This is our List of Endorsing Bodies for Start-Up & Innovator Visas. The list is long so it may be easier to do a search for your institution on the page. At the top of the page is the list for Start-Up visa Endorsing Bodies. Below that is our list of Innovator visa Endorsing bodies. You can use the link below to jump directly to the Innovator Endorsing Body list.
Jump to the Innovator List of Endorsing Bodies at the bottom of the list of Start-Up Endorsing Bodies
List of Endorsing Bodies for Start-Up Visa
These are Higher Education Institutions (HEI).
Start-Up list last updated 13th January 2021.
Start-Up list last updated 11th August 2020.
Start-Up list last updated 4th December 2020.
Start-Up list last updated 7th October 2020.
Start-Up list last updated 19th September 2020.
Start-Up list last updated 4th June 2019.
Start-Up list last updated 12th May 2019.
Check and see if your HEI participates in the Start-Up visa programme.
| Endorsing Body | Notes |
|---|---|
| Anglia Ruskin University | Applications are welcome from ARU students. We regret non-ARU students cannot be considered.
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| Arts University Bournemouth | Specialises in art, design and architecture well as media and performance degrees, turning creativity into careers.
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| Aston University | For those who have completed a course of study at Aston University in the last 5 years and have had a business idea accepted by BSEEN.
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| Bangor University | Bangor University only endorses Bangor Graduates on this visa and they must have graduated within 12 months preceding the application. |
| Bath Spa University | Bath Spa University will only accept endorsement applications from Bath Spa students and their recent graduates (up to 2 years). |
| Birmingham City University | |
| Bournemouth University | They support Bournemouth University international alumni start-ups and innovators across the UK, and exceptional UK HEI international graduates looking to start businesses in Wessex. |
| BPP University Limited | BPP University will only endorse its own graduates in the Start-up route. They will not endorse external candidates or in the Innovator route. |
| Brunel University London | Brunel University London’s Entrepreneur Hub supports our graduating students in the development of their business under the start-up route.
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| Cardiff Metropolitan University | International Entrepreneurs Programme runs intensively for 6 months from the centre for Entrepreneurship incubator and includes workshops, mentoring, office space and general support. Cardiff Metropolitan University is currently endorsing its own students and graduates only. |
| Cardiff University | Cardiff University are only able to consider endorsement requests from our graduate students or any of their students who have completed their studies and are approaching their graduation date |
| City, University of London | |
| Contemporary Dance Trust | |
| Coventry University |
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| Cranfield University | Supporting entrepreneurs every step of their journey, they accept applications from students and alumni of Cranfield. |
| De Montfort University | |
| Derby University | |
| Durham University | They provide opportunities for start-up visa endorsement to eligible graduating students and graduates of Durham University.
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| Edinburgh Napier University | |
| Falmouth University School of Entrepreneurship | Creating a unique environment to build sustainable businesses with high growth potential in one of the UK’s leading creative tech hubs. |
| Girne American University Canterbury | |
| Glasgow Caledonian University | |
| Goldsmiths University of London |
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| Guildhall School of Music & Drama | Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs is an incubator to help people in the performing arts launch and advance their own enterprises. Guildhall School will only endorse graduates from Guildhall School. |
| Heriot-Watt University | |
| Hult International Business School | Applications are welcome from Hult International Business School graduates who have completed their degree within the past 2 years. Applications are measured against a strict criteria.
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| Imperial College London | |
| Keele University | Keele Business School Smart Innovation Hub, and the Research & Innovation Support Programme will support selected Keele students and alumni. |
| King’s College London | The Entrepreneurship Institute at King’s College London will support Start-up visas that meet UKVI criteria from current and former King’s students. |
| Kingston University |
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| Lancaster University | |
| Leeds Arts University | |
| Leeds Beckett University | Leeds Beckett University will endorse Start-Up businesses that meet UKVI criteria from Leeds Beckett University students and alumni. Business Plan submissions should initially be submitted to siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
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| The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts | |
| Liverpool John Moores University | They will only endorse graduates from LJMU. They will only consider applications from postgraduate students who hold a current Tier 4 visa. |
| London Business School | They accept applications from students and alumni, as well as co-founders working with LBS students or alumni. |
| London Metropolitan University | They will only endorse selected students from LMU and will consider applications from graduating students and recent graduates (last 12 months) only. |
| London School of Economics and Political Sciences | The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a Start-up endorsing body that only endorses its alumni, with the exception of non-LSE applicants who are key members and co-founders of an LSE team. LSE offers ongoing mentoring and guidance to all start-ups. It also offers some office space where required and a range of events and networking opportunities that endorsees can take part in.
