Ranked second globally, the United Kingdom's startup ecosystem is a leading hub for emerging ventures. The UK's ecosystem ranks highly for access to funding, unparalleled connectedness, and a world-class talent pool. In particular, London is a popular destination to grow a startup outside of Silicon Valley, maintaining its second-place tied with New York. Aside from the capital, other UK cities have also been featured as 'Top 100 Emerging Ecosystems', including Bristol, Manchester-Liverpool, Edinburgh-Glasgow, Birmingham, Durham, and Belfast. Thus, if you're thinking of beginning your startup journey, the UK may be the right place for you.
In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of all incubator and accelerator programs in the United Kingdom that can assist you in launching and growing your startup. The incubators and accelerators in this list have been subdivided into applicability for startups in their 'ideation', 'launch', or 'growth' stages.
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Topics Covered:
Full List of Startup Accelerators and Incubators in the United Kingdom
Launch Stage Startup Incubators and Accelerators in the United Kingdom
Growth Stage Startup Accelerators in the United Kingdom
Closing Thoughts on Startup Incubators and Accelerators in the United Kingdom
FULL LIST OF STARTUP INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Ideation Stage Startup Incubators in the United Kingdom
Full list of ideation-stage startup incubators in the United Kingdom:
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Engineering & Technology
Duration: 6 months
The Regional Talent Engines program is an initiative by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the United Kingdom's national academy of engineering. It is targeted towards early-stage engineering and technology entrepreneurs in four regions of the UK: Northern Ireland, North West England, North East England, and Yorkshire & Humber. The program provides founders with the support to transform their ideas into new engineering solutions, refine their innovations, and get their businesses off the ground. By the end of the program, startups should be ready to pitch their first innovation and introduce them to the market.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: 4 months
The UBS Launchpad Programme in collaboration with Hatch Enterprises is a program for entrepreneurs who have a business idea and are ready to start their entrepreneurial journey. They are slightly beyond the ideation stage, but they also come before the business' launch. To be precise, the program will teach founders about the basics of an entrepreneurial mindset, business strategy, finance, marketing, and pitching to get the business started. It is a paid program that costs GBP 50 to enter, in which you'll receive 6 expert-led sessions, 6 workshops held in smaller groups, 1-to-1 support, networking events, and a pitch day.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic, KCL-affiliated Founders
Duration: 4 months
Everything begins with an idea, that's the start of King's Idea Factory. The King's Idea Factory program is an idea generation competition for KCL-affiliated founders to grow their ideas into real ventures. Shortlisted teams will participate in workshops and 1:1 support sessions that will help you strengthen your idea validation and teach you how to communicate your ideas effectively for pitching opportunities.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic, Students & Graduates of Partner Universities
Duration: 1 year
Based out of Birmingham, BSEEN is a program that supports aspiring students and graduates in their process of turning ideas into businesses to launch. They provide a comprehensive package of support, including grants to help cover startup costs, mentoring for advice and guidance, intensive bootcamps to introduce and hone business skills, and free office space at Innovation Birmingham Campus or other partner institutions. To be eligible for the program, you have to be a current student of Aston University, Birmingham City University, University College Birmingham, and Newman University, or a recent graduate (up to 5 years) from these or any other UK university.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: InsurTech
Duration: -
Located in London, Insurtech Gateway is an incubator + fund that invests in early-stage insurtech founders. They are an authorized incubator that provides a space where founders can shape their ideas and form partnerships with insurers, regulators, and co-investors. They also provide support such as underwriting capacity, regulatory compliance, and pre-seed funding to startups, making them the ideal place to build and launch an insurtech idea.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic, Cambridge-affiliated Founders
Duration: 10 weeks
Situated at the center of the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge Cluster is Accelerate Cambridge, an "accelerator" established by the Cambridge Judge Business School. From idea to pre-seed and seed, they have Pre-accelerate, Accelerate, and Accelerate plus programs that are aimed at startups at different stages. They help teams turn ideas into a business for launch with expert advice and mentoring on various topics and connection to people and resources.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs without an idea / Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking for cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: -
Focus: Technology
Duration: 10 weeks
To help people build better tech startups, CodeBase is the go-to place that provides the space, education, and community to aid you in any stage of your startup journey. They offer various structured acceleration and transformation programs delivered by expert operators that cover stage-specific knowledge and insights, including 1:1 mentoring from tech startup experts. They also provide a flexible incubation space for both startups and scaleups with a community where founders at any stage can meet, learn, and connect with each other.
