Accelerate Cambridge programme overview

Our mission is to enable and nurture venture creation out of Cambridge.

405

ventures helped since 2013

%
27

of founders are female

£
609m

total money raised

£
566m

in equity raised

£
1m

in other raised

%
68

of companies are still active

%
33

are in Healthcare/HealthTech industry

£
124m

raised by a single venture (bit.bio)

£
43m

grant money raised

Ventures industries

Stats sourced from: S&P Capital IQ and Pitchbook.

The Accelerate Cambridge programmes

Accelerate Cambridge offers a structured approach of 3-month programmes that combine entrepreneurship training, regular coaching and mentoring, as well as access to shared workspace.

Pre-accelerate.

Pre-Accelerate

  • Develop a compelling customer value proposition.
  • Learn how to pitch with confidence.
  • Craft a fundable and sustainable business plan.
  • Learn basic entrepreneurial concepts.
  • Fully engage with the programme.
  • Coachable.
Accelerate.

Accelerate

  • Product development and distribution.
  • Develop initiative and leadership skills.
  • Incorporate business.
  • Develop and release MVP or prototype.
  • Build team beyond founders.
  • Team has formal equity share and shareholder agreement in place.
  • Business idea is protected, IP considered.
  • Responds well to coaching input.
Accelerate Star.

Accelerate Plus

  • Go to market.
  • Sales and income generation.
  • Company ready for investment or bootstrap.
  • Branding and marketing strategy.
  • Grow and scale.
  • Access additional rounds of investment.
  • Even more coachable.
  • Exit if an owner decides to end their involvement with the business.

Why does your venture need Accelerate Cambridge?

Strong support is essential for the success of early stage ventures. Our structured programmes:

  • accelerate maturation and growth
  • prevent common mistakes, including becoming side-tracked
  • connect people and resources.

We help teams of entrepreneurs turn an idea into a business, launch, and then keep going. Accelerate Cambridge is part of an ecosystem of support for entrepreneurs in Cambridge and will help you to navigate your way through it and find the resources you need.

Expert advice and mentoring

Our Accelerate Cambridge programmes will provide you with expert advice and mentoring on topics including: 

  • ideation, idea shaping and initial screening
  • discovering the most promising applications for your knowledge or technology
  • research and customer development
  • protecting your intellectual property
  • developing a compelling customer value proposition
  • sales and traction
  • branding and marketing
  • establishing evidence of genuine customer demand
  • establishing evidence of genuine customer demand
  • understanding the competitive landscape
  • accessing resources within the value chain
  • building a team
  • bootstrapping and fundraising
  • raising financial capital and dealing with investors
  • designing your business model
  • pitching your idea and crafting a fundable business plan

Apply for Accelerate Cambridge

Join us on the next Accelerate Cambridge programme, taking place 9 May to 11 July 2024.

Applications still open

Apply now
Top