Start-up Competition

Introduction

Our annual Accelerate@Babraham start-up competition acts as a springboard for early-stage life science enterprises. An opportunity to dedicate 12 months to the exploration and development of your proposal in the company of an exceptional network of strategic partners and supporters, at a location which is one of the best in Europe. The Babraham Research Campus is home to some of the UK’s most successful biotech enterprises – why not join them?

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2023 PROGRAMME ARE NOW CLOSED!

5 Life Science Start-ups

A competitive and rigorous selection process determines which five companies will make it through. Participants will be selected based on quality of technology/research, technology readiness level, commercialisation readiness level, market need and commitment to the programme. You will need to be able to succinctly and confidently communicate your idea, its potential impact and your longer-term ambitions within five minutes!

3-Month Programme

Concentrated, intense and potentially life-changing! Weekly seminars, workshops and 1-2-1 mentoring will help hone your idea, polish your commercial proposition, develop your company structure and deliver a compelling investor pitch time after time. Contacts made during this process are often career-long connections.

Explore

Lab Space & Equipment

At the end of the 3-month programme, you will have the opportunity to access up to ten months free lab space as part of the Accelerate@Babraham programme. Stress test your science and take advantage of on-site technical expertise to guide and assist you with every detail - from where to hang your lab coat to the ordering and handling of specialist materials.

Mentored by Experts

Our experts and mentors are all highly skilled and experienced in their respective fields and will provide you with data-driven, comprehensive business analysis and support, expert scientific/technical advice and founder coaching and skills. Prepare to be challenged by those that have been there and done it before – multiple times!

Meet them

£10,000 Cash Prize

Each of the five winning ventures will receive £10,000 non-dilutive funding. Use it to stock your lab, secure IP, file for a patent…whatever you like (almost!).

Got further questions? Take a look at our FAQs by clicking below.

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What it’s like to be part of the programme

If you want to know what it’s really like, talk to those that have gone before! Our previous cohorts have been kind enough to allow us to do just that. Explore their experiences below and then ask yourself…is this for me?

Accelerate@Babraham intake learns how to walk through walls

Accelerate@Babraham intake learns how to walk through walls

A memorable induction for the first-ever Accelerate@Babraham competition winners cohort included masterclasses from two of Cambridge’s most spectacularly successful entrepreneurs and investors, Andy Richards and Jonathan Milner.

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Presentation Day showcases success of Accelerate@Babraham Start-up Competition

Presentation Day showcases success of Accelerate@Babraham Start-up Competition

The first ever life science bio-incubator programme competition at the Babraham Research Campus, Accelerate@Babraham, has ended on a high for the competition winners with the promise of ongoing mentoring and an invitation to present at the renowned Babraham Investor Conference in 2019.

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Startups the rock stars of our generation

Startups the rock stars of our generation

The second life science bio-incubator programme at the Babraham Research Campus ended on a high for its participants as they presented their science and achievements to a distinguished audience.

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NOW CLOSED!

Applications are now CLOSED!

Applications for 2023 are now closed. We'll be announcing the successful 2023/24 cohort shortly!