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| London South Bank University | They can only endorse applicants who have graduated from LSBU within the last 2 years and have not started a business in the UK before. |
| Loughborough University | Endorsing body for Loughborough University graduates. Contact the Loughborough Enterprise Network for further information. |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | |
| Middlesex University | |
| Newcastle University |
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| Northern School of Contemporary Dance | |
| Norwich University of the Arts | |
| Nottingham Trent University | Only open to students and recent graduates (within the immediate 2 years preceding date of application) of Nottingham Trent University. |
| Oxford Brookes University | |
| Plymouth College of Art | Plymouth College of Art welcomes endorsement applications from graduates and alumni of the college. |
| Queen Mary University of London | Open to Queen Mary University of London graduates only |
| Queen’s University Belfast | They only accept applications for endorsement from Queen’s graduates and applicants must have completed a degree within the last 12 months.
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| Ravensbourne University London |
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| Regent’s University London | |
| The Robert Gordon University | They consider endorsements from graduates of Robert Gordon University which have been accepted on and participate in their Startup Accelerator Programme. |
| Royal Academy of Music | The Royal Academy of Music will only accept endorsement applications from their current students. |
| Royal Agricultural University | The RAU will endorse its own graduates in the Start-up route who have actively participated in the RAU Enterprise Programme. The university will not endorse external candidates. |
| The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama | RCSSD is a world leading small and specialist college for performing arts.
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| Royal College of Art | |
| Royal Holloway and Bedford New College | |
| Sheffield Hallam University | |
| SOAS, University of London |
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| Solent University | |
| Swansea University | |
| Teesside University | |
| University College London | They will only consider applicants who have graduated from UCL in the last 12 months. |
| University for the Creative Arts | |
| University of Aberdeen | The University of Aberdeen will only consider endorsement applications from University of Aberdeen students and recent Aberdeen graduates (up to 2 years and should have significant engagement with entrepreneurship support following graduation). |
| University of Bath | Only endorses graduates who have graduated from the University of Bath within the previous 2 years and meet SETsquared membership criteria.
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| University of Birmingham | |
| University of Bradford | The University of Bradford welcomes applications to its Accelerated Global Entrepreneurship programme from eligible graduates of any university. An innovative business or social enterprise plan is required. Applicants must be committed to basing themselves and their enterprise in Bradford.
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| University of Brighton | The University of Brighton offers a comprehensive entrepreneurship support service – called beepurple – to all its students and graduates. Throughout the year, the beepurple team offers entrepreneurial skills development workshops, a 1-2-1 entrepreneurship advice service, a 5-day business start-up summer course, an annual Ideas Competition and an enterprise growth rant scheme.
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| University of Bristol | The University of Bristol will consider endorsing their students for Start-up following a rigorous application process. |
| The University of Buckingham |
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| University of Cambridge | They consider endorsement for those who are graduating or have graduated from the University of Cambridge. |
| University of Central Lancashire | |
| University of Chester | They will only endorse start-up applications from Chester students who graduate in the same academic year and who possess an outstanding, genuine and credible business idea in line with the university’s criteria. |
| University of Dundee | |
| University of East Anglia |
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| University of East London | They only accept applications from UEL Students or Graduates. Their programme is competitive with limited endorsements therefore align your application to the criteria. |
| The University of Edinburgh | The University of Edinburgh endorses Start-up applicants who have a close demonstrable relationship with their institution (students and alumni).
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| University of Essex | |
| University of Exeter | They will only consider endorsements for students and graduates of the university who engaged with entrepreneurship activity during their studies. |
| University of Glasgow | The University of Glasgow will endorse students and graduates who have studied at the University of Glasgow or Glasgow School of Art and who have shown interest in Student Enterprise activities during their studies.
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| University of Greenwich | Endorsements are issued through Generator, which aims to inspire and encourage students and graduates with new ideas. We offer competitions, training, and a co-working space in London. Candidates can apply for funding.
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| University of Hertfordshire Higher Education Corporation | They only accept endorsement applications from their current students and their alumni (within one year of completing studies). |
| University of Huddersfield | |
| University of Hull | |
| University of Kent |
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| University of Leeds | |
| University of Leicester | |
| University of Lincoln | |
| University of Liverpool | They will only endorse students who graduate from the University of Liverpool within the same academic year. |
| University of Manchester | Only graduates of the University of Manchester will be considered for endorsement. |
| The University of Northampton | |
| University of Northumbria at Newcastle | |
| University of Nottingham |
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| University of Oxford | Oxford is a leading centre of teaching and research that supports a growing entrepreneur community from across the entire student body. The Start-up visa endorsement process is managed by the Oxford University Careers Service; the committee that endorses applications includes staff from across the University.
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| University of Plymouth | |
| University of Portsmouth | To apply for endorsement applicants must be students or graduates (up to 5 years) from the University of Portsmouth. |
| University of Reading | |
| University of Roehampton | Applications for Start-up visa endorsement are welcome from graduating students and graduates of the University of Roehampton only.
