing the latest technologies, testing energy business models of the future or developing new energy services.
Funding/duration: Up to £30,000 in return or an undisclosed equity amount. The EDF Blue Lab programme duration is 10 weeks.
Location/contact: Brighton and Hove
NHS Innovation Accelerator
Established in 2015 by UCL Partners in partnership with NHS England, Network of Academic Health Science Networks, the NHS Innovation Accelerator is an accelerator for well-established young companies involved in the wellbeing and health sector. The programme has a focus on medical product and service companies. Each cohort is 25 in size, and companies show how their innovations, products or services can be valuable to the NHS as a health service and are ready to scale.
Funding/duration: Up to £30,000. The NHS Innovation Accelerator programme duration is 12 months initially with the potential of more time depending on the situation.
Location/contact: London
Biostars
Run by Panacea Innovation and initiated in 2014, Biostars is an accelerator programme for new companies to later stage enterprises operating the life science and health sectors. The accelerators take 30 – 40 in each cohort and its main aim is to enable the commercialisation of scientific ideas and breakthrough.
Funding/duration: Up to £30,000 in initial seed funding, follow-on funding is to be considered in exchange equity based on agreed valuations. The standard programme duration is 4 months.
Location/contact: Oxford
Velocity Health
The Velocity Health is an accelerator programme started in 2015 and provides support to for early-stage digital ventures in the health and wellbeing sectors.
Each cohort is small, only taking two companies to support them in developing innovative and ground-breaking healthcare products and solutions. Velocity is particularly interested in finding sustainable and new ways to serve patients currently and in the future.
Funding/duration: Up to £68,000 in cash and services for an unknown amount of equity. The standard programme duration for Velocity Health is up to 12 months.
Location/contact: London
Ideas Fund
Ideas Fund is an accelerator initiative from Wales First to create long-term economic growth and sustainable jobs in Wales by supporting early-stage welsh technology companies to start and grow.
Funding/duration: A grant between £5,000 and £10,000. The Ideas Fund run an Accelerator with a standard programme duration of 2 months.
Location/contact: Wales
BMW Innovation Lab
Another program from L Marks, the accelerator program is managed on behalf of the German car manufacturer and retailer BMW. The BMW Innovation Lab is geared towards early stage automotive and transport companies, this includes areas such as connected technology, autopilot software, navigation and much more.
Funding/duration: Unknown exact amount but indicated negotiable depending on the company. The BMW Innovation Lab runs a programme that is 10 weeks.
Location/contact: Farnborough
Hangar 51
One more program run L Marks, the Hangar 51 is an accelerator operated on behalf of several airlines including Aer Lingus and British Airways. They are looking for startups at any stage involved in digital technology, transport technology or run a B2B business model (apparently with a further focus on technologies related to flying and airline operation).
Despite being open to any stage company, you must have a viable product working and be willing to work them carefully in testing and trialling a launch, as the most exciting products or services will be trialled with airline customers.
Funding/duration: Negotiable. The Hangar51 programme duration is 10 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Abbey Road Red
Touting themselves as Europe’s only music technology accelerator, the programme is run by some of the world’s most focus music companies/studios including Universal Music and Abbey Roads Studio. As part of the Abbey Road Red program, you will also receive studio access to Abbey Road.
Funding/duration: No investment upfront, possible investment in future financing rounds up to 2% equity. The Abbey Road Red programme duration is 6 months
Location/contact: London
Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator
A business accelerator programme started in 2017; the Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator is aimed at B2B cloud-based startups. Each cohort of startups is five in size and will benefit from Oracle’s fanatic dedication to tech innovation.
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration is unknown for the Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator.
Location/contact: Bristol
Pi Labs
Pi Labs is an accelerator programme to support and fund technology startups providing products in or for the property industry. They are looking for any startups that have the ability or technology to disrupt the traditional property market.
Funding/duration: £50,000 for 7% equity (with a £10,000 programme fee being extracted when the investment is made. You also have the option to get a warrant for 5%). The Pi Labs programme duration is 13 weeks.
Location/contact: London
CSIT Labs
Located in the Secure Information Technologies Centre in Queens University the CSIT Labs is an accelerator programme for cybersecurity startups, although there is no direct cash offered, the significant amount of coding/development services provided is substantial in value.
Funding/duration: Up to £50,000 in engineering/development work over 6 months. The standard programme duration is unknown.
Location/contact: Northern Ireland
Echo++
Echo++ is a different type of accelerator programme catering for cohorts of 15 to 20 startups at a time. As opposed to more traditional accelerators that provide finance or ask that you pay programme fees with conventional money, Echo++ is made up of a p2p network that exchange skills to support each other’s businesses.
This system is governed by the principle that one hour of your time is equivalent to one echo point, usable with an expert in the network. So rather than exchanging money, your mutually exchanging skills and time.
Funding/duration: None. The standard Echo++ programme duration is 4 – 8 weeks.
Location/contact: London
BBC Worldwide LABS
While no initial funding is provided, the BBC Worldwide LABS gives you exclusive access to business and technology experts at one of the worlds most respected media companies and broadcasters. This accelerator programme looks specifically for digital media companies working in emerging technologies which could benefit from expertise, commercial partnerships and brand outreach through the BBC.
Funding/duration: None. The BBC Worldwide Labs programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: London
HouseMark Evolve
The HouseMark Evolve programme caters for digital technology businesses in the field of data. L Mark runs the accelerator on behalf of HouseMark, one of the countries leading providers of data and insight for the social housing sector.
Funding/duration: Negotiable. The standard programme duration is 12 weeks for the HouseMark Evolve Accelerator.
Location/contact: London
JD Works
Another L Marks programme, JD Works, is an accelerator programme for B2B or consumer retail technology startups in both early and late stages. The programme takes up to 7 startups at a time and provides access to experts at one of the UK’s most successful clothing and fashion retailers.
Funding/duration: Negotiable. The standard JD Works programme duration is 10 weeks
Location/contact: Manchester
01 Ventures
01 Ventures is a late stage accelerator specialising in deeptech startups, the accelerator is unorthodox and is predominantly a significant fund coupled with several expert consultants/partners at the fund who will provide curated and hands-on help in growing your business.
Funding/duration: Potential for significant fundraising as the only investor, lead, or passenger not stipulated in detail amounts possible but assume large seed/ series A plus. The standard programme duration is 5 months for 01 Ventures.
Location/contact: London
Marriott TestBED
Started in 2016 and run by Marriott Hotels Europe, the Marriott TestBED is one of the only accelerators dedicated purely to supporting leisure industry startups with a specific focus on hotel and hospitality related technology startups. You will get exclusive access to one of the world’s most successful luxury hotel brands as an advisor, partner or buyer on this accelerator.
Funding/duration: Unknown. The standard programme duration is 6 weeks for the Marriott TestBed Accelerator.
Location/contact: Various
Marathon Labs
Marathon Labs is an accelerator for music technology startups; the programme focuses on readily built products or applications/software that needs exposure and can be efficiently monetised. Independent music label Tileyard runs the programme.
We target product-ready applications that optimise the exposure of creators’ work and its monetisation. The program is run by Marathon Artists, an independent music label based in Tileyard London.
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration is unknown.
Location/contact: London
InMotion Accelerator
Started in 2017 and run by InMotion Ventures – Jaguar Land Rover, the InMotion Accelerator is an accelerator programme for early-stage businesses developing smart transportation and mobility technology.
Funding/duration: Undisclosed amount in the form a convertible note (a loan if unpaid converts to equity). The standard InMotion Accelerator programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: London
Centre for Fashion Enterprise
The Centre for Fashion Enterprise offers various accelerator programmes for fashion designers and fashion technology businesses based in London, providing expertise and business guidance relevant to only fashion businesses. The programmes include market entry programme, fashion pioneer programme, fast-tech pioneer programme and many more.
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration is unknown for the Centre for Fashion Enterprise.
Location/contact: London
YF Young Academy
Started in 2012 and run by Young Foundation, the YF Young Academy is an accelerator and education programme taking young entrepreneurs over the course of twelve weeks from idea to prototype. During the programme, companies are helped to improve their business model, organisational capacity and show the precise social impact of their business.
Funding/duration: Opportunity to apply for a convertible bank loan of £150,000 convertible note. The YF Young Academy is a 12 week accelerator programme for startups.
Location/contact: London
BioCity Accelerator programme
Started in 2013 and run in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, the BioCity Accelerator programme consists of a cohort of 10 startups; the programme aims to support these companies in becoming successful biotech businesses. The accelerator has achieved an impressive 91% survival rate for enterprises post the programme.
Funding/duration: Option to apply for a convertible loan of £50,000. The standard programme duration is 19 weeks, broken up into 3 stages.
Location/contact: Nottingham
Elevator Accelerator
Targeted at very early stage entrepreneurs and founders, the Elevator Accelerator supports technology startups in testing, research, development and successfully launching alongside with becoming investor pitch ready.
Funding/duration: None. The Elevator Accelerator programme duration is 12 weeks
Location/contact: Aberdeen and Dundee
Beautiful Ideas
Run by Hub Launchpad, the Beautiful Ideas accelerator is for social enterprises and companies showing that they will have a positive and sustainable social impact on society. Each cohort is made up of 68 startups, and you will get access to workspaces in the Salford and Liverpool area, alongside other social entrepreneurs.
Funding/duration: None. The Beautiful Ideas programme duration is 12 weeks
Location/contact: Liverpool and Salford
Serious Impact Accelerator
Managed by the Allia Future Business Centre, the Serious Impact Accelerator early and late-stage social enterprises support in making a serious impact. There are several different programmes; all provide an intensive array of seminars, workshops and talks from experts (although it is probably more classed as an incubator, given the fixed programme terms we have added it to the accelerator list).
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration is 1 – 9 months, depending on the support module.
Location/contact: Cambridge, Peterborough and East London
DigitalHealth.London Accelerator
Founded in 2016, DigitalHealth.London Accelerator is a programme for late-stage technology companies or enterprises operating the health and wellbeing sector. They take cohorts of 31 startups at a time, and you will get access to academic and business partners on the cutting edge of health technology.
The programme is the result of a partnership between UCL, the London Academic Health Science Networks, MedCity, CW+, the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity.
The overall aim of the programme is the increase in the adoption rate of new and innovative digital technologies in the NHS as a whole.
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration is 12 months for the Digital Health Accelerator in London.
Location/contact: London
Ricoh Ignite Accelerator
Ricoh Ignite Accelerator is an accelerator programme for B2B early-stage technology companies; the program is run by the corporation, Ricoh, UK.
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration is 12 months for the Ricoh Ignite Accelerator programme.
Location/contact: Northampton
FinTech Innovation Lab
Run by one of the world’s largest consulting firms (Accenture), the FinTech Innovation Lab is an accelerator programme for fintech startups and businesses. Each cohort consists of up to 20 startups, CEO’s and CTO’s will need to commit at least 2.5 days a week to the programme from start to finish. With the programme, you will gain exposure to thirty executives from some of the planets leading insurance companies and banks.
Funding/duration: None. The FinTech Innovation Lab programme is 12 weeks long.
Location/contact: London
The FAB Accelerator
Started in 2016, The FAB Accelerator provides a twelve-week course taking early-stage entrepreneurs right through the process of starting their business to launching and selling a product. The program is run by entrepreneurs and supported by private investors looking for investment opportunities.
Funding/duration: None. The Fab Accelerator lasts 12 weeks.
Location/contact: Oxford
IMAGINE IF!
Started in 2014 and run by Innovation Forum, the IMAGINE IF! is an accelerator for companies starting and working in the fields of life science, environment and energy. They specialise in high technology businesses and provide direct funding as well as services for each startup on their programme, with cohorts being 15-20 in size. To be eligible startups must be able to demonstrate a positive impact on animal or human health and wellbeing based on what they are doing.
Funding/duration: $10,000 in cash and $10,000 in services (unclear if the money is grant or loan, says non-dilutive so probably not equity investment). The IMAGINE IF! Accelerator programme lasts 3 months in all locations.
Location/contact: Cambridge, London, Oxford and Stevenage
International Accelerator
Started in 2015 and run by UK Lebanon Tech Hub, the International Accelerator is an accelerator programme purely for Lebanese startups who wish to expand or set up in the UK, to be eligible for the programme you must have your company registered in Lebanon. Each cohort is ten startups in size, offering access for Lebanese startups to investors, mentors and a decent support structure to scale in the UK and EU.
Funding/duration: Up to $50,000 for 5 in company equity.
Programme length: 3 months
Location/contact: London
UKSE Y Accelerator
Established by UK Steel in 2015, the UKSE Y Accelerator offers late stage startups in the engineering or manufacturing sectors access to an intensive support programme including mentorship, seminars from leading academic and much more.
Funding/duration: None. The UKSE Y Accelerator programme duration is 3 months
Location/contact: Sheffield
Business Accelerator programme
Part of an initiative to grow Scotland’s entrepreneur culture and run by Acorn Enterprise, the 20-week Business Accelerator programme is a general accelerator programme for technology companies at any stage from ideation to early stage.
Funding/duration: None. The Business Accelerator programme is 20 weeks in total.
Location/contact: Kinross
London Midland Labs Accelerator
Started in 2017 and run by London Midland, the London Midland Labs Accelerator is an accelerator programme for companies from pre-startup to late stage in the Transport sector. Given the programme is run by a Railway there’s a specific focus on railway related technologies with an overarching purpose focusing on making better journeys for rail passengers.
Funding/duration: None. The London Midland Labs Accelerator programme lasts 3 months with a further six months of office space post programme.
Location/contact: Birmingham
Startup Sesame
Startup Sesame is an accelerator programme for event technology startups at an early stage of company development.
Funding/duration: None. Startup Sesame runs a 12-month long programme.
Location/contact: London
Octopus Labs
Octopus labs started in 2016 and are run by Octopus Ventures a significant venture capital and other asset class investor. The programme is for fintech businesses and allows up to 5 innovative startups to work alongside Octopus in developing their products.
Funding/duration: Unknown. The Octopus Labs programme runs for12 months.
Location/contact: London
Coinsilium
Coinsilium is an accelerator programme for startups in the Fintech startups building technology on, for or related to the Blockchain. It is one of the first accelerators and funds dedicated to cryptocurrency startups in Europe.
Funding/duration: None. Coinsilium runs a programme that last an unknown amount of time.
Location/contact: London
Health Social Innovators
Health Social Innovators is a socially ambitious accelerator programme aiming to support entrepreneurs and new companies in tackling the massive problem of health inequality in the UK.
Run by UCL Business, the focus of the program is solely on early-stage ventures in the Health and wellbeing sector.
Funding/duration: Up to £20,000. The standard programme duration is 12 months for the Health Social Innovators accelerator.
Location/contact: London
The Crucible Project
Part of the innovation centre at De Montfort University (DMU), The Crucible Project is an accelerator programme for graduates of DMU who are starting technology companies or businesses. Aside from funding the program offers the graduates hands-on training, mentoring and support to help build their fledgling companies over a year-long period.
Funding/duration: £5,500. The Crucible Project runs for a period of 12 months.
Location/contact: Leicester
The Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network (BSEEN)
BSEEN was Initiated in 2012 by Aston University, in partnership with Birmingham City University and the University of Birmingham. The accelerator aims to provide an intensive technology startup support and training programme to recent graduates and students living in the West Midlands (up to five years since graduation).
Funding/duration: £500 in free startup funding. BSEEN runs for a 12-month period.
Location/contact: Birmingham
Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs
Started in 2013, Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs is an accelerator for companies involved in the Creative Industries and design industries including performance art, companies from early to late stage are welcome to apply.
As part of the programme, you’ll gain access lectures, office space and network access alongside direct funding. To be eligible for the programme, you need to have the right to live & work in the UK legally.
Funding/duration: £1000 – £3000 (unclear if this is a grant or exchange for equity). Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs run a 12 month programme.
Location/contact: London
Enterprise Hub
Established in 2013 by Royal Academy of Engineering, the Enterprise Hub is an accelerator programme for Engineering and Manufacturing technology startups.
Funding/duration: Up to £60,000. The Enterprise Hub programme runs for 12 months.
Location/contact: London
LSBU Rocket Accelerator
Run by London South Bank University (LSBU) and Startup Republic, the LSBU Rocket Accelerator is an accelerator programme for technology companies in pre-startup or early stage development; cohorts are seven startups in size.
Programme applicants must be graduates or students with a business idea or who are in the early stages of company setup (recent graduate means within five years).
Funding/duration: £15,000 (unclear what form of financing this takes). The programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: London
SprintPirates
SprintPirates is an accelerator programme for technology companies at an early stage of development. They do not accept single founders or startups without engineers who are technically trained/minded.
Funding/duration: £15,000 to £35,000 in the form of a convertible note at a discount of 25% with a £1,000,000 cap on any amount of financing. The programme duration is 6 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Accelerate Cambridge
Accelerate Cambridge is an accelerator run by Judge Business School, a chapter of the University of Cambridge. The programme provided three months entrepreneurial training, mentorship and shared workspace for students and recent graduates of Cambridge University who are in the process of starting a business.
Funding/duration: None. The Accelerate Cambridge programme lasts 3 months.
Location/contact: Cambridge
Aston Programme for Small Business Growth
Started in 2017 and run by Aston University, Aston Programme for Small Business Growth is aimed at supporting small businesses and social enterprises in the West Midlands area. They provide support for technology businesses.
Funding/duration: Unknown. The Aston Programme for Small Business Growth lasts 6 months.
Location/contact: Birmingham
IQuBit
IQuBit is a programme run by the University of Manchester; it is a digital accelerator providing support companies engaging in developing the next generation of social networking platforms, software and other digital platforms/technologies. The focus is on communication and information technology businesses and is for students, recent graduates or researchers of the university.
Funding/duration: Kickstarter funding access possible, not described in amount. The standard programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: Manchester
King’s 20 accelerator
Started in 2016 and run by King’s College London, the Entrepreneurship Institute: King’s20 accelerator is for technology ventures in a stage of development from ideation to set up. To be eligible to apply you must be staff, student or recent graduate of Kings College London (within seven years).
Funding/duration: Up to £10,000 in grant funding. The King’s 20 Accelerator programme lasts 12 months.
Location/contact: London
Elevator Accelerator programme
Started in 2017 and run by Centre for Entrepreneurship University of Dundee, the Elevator Accelerator programme is for companies from pre-startup to late stage. Their programme focuses on companies involved in the creative industry, design sector, engineering, manufacturing or life sciences areas as well as other digital technology sectors. The program is open to anyone in the Dundee area.
Funding/duration: None. The programme length is unknown
Location/contact: Dundee
Fast Forward
Fast Forward is run by City University in partnership with the Accelerator Network. The programme prepares startups to take their first seed or venture investment round or gain access to a world-class accelerator program.
Funding/duration: None. The standard programme duration is 6 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Cambridge Social Ventures
An accelerator programme dedicated to scaling social ventures, Cambridge Social Ventures is run by Judge Business School (University of Cambridge). The program is mainly geared towards early, mid and late stage startups involved in the fields of education, housing, transport or health with a global ambition. The program was formerly called Social Incubator East.
Funding/duration: Can support access to loan finance if needed. The Cambridge Social Ventures programme duration is 12 months.
Location/contact: Cambridge
ActiveLab
ActiveLab accelerates cutting-edge innovation in physical activity from the UK and across the globe. This 12-week accelerator, delivered by ukactive, provides access to tailored education, promotion, networking and resources.
Funding/duration: ActiveLab does not provide investment or ask for equity. Entry to the programme is free. ActiveLab can/may connect businesses to potential investors and buyers. The standard programme duration is 12 weeks for ActiveLab.
Location/contact: Cambridge
INSURETECH GATEWAY
INSURETECH GATEWAY is an FCA regulated accelerator that allows startups in their programme to sell insurance based products under their banner. They have a network of partners and experts all experienced in the insurance space. They look for pre-seed stage, seed stage or unproven business models.
Funding/duration: Unknown. The standard programme duration is not set (more so time ios seen and based on an investment in company in terms of space used).
Location/contact: InsurTech Gateway, 8 Greencoat Place, London, SW1P 1PL
Distill Ventures
Established in 2013, Distill Ventures is the drinks industry’s first accelerator. They look for the most exciting, innovative drinks founders across both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink categories and support them through a combination of cash investment, mentoring support and access to a network of experts. Backed by Diageo, they operate independently and invest at all stages – whether you’re looking for seed funding or require significant growth and expansion capital.
They have invested over £100 million in 15+ brands around the world, including some of the most pioneering non-alc brands such as Seedlip (which exited the portfolio in 2019), Ritual Zero Proof, the first spirit alternative distilled in America, and Rheinland Distillers, makers of the first German non-alcoholic spirit.
The portfolio also includes some of the most exceptional new world whisky brands, which are spearheading major change in the category. These include Stauning, one of Europe’s standout new whiskies from Denmark, Australian-based Starward, and Westward, a leading American single malt inspired by the Pacific Northwest’s craft beer traditions.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: Programme fees and duration are deal dependent. Seed funding from £250,000 up to £10,000,000.
Location/contact: Supports entrepreneurs across the world from offices in London and New York.
Grocery Accelerator
Started in 2015, the Grocery Accelerator is an accelerator programme for early, mid and late stage businesses in the Food sector, with a particular focus on helping to scale food and drinks startups/brands to create a profitable distribution of their products via multiple channels.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: £5,000 initial fee (with a further £900 per month). Funding of £60,000 + in exchange for around 15% equity. The Grocery Accelerator programme lasts 12 months.
Location/contact: London
CRL Hardware Accelerator
Beginning in 2015 and managed by Central Research Laboratory, the CRL Hardware Accelerator is an accelerator programme for early-stage ventures developing hardware and physical technology. They provide additional support alongside investment, including the development of products, include research, industrial design, running manufacturing operations and raising investment.
To be eligible for the accelerator, you will need to have an existing prototype that works, have more than two founders in your startup, have an innovative product or business model and have a real drive to build a product business to a global scale.
Funding/duration: £5,000 in return for 6% equity. The standard programme duration is 6 months.
Location/contact: London
Open Data Institute
Open Data Institute is an accelerator programme for startups in the Open data sector.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: Fee for the programme is 10% company equity. No investment is provided. Programme length is 1 year.
Location/contact: London, Leeds
ODI Startup Accelerator
Started in 2013 and run by ODI, the ODI Startup Accelerator is an accelerator programme for digital technology startups primarily involved in data and data applications.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: 10% equity taken as programme fee. Unknown if investment provided. The ODI Startup Accelerator programme lasts 12 months.
Location/contact: London and Leeds
UP Accelerator
The UP Accelerator is a corporate innovation partner and accelerator programme connecting corporations with high potential startups who are ready to scale. Details on the program are a little unclear, enquire for more.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: 12% equity in exchange for programme. No investment or funding is available. The programme lasts 10 – 20 weeks.
Location/contact: Edinburgh, Manchester, London
50th Generation
Started in 2014, 50th Generation is an accelerator programme for technology startups. They are looking for businesses with great ideas, decently sized markets, a minimum of two founders and evidence on traction on your idea/business.
Each cohort is 20 startups, and you will get access to office/workspace, mentoring. 50th Generation provides training, funding, mentoring and an influential community for companies who want to create meaningful, joyful, valuable enterprises that change lives.
Looking for companies with a meaningful idea, decent market, two co-founders, evidence that people will pay money/time to the idea.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: 3% revenue share for the year in the program and 5% equity with buyback option required for participating in the programme. No investment available. The programme initial length is 12 months.
Location/contact: London
PetriBox
Started in 2015, PetriBox is an accelerator programme for companies at an early stage of development in the B2B digital technology space. You will get a range of support, including access to manufacturing and design facilities.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: Undisclosed equity taken as the fee for the programme. No funding provided and the programme runs for 12 weeks.
Location/contact: London
EIT Digital Accelerator
EIT Digital Accelerator is an accelerator programme for startups providing co-working space in west London digital companies; they can also help you gain access to finance.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: None of these details are publicly available as far as we can see.
Location/contact: London
Incubus
Incubus is an accelerator based in central London providing accelerator programmes aimed at startups in artificial intelligence, retail, smart city and Internet of Things spaces.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: Incubus fees vary programme to programme, expect £1,500+. No funding available. Programme length depends on specific programme.
Location/contact: London
The Food Foundry
The Food Foundry is an accelerator programme for early-stage and later stage food businesses and food technology businesses.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: A monthly fee or % of company equity in exchange for the monthly programme fee. No investment available and the programme runs for 3 – 6 months.
Location/contact: London
Spin-Up Factory
First, run in 2016, the Spin-Up Factory is an accelerator for satellite, service, product or application companies or those who are involved in related space or satellite technology. It would be best if you were based or plan to base your business in the UK to be eligible.
Programme fee/Funding/duration: Unknown Spin-Up Factory programme fee. In terms of funding £40,000 in services is provided (for product and service design). The programme length for this accelerator is unknown.
Location/contact: Oxford
Inactive / closed startup accelerators
Over time many startup accelerators close either permanently or temporarily, there can be many reasons for this, including investment failure, running out of funds, a corporate cancelling a funding programme and much more. The list below covers all currently closed accelerators were aware of in the UK.
TechVelocityNorwich
Started in 2017, TechVelocityNorwich is a general startup accelerator programme for early companies at the seed stage.
Funding/duration: £20,000 to £50,000, standard equity amount not disclosed. The Tech VelocityNorwich programme duration is 12 months
Location/contact: Norwich
Teesside LaunchPad
Initiated in 2016 the Teesside LaunchPad is run by the University of Teesside in partnership with The Forge. The accelerator provides a programme for early stage technology companies and ventures.
They take cohorts of 12 startups at a time and provide access to grant funding, training and workspace alongside mentorship. The programme is focused on the business model development of fledgeling ventures and as such, primarily aimed at Teeside students and Alumni who are starting.
Funding/duration: £1000 – 19,000 grant funding. The Teeside LaunchPad programme lasts for between 6 and12 months.
Location/contact: Teesside
Qi3 Accelerator
Qi3 work by having your product, or service, rapidly commercialised for the technology/product industry. They work with seed and early-stage companies. The accelerator has now closed and instead Qi3 has pivoted into purely an early stage investment fund.
Funding/duration: Not known. Programme runs for a 2-day boot camp.
Location/contact: Cambridge
The Bakery
The bakery runs an intensive course which brings the brands to the start-ups. This program no longer runs, but they do however, still work with an early stage to series A-level startups in running commercial/technology trials with corporate partners.
Funding/duration: £50,000 for 5%. The Bakery programme lasts 8 Weeks.
Location/contact: Slough, Greater London
Beta Foundry
Beta Foundry run a start-up accelerator programme me for Oxford students and alumni. However, only one member of the team needs to have this connection. Primarily based on technology, as long as there is potential for growth, your company may be considered. They also offer benefits such as £10,000 worth of RackSpace credit, and the best team win a trip to San Francisco.
Funding/duration: £5,000 plus over £20,000 of benefits for 5-10% of equity. The Beta Foundry is a 2-week boot camp to begin then two months accelerator time.
Location/contact: Oxford
Oxygen Accelerator
Oxygen Accelerator is available to any company around the world but is mostly geared towards technology start-ups. The programme is set into three core phases, and they provide you with advice, mentorship, network access, investor days, office space and can even help you with accommodation.
Typical graduates of the Oxygen accelerator programme look to raise funding rounds of between £100,000 and £500,000, they will help you network wise and with a pitch day regarding raising further finance.
As a quick note do not be confused by details on their FAQ page talking about a further investment/programme fees, you will get no additional investment or have to pay any fees; this appears to be a way to increase their SEIS claim. Be aware they also do not accept solo founders.
Funding/duration: £18,000 max for 8% equity, £6,000 per founder up to 3 founders with the equity figure ream9ning the same. The equity figure does, however, drop to 4% if you have already received £100,000 or over in investment. The accelerator runs for 13 Weeks.
Location/contact: Birmingham & London (Birmingham Science Park and Google Campus)
Emerge Venture Lab
Emerge Venture Lab are expert-led boot camps in London and Oxford for pre-seed ventures that tackle social problems. This general program appears to have closed for now, but the Emerge Education accelerator at the top of the main business accelerator list is still running.
Funding/duration: £15,000 for 8%. The Emerge Venture Lab programme runs for 3 months.
Location/contact: London
WebStart
WebStart takes on ten start-ups who are web-based with a direct link to Bristol per programme. They run three programmes per year. Now closed the company still provides support to existing companies it is invested in.
Funding/duration: £10,000 for 10% equity. The WebStart programme runs for 10 weeks.
Location/contact: Bristol
Healthbox
Started in 2012, Healthbox was initially an American accelerator programme but has now expanded to the UK and other countries. They support startups who are developing technology in the healthcare industry and are well known for providing a very focused program with excellent access to sector-specific investors, entrepreneurs and mentors.
At this time it is unclear if their accelerator programme is still actively running in the UK (seemingly more pivoted more towards corporate services now).
Funding/duration: £75,000 in exchange for undisclosed equity. The Healthbox programme lasts for 4 months.
Location/contact: London
Winton Labs
Created by Winton & L Marks, the Winton Labs Accelerator is a program for pre-startup, early stage, mid-stage and late-stage companies involved in the application of data science or the creation of data for B2B purposes. The program appears to be now closed, but the Winton fund is still open.
Funding/duration: £5 -15k stipend gift when joining. The Winton Labs Accelerator programme lasts 3 months.
Location/contact: London
Capital One Growth Labs
Run by L Marks on behalf of Capital One, Capital One Growth Labs is an accelerator programme for early-stage fintech enterprises; they take cohorts of five startups at a time. The program appears now to be closed (we’ve removed the link, it goes to a Capital One credit card page now).
Funding/duration: Unknown. Programme length is 10 weeks.
Location/contact: Nottingham
Red Bull Amplifier
Started in 2013, Red Bull Amplifier is an accelerator programme for companies at an early stage of development in the design and creative arenas; each cohort is three startups. There particular looking for innovative and creative music technology companies (assumed this program is now shut given the web page is marked as under construction – http://www.redbullamplifier.com/).
Funding/duration: None. Programme length is unknown.
Location/contact: London
EuropeanPioneers
EuropeanPioneers is an accelerator programme for startups across the EU, with a primary base in the UK they were also formerly in the UK and provided a lengthy accelerator program coupled with substantial EU funding, the program supported innovative European technology businesses (site redirects to http://www.etventure-startup-hub.com/).
Funding/duration: €50,000 – €250,000 EU grant funding. The European Pioneers Accelerator Programme lasts an unknown amount of time.
Location/contact: London
Searchcamp
Searchcamp is an accelerator programme for companies at an early stage of developing new digital technologies. Founded in 2013, the programme now appears to be closed. Their programme provided a range of direct funding options coupled with expert-led mentorship for each company.
Funding/duration: £15,000 – £150,000. The programme length is 12 weeks for searchcamp.
Location/contact: Middlesbrough
Seedpod / Civic Foundry
Established in 2015 and managed by Hub Launchpad, the Seedpod is an accelerator wellbeing and health technology companies who are looking to create a sustainable positive impact.
Funding/duration: None. The Seedpod programme lasts 10 weeks.
Location/contact: Birmingham
The Leeds Accelerator
Started in 2015 and run by Young Foundation, The Leeds Accelerator is an accelerator for up to 15 social entrepreneurs and is in partnership with The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Centre for Justice Innovation and Leeds City Council.
Funding/duration: None. The Leeds Accelerator programme is 12 weeks long.
Location/contact: Leeds
UKSE Y-Accelerator
Started in 2015 and run by Growth Hub with funding support from UK Steel Enterprise, the UKSE Y-Accelerator is an accelerator programme for pre-startup manufacturing and engineering companies
Funding/duration: £25,000 investment prize at pitching competition at the end of the program. The UKSE programme runs for 13 weeks.
Location/contact: Sheffield
Virgin Media London (TechStars)
TechStars – Virgin Media London is an accelerator programme for startups in the IoT, Connectivity, Social Enterprise, Telecoms sector
Funding/duration: None but equity took 6-10%. The Virgin Media London Techstars programme runs for 13 weeks.
Location/contact: London
Microsoft Accelerator
Started in 2013 and run for some years by Microsoft, the Microsoft Accelerator is an accelerator programme for digital technology companies in the later stages of development. Aside from the usual perks with programmes you will get exclusive access to Microsoft partner and customer network. London chapter appears closed now, but it does run in other locations.
Funding/duration: None. The programme runs for 16 weeks.
Location/contact: London
The AmplifyNI Accelerator
Started in 2014 and run by Amplify NI – Young Foundation, The AmplifyNI Accelerator is made to scale social ventures and solve social problems in Northern Ireland.
Funding/duration: None. The AmplifyNI Accelerator runs for 3 months.
Location/contact: Belfast
Open Future_ Midlands & North
Started in 2016 and run by Wayra UK, the Open Future_ Midlands & North is a pre-accelerator programme for early-stage ventures involved in creating digital technologies within Birmingham and the Midlands.
Funding/duration: None. The Open Future programme runs for 6 months.
Location/contact: Birmingham
MassChallenge UK
MassChallenge UK is a non-for-profit globally important accelerator program that competes with top tier accelerators without extracting equity or fees. The Mass Challenge program aims to accelerate early-stage startups with mentorship, space and more. At the end of any programme, startups compete in competition with their cohort to compete for cash prizes.
Funding/duration: Up to £50,000 in cash prizes given at the end of the accelerator programme in the form of different awards for startups. The Mass Challenge UK programme runs for 4 months.
Location/contact: London
GCHQ Accelerator
Run by Wayra and initiated in 2016, the GCHQ Accelerator is an accelerator programme funded by the UK’s version of the NSA. They take cohorts of 6 startups at a time, and your business must be UK registered.
The program aims to support startups in the cybersecurity space in developing innovative security products, technologies and services for the digital age.
It is part of a £1.9 billion funding initiative form the National Cyber Security Programme to keep UK consumers and businesses safe from online threats and attacks.
Funding/duration: £5,000 in grant form / no equity required. The standard programme duration is 3 months.
Location/contact: Cheltenham