Launch Stage Startup Incubators and Accelerators in the United Kingdom
Full list of launch stage startup incubators and accelerators in the United Kingdom:
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Multiple Sectors, University of Edinburgh-affiliated Founders
Duration: -
Part of the University of Edinburgh, one of the top public universities in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Edinburgh Innovations is the university's commercialization service. They work with organizations to connect them with the latest research, new technologies, research expertise, and world-class facilities. For students and recent graduates (two years post-graduation), they provide their enterprise services for free. They provide various programs, events, and competitions for founders to hone their skills, attain connections, and gain support at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Digital Products
Duration: -
More than an accelerator, Activate Studio is a digital startup studio that will act as your business and technology partner. They'll work alongside you and provide hands-on support to help you turn your ideas into reality. From honing your business strategy, testing your value proposition, designing your product, refining your business model, and raising funds, they'll actively support you every step of the way.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Alcoholic Drinks
Duration: 6 - 9 months
Distill Ventures is the first independent drinks accelerator that seeks to help founders build, scale, and sell their beverage brands. They accept both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink brands of all sizes, from pre-launch or early-stage startups to rapidly-growing brands looking to tap into new markets or build distilleries and production facilities. With offices in London and New York, they support early-stage and mature founders with investments, expertise, partner network, and access to the North American market.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Engineering & Technology
Duration: 1 year
The Enterprise Fellowships by the Royal Academy of Engineering is an accelerator program that supports creative and entrepreneurial engineer graduates and academics to commercialize their innovations. For startups at the pre-seed to seed stages, the program offers up to GBP 75,000 equity-free startup funding grants, expert business mentoring and coaching, business training, and access to networks to bring your engineering product to market. The program is suitable for researchers, recent graduates, and international PhD students (based in the UK) who want to spinout or startup.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: FinTech
Duration: 3 months
The FinTech Innovation Lab is a program aimed at FinTech startups to scale their businesses onto the global stage. They offer programs in three core markets: London, New York, and Asia Pacific. In London, the program provides fintech startups at various stages with support, valuable insights, and connections to relevant decision-makers in the fintech industry. Sponsored and managed by Accenture, startups are assisted in refining and testing their value propositions backed by the world's leading financial service firms.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Genomics, Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Agriculture, Synthetic Biology, Software, Direct-to-consumer Applications
Duration: 6 months
Spearheaded by Ilumina, an American biotechnology company, Ilumina Accelerator is the first accelerator solely focused on the genomics industry operating in San Francisco Bay Area and Cambridge, UK. To advance innovations and breakthrough applications in genomics, the accelerator provides selected startups with key resources during the six-month funding cycle. This includes access to capital, Ilumina's sequencing systems and genomics expertise, business guidance and coaching, and fully operational lab and office space.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Hardware Products
Duration: 6 months
CRL stands for Central Research Laboratory, an inspiring workspace to work, build, innovate, create, and collaborate. Located in London, they offer innovation support programs such as the CRL Accelerator, recognized as the UK's leading program for product makers and hardware pioneers. It is a program dedicated to early-stage startups developing hardware products, where participants can receive support and mentorship to develop their product, commercial strategy, and fundraising plans. In addition, the space is fully-equipped with specialist maker facilities and open-access prototyping workshops so you can build your first prototype or set up early-stage production.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Home & Hygiene, FinTech, Psychedelic, Media & Live Events
Duration: 6 months
Founders Factory is a venture studio + accelerator created by serial entrepreneurs Brent Hoberman & Henry Lane Fox. They offer multiple sector-focused accelerator programs, including home and hygiene, fintech, psychedelic, media and live events, and more to come. As part of the accelerator, startups can gain capital and 1:1 support across all business areas, including product and design, fundraising, growth, talent, data science, publicity, engineering, and more. Furthermore, startups can leverage their network of corporate partners for strategic partnerships ranging from distributions to pilots, product validation, and more.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Life Sciences & HealthTech
Duration: 3 - 6 months
IMAGINE IF! is an accelerator for your health startup idea. Through a three-month program, selected startups will join a series of expertly curated workshops concerning various topics, such as market access, intellectual property, marketing & branding, fundraising and pitching, and more. Further shortlisted startups will engage in 1:1 mentoring, coaching, and clinic sessions with leading academic and industry experts to accelerate their growth. As part of the program, startups may benefit from 6 months of free laboratory space, and winners can gain up to $20,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Music Tech
Duration: -
The Incubator by Abbey Road Studios is the first Music Tech incubator in Europe. Aiming to uncover and foster innovations in the music industry, they offer a one-of-a-kind customized program specifically geared to the startups' needs. To develop and introduce new technologies in the music industry, they offer a development toolkit including access to studios and premier industry facilities, business mentorship, a platform for exposure, and an extensive experience and network in the music and tech industry.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Open MetaVerse, Rolling Focus
Duration: 3 months
Base Camp Accelerator is a leading Web 3.0 accelerator organized by Outlier Ventures, the top 3 global crypto investor. To accelerate the open metaverse, they invest in and offer accelerator programs for Web 3.0 projects across DeFi, NFTs, blockchain infrastructure, and others on a rolling focus basis. As part of the accelerator, you'll gain access to in-house specialists and access to mentor and partner network for operational, legal, commercial, marketing, and token model support. They also offer funding and an additional cash stipend in exchange for 6% equity and 6% future token supply.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Property & Geospatial, GeoTech, PropTech
Duration: 1 year
Geovation is a government and industry-backed accelerator for early-stage startups with innovative ideas in the Property and Geospatial industries. They offer two programs: Geovation, backed by the Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry, and Geovation Scotland, launched in partnership with Registers of Scotland. Both accelerators offer grant funding and perks including workshops, coaching, and hands-on development resources to help you launch your location and property technology startup. They also provide access to valuable public datasets such as detailed maps and addresses, ownership information, valuations, and more.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: PropTech
Duration: 15 weeks
Pi Labs is a venture capital firm investing in breakthrough technologies and early-stage startups in the real estate sector. Their Pi Labs Growth Programme is a 15-week program for PropTech startups from pre-seed to Series A. They provide participating founders with access to workshops and essential startup resources from investment, strategic support, customers, investors, and more. At the end of the program, startups have the opportunity to pitch their project to potential clients and investors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Rolling Sectors, Underrepresented Founders
Duration: 3 months
The Alpha Accelerator is an accelerator designed for pre-seed startups to turn their early-stage concept into a live business and raise their seed round. The accelerator is specifically dedicated to founders from underrepresented backgrounds and has a rolling themed focus each year. Within the program, founders will join weekly workshops led by industry experts as well as 1:1 consultations to refine their product and commercial strategy. Founders will also learn about fundraising fundamentals and practice their pitch with investors leading up to Alpha Pitch Day.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Science & Technology
Duration: 6 months
Organized by the University of Southampton Science Park, the Catalyst Programme aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage science and technology firms in the Solent region. Throughout the intensive program, startups are required to attend weekly workshops and 1:1 mentoring to learn all the tools they need to propel forward. The program is completely funded for successful candidates and does not take any share or equity in exchange.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: 4 months
An initiative by Pizza Hut in partnership with Hatch Enterprise, the New Founder Incubator Programme is aimed at entrepreneurs who have an MVP or who have started running their businesses and want to increase their business knowledge and skills. Through a series of 9 workshops and 9 expert-led sessions, founders will learn about accessing funding, navigating legal issues, finding the right support, and building meaningful connections as they grow their businesses. The program culminates in a demo day where startups can showcase their businesses to a panel of experts and get actionable feedback to improve and progress further.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic, KCL-affiliated Founders
Duration: 1 year
Established by King's College London, the King's20 Accelerator is the university's Entrepreneurship Institute's flagship program aiming to support the 20 best and brightest ventures coming from King's. The program is open to ventures by King's students, staff, and alumni at various stages of development. Throughout the year-long program, startups will benefit from the 3-months intensive accelerator and 9-months follow-on support including networking opportunities with investors and collaboration opportunities across KCL's ecosystem and King’s20 alumni network. Furthermore, teams will receive leadership training and participate in mentoring with 10-in house expert mentors and other external subject-matter experts. In exchange, selected participants of the program are required to ‘pledge’ to a convertible loan note under which the Entrepreneurship Institute takes 3% equity if certain success criteria are met.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic, Manchester Universities Founders
Duration: 4 months
Accelerate Me is a sector-agnostic startup accelerator for young founders who are students or recent alumni of Manchester universities, including The University of Manchester, University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Royal Northern College of Music. The program is tailored to your startup's stage and needs and is designed to get your startup to the next level of growth. Aside from mentorship and professional help, startups can have access to office space and receive up to GBP 5,000 of equity-free funding.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Social Health
Duration: 3 months
As the name suggests, Health Social Innovators is an accelerator that is dedicated to supporting early-stage social health ventures that are tackling health inequality in the UK.
Through the accelerator, ventures are provided with a supportive environment to test and adapt their business models, obtain insights from the healthcare network, gain opportunities to pilot in the community, and receive investments and long-term partnerships within the industry.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 3 months
Techstars London is a part of Techstars, a renowned global accelerator for early-stage startups. They offer a mentorship-driven accelerator program for emerging startups across all verticals. Within the program, startups will work with seasoned mentors from the Techstars network to help in areas of the business that may need support. According to each startup's goals and stage of development, they will be assisted in executing their learnings to hit milestones and important KPIs. The program culminates in a demo day, where founders will communicate their pitch to potential investors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 6 weeks
Fast Forward is a pre-accelerator program for early-stage tech startups looking to validate their MVPs. This program is one of 3 programs in the startup lifecycle support by The Accelerator Network. Their program has been developed with best-practice support and training that covers key topics and assists startups in testing and validating their assumptions via practical assessments.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 7 weeks
Accelerator Academy is another program in the startup lifecycle support delivered by The Accelerator Network. It is specifically aimed at seed-stage tech startups to help revenue-generating startups grow their business and become investor ready. The program will provide training through a diverse range of experts and coaches as well as access to finance and markets. Though they do not require any equity in exchange, they do charge a commitment fee of GBP 600 + VAT and a 5% fee on the funds raised within a 12-month exclusivity agreement.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Multiple Sectors
Duration: 4 months
Part of Telefónica, one of the largest telecommunications providers in the world, Wayra is Telefónica's Open Innovation Hub with presence in 10 countries. Wayra UK is their branch that offers various accelerator programs in UK cities, specifically in London, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Oldham, and Manchester. To identify, develop, and promote technological entrepreneurship and startups in the country, their accelerator programs offer startups with in-depth coaching and masterclasses along with funding of up to GBP 250,000. Furthermore, they provide unprecedented access to Telefónica’s global customer base of 350 million customers, global strategic partnerships, and a comprehensive network of investors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Social Impact
Duration: 3 months
Alluding to the name, Tech For Good is an accelerator that will assist your startup in launching your technological innovations to generate a positive impact and benefit people. Through the program, startups will join expert workshops and 1:1 clinics to learn about designing with people in mind and measuring impact whilst making sure the business remains profitable and scalable. Organized by Bethnal Green Ventures, a VC firm that invests in social-tech ventures, they offer participating startups with GBP 30,000 investment in exchange for 7% equity.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Travel & Aviation
Duration: 10 weeks
Hangar51 is a travel-focused accelerator for startups introducing emerging technologies in the travel and aviation industries. As part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), a multinational airline holding company, participating startups may pilot their solution within their airlines' operational environments, fast-track their proof of concept, and gain vital product feedback to develop propositions. Furthermore, successful pilots may receive commercial opportunities from the group along with introductions to their extensive network of industry partners. Best of all, the program doesn't require equity for participation, though they do ask to give the option to co-invest in the next funding round.