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| The University of Salford | |
| University of Sheffield |
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| University of South Wales | They will only consider endorsement for those who are graduating or have graduated from the University of South Wales or RWCMD within the last 12 months. |
| University of Southampton | |
| University of St Andrews | |
| University of Stirling | Accepts applications for the Start-up category from students with proven engagement with the Enterprise Programme and/or UoS alumni: Innovation & Enterprise Team. |
| University of Strathclyde | |
| University of Sunderland | Their Enterprise Place offers Start Up support, 1-1 business advice, structured workshops and networking opportunities for their alumni.
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| University of Surrey | The University of Surrey offers internal students and external entrepreneurs business mentoring and business idea development programmes through Student Enterprise and SETsquared Surrey to help applicants apply for Surrey’s Start-up endorsement. Once the Start-up Visa is obtained ongoing business support is provided to help with the business execution and operations.
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| University of Sussex | |
| University of the Arts London | The University of the Arts London offers endorsement exclusively to UAL graduates within 2 years of graduating. The scheme is delivered by careers and employability. |
| University of the West of England | Their Launch Space provides physical incubator space and enterprise support for graduate start-up businesses at UWE. |
| University of the West of Scotland | The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) will endorse current students or recent graduates who demonstrate an innovative business idea and entrepreneurial mind-set. |
| The University of West London | |
| University of Ulster | |
| University of Wales Trinity Saint David – Carmarthen Campus | |
| University of Warwick | The University of Warwick welcomes applications for Start-up visa endorsement from graduating students and graduates of the University of Warwick with innovative, viable and scalable business ideas.
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| University of Westminster | |
| University of Wolverhampton | |
| University of York | |
| Unseen University | |
| York St John University |
List of Endorsing Bodies for Innovator Visa
Innovator list last updated 13th January 2021.
Innovator list last updated 11th August 2020.
Innovator list last updated 4th December 2020.
Innovator list last updated 7th October 2020.
Innovator list last updated 19th September 2019.
Innovator list last updated 14th June 2019.
Innovator list last updated 12th May 2019.
Check for an Innovator Endorsing Body
| Endorsing Body | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Bakery | The Bakery endorses bona-fide entrepreneurs who qualify for their corporate innovation programmes. |
| Bethnal Green Ventures | BGV is an early stage investor in tech for good companies who only endorse start-up entrepreneurs accepted onto their support programme |
| Blue Orchid |
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| Capital enterprise (IDEA London) | Capital Enterprise will only be endorsing founders within their community. |
| Community and Business Partners | Award winning business development organisation, supporting highly innovative, skilled individuals to help realise their entrepreneurial growth ambitions. They provide endorsements to clients in their Start-up and Innovation support programmes, that offer bespoke 1-2-1 support which will incur a cost.
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| Consilium Consulting | Conslium is committed to supporting entrepreneurs to achieve their business vision. They offer a comprehensive, compulsory Mentoring Programme, Business Workshop, Networking and Funding opportunities to dynamic, innovative entrepreneurs across all sectors. Based in Cardiff, they are interested in those seeking opportunities in Wales and accept applications all year round.
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| CyLon | CyLon is interested in hearing from emerging cyber security companies or entrepreneurs planning on setting up an innovative cyber start-up. |
| Deep Science Ventures | Apply if you are a scientist or engineer determined to start a deep science company. |
| DRS Business Solutions | DRSBS provides practical, commercial advice and consultancy to entrepreneurs on business strategy, planning, plans, forecasting and finances, delivered on a flexible, one-to-one basis. The support is based on the owner’s experiences of real commercial challenges at senior board level industry.
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| Edinburgh Innovations | Edinburgh Innovations is the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service. Working with students, researchers and external organisations, they proactively identify, pursue and support opportunities in collaborative research, contract research, consultancy, studentships, secondments, executive education, startup and spinout creation, licensing, mentoring and incubation.
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| Emerge Education | Emerge Education invests in and supports the growth of early stage education startups. |
| Emsworth Corporate Planning (ECP) | ECP based on the South Coast provides business implementation and mentoring services for dynamic and disruptive companies looking to establish themselves in the UK. Using a systematic approach, they are prepared to review a sector-agnostic range of business opportunities, from global talented entrepreneurs.
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| Entrepreneur First (EF) | EF funds people to form and scale companies that transform industries. EF gives individuals the opportunity to meet a co-founder, form a company, and develop technology and business strategy, all while supported by mentors from EF’s team. Founders can receive investments from EF and external investors. Contact them by email.
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| Envestors Limited | Envestors is an award-winning corporate finance advisor specialising in identifying innovators and high-growth businesