June 2023 - The Entrepreneurial Digest
Things change fast in the startup world…
Six months ago we were a team of 2.5 people, stretched thin; on the cusp of something as we have been so many times! Since then, we have grown our team by 6 people, launched four more accelerator cohorts across various programmes, and built an MVP to test a new business model! It feels busy and stressful when you’re in the thick of it, but when you stop and look back at how far you’ve come it makes all the effort seem worthwhile.
Across those four cohorts we have supported another 55 entrepreneurs, in everything from EV charging to stem cell therapy to advanced materials and astronaut nourishment. We’ve really experienced how great entrepreneurs emerge in all walks of life and from all backgrounds, and how the power of mindsets and behaviours can shift people forward in any sector. Thinking straight and taking action is still a recipe for success, and this is what our enablement is all about.
So, what have we been up to?
Space Accelerator: Explore Programme Opens for Second Intake
We completed our second Explore programme earlier this year, working with 30 early-stage startups who were looking to grow into the space sector (either from within or from another sector looking to break into space). I always enjoy seeing the ideas that come into these programmes – from upstream ideas like autonomous cooking robots and propulsion systems through to apps using earth observation data to help people decide where to live, or innovative educational or legal platforms to address the future needs of humanity. We had all of these in Explore cohort 1!
We’re now seeking 30 more ambitious souls to join our second cohort, starting on 25th September. Explore is a 10-week programme including 1:1 enablement, access to our new Canvas tool and a daily learning and action platform with constant feedback. If you have an early stage business that you think could grow into the space sector, then take a look here.
Trajectory Event Brings Startup Ecosystem Together
Lots of you tell us that hybrid accelerators are the best. You like the convenience of online day-to-day, but find huge value in the human connection and inspiration of face-to-face events. So we’re incorporating this into all of our future programmes. On 17th May we ran our first Trajectory event as part of the UK Space Agency Accelerator, bringing together 40+ startups, investors and advisers to network, learn and pitch at Edinburgh Napier University.
To see the event in action, watch the video here:
Transform SY Phase 1 Concludes
We celebrated the end of the first phase of our Transform SY programme on 9th June. This regional accelerator has supported 3 cohorts over 18 months, and was a great experiment in promoting inclusion in accelerators without sacrificing ambition. We:
Opened our criteria to take in more mature businesses who wanted a fresh burst of pace or to accelerate in a different direction.
Chose a virtual model so that we could truly deliver across South Yorkshire, and reach entrepreneurs who would normally be isolated by geography.
Did the groundwork of getting out and exploring the region, working with different partners on the ground to find the hidden gems.
In total we worked with 47 great entrepreneurs who were building great businesses, enabling them to create over 20 jobs and improving their confidence in their business model and funding strategies by 35%. As always, the true success in the accelerator was the mindset shift that the cohorts were able to make along the way, and you can read some of the case studies in our impact report here.
We’re seeking new funding to roll out another phase of Transform SY and support even more great founders, so watch this space for further news….
Time to Evolve
Finding it hard to access an outstanding accelerator? Don’t quite fit the criteria, or already been through the best programmes in your area? We are soft launching a new proposition named Evolve, with the goal of accelerating 100,000 entrepreneurs by 2028. Our intention is to break open the accelerator industry and clear the elitism and bias that has dogged the industry for years, enabling any entrepreneur to access the best accelerator support, right where they are.
We’re currently planning off the rough edges with our first user group, and plan on launching more widely very soon. If you’d like to hear more about Evolve, then sign up to the waiting list here.
