Ignite
Ignite is an intensive, one-week entrepreneurship training programme for aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate innovators to trial and prepare business ideas for the commercial environment.
About the Ignite programme
Our Summer Ignite Programme for 2026 will run from 5 to 10 July. Applications are now open.
This intensive one-week entrepreneurship training programme is designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs and corporate innovators looking for a dynamic, immersive, and fast track process to help them prepare and trial their business ideas for a commercial market.
The programme has been running for almost 30 years with a successful track record in supporting early-stage founders and corporate in-house innovation programmes. To date it has supported over 1700 delegates representing over 50 countries across Europe, Asia, America, and South America. With the rapid changes in technology and shifting market dynamics shaping entrepreneurial teams and value chains, the international connections made at Ignite are one of its key strengths.
Ignite has consistently evolved to reflect best practices in entrepreneurship education developed by the Judge Business School Faculty and to draw on the insights and support available for the wider Cambridge ecosystem.
The programme management team is fortunate to be able count on the support of a wide range of practitioners from this ecosystem, ranging from mentors, business developers, venture capitalists and angel investors, professional service firms and a range of ventures including frontier firms.
So, bring your ambition and business idea to Ignite and gain exclusive access to this unique programme and its associated support network. With its small mentoring groups and 1:1 clinics, you will receive dedicated support to help you develop and test a dynamic business plan and align this with a clear action plan.
Who is it for?
Ignite is for international graduates, researchers, scientists and innovators with entrepreneurial ambition who have a developed business idea or early–stage venture in the technology or life sciences sectors.
Programme overview
Ignite aims to enable delegates to prepare their own venture for launch in the commercial arena in one week through immersion in a hot-house environment of tailored, practical support that encourages rapid development.
Apply to Ignite
The annual Ignite programme will run from 6 July to 11 July 2025 starting with a welcome and induction session on Sunday and ending with Clinics and Pitches on Friday. We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that we may group delegates and assign mentors effectively.
News and blog posts from Ignite
Ignite innovators: Cesare Cejas
Cesare Cejas, Co-founder of MicrofluidX talks about his entrepreneurial journey as a scientific researcher with a background in chemistry, physics, and materials science.
Ignite innovators: Tom Simmons
Dr Tom Simmons is a Plant Science PhD graduate, leading Supplant – a team of passionate scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators using cutting edge science to solve major problems affecting our food system.
Ignite innovators: Biologic Technologies
Biocomputer that fuses biology and engineering stemmed from Ignite programme.
Apply
Applications for July 2026 are now open. There is an early bird discount of 15% on all fees, which is available until 31 March 2026.
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