Growth Stage Startup Accelerators in the United Kingdom
Full list of growth-stage startup accelerators in the United Kingdom:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Food & Beverage, Underrepresented Founders
Duration: 3 - 18 months
Driven by the mission to build a better food system, Mission Ventures offer multiple focused programs to accelerate the growth of entrepreneurial food and beverage ideas. They provide practical guidance and hands-on support to assist startups in defining consumer needs, building profitable business models, and gaining new insights. Their incubator and accelerator programs are free and offer founders a comprehensive business and brand support package along with equity-free funding.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sectors, Rolling Focus, Underrepresented Founders
Duration: -
Established by Barclays, a British multinational universal bank, the Barclays Eagle Labs is the bank's innovation facilitator that brings together the best startups together with industry bodies, key corporates, and academics to catalyze industry-wide transformation. Offering a space for startups to learn, connect, and grow, Barclays Eagle Labs organizes multiple sector-focused accelerator programs and dedicated business growth programs delivered by industry leaders and experts.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: NHS & Social Care
Duration: 3 - 12 months
The DigitalHealth.London offers multiple programs for digital health startups using technology to improve the NHS, health, and social care in London. They offer 4 programs, namely the Launchpad, Accelerator, Digital Pioneer Fellowship, and Generator for various startups and companies at different stages. Within each program, they provide digital health leaders with bespoke mentoring and education, expert advice, peer networking, brand awareness, and unique partnership opportunities.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 8 weeks - 5 months
Ignite North East helps startups and founders hailing from North East of England to launch and scale their ventures. They offer two programs: the Pre Accelerator for early-stage technology companies that are in development or have recently launched, and the Accelerator for established technology companies. In each program, startups will receive stage-specific support, including workshops and expert mentoring on relevant subjects.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Applied AI, Cyber, FinTech, Net Zero (Green Technology / Climate)
Duration: -
Tech Nation is a growth platform with a rich history of supporting scale-ups and helping startups solve scaling challenges, including 30% of UK unicorns. With their extensive experience and community, they provide founders and startups with the knowledge and networks to accelerate their scaling journey. From early to late-stage startups, they offer various support programs that cater to every stage of your growth that comes at no cost and no equity.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Engineering & Technology
Duration: 6 months
The Shott Scale Up Accelerator is a training program for senior decision-makers in high-growth engineering and tech ventures to improve their leadership mindset, strategy, and skills. To help them scale their businesses, participants will be equipped with expert-led training focused on six key areas: governance, product development, customer acquisition, access to new markets, securing growth capital, and people and culture. Participants will also join monthly, one-to-one scaleup coaching tailored to their technology and business needs and plenty of peer-to-peer networking, roundtables, and speaker events.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: NHS & Social Care
Duration: 3 years
The NHS Innovation Accelerator is a dedicated program for startups with promising innovations that solve NHS challenges. The dual-focused program is designed to help individuals scale their innovations across England's NHS, as well as develop the skills and knowledge of the individuals ('Fellows') themselves. During their time in the accelerator, NIA Fellows will be provided with access to mentors and networking opportunities, which should help them in producing a robust diffusion plan, innovation opportunities, and extensive knowledge to scale nationally.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic. Female / Marginalized Founders
Duration: 6 months
The Future Founders Accelerator Programme is a dedicated accelerator for female founders or marginalized founders who would like to grow their businesses and scale their impact. Through cohort-based expert-led sessions and 1:1 support, founders will assess their personal leadership strengths and identify opportunities for business growth. To participate, founders are asked to pay a contribution fee of GBP 300.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology,B2B, SaaS
Duration: 6 weeks - 12 months
Delivered by The Accelerator Network, The ScaleUp Accelerator is a program for high-growth tech startups looking to raise their Series A rounds. Committed to supporting you until your deal is done, the accelerator provides intensive 6-weeks of learning upfront followed by 12 months of support. The program is filled with activities to help startups scale, attract, structure, and close their VC funding round. It dives into the key areas of the business, including mapping the scaleup journey and strategy, planning go-to-market strategy, preparing funding growth plans and financial forecasts, and getting ready for investments; concluding with highly-curated virtual investor events.
Closing Thoughts on Startup Incubators and Accelerators in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is home to such a large number of startups and corporations for good reason. Building your startup in the UK certainly has many advantages - its multicultural cities invite numerous talented employees and attract a significant number of investors worldwide. The startup infrastructure and community are second to none, with the network of entrepreneurs being one of the nation's greatest assets. However, this is not the full picture. The UK's networks may sometimes feel like closed systems, difficult to navigate and penetrate for first-time founders. As such, it might be worth entering startup accelerators or incubators to gain access to these networks to develop your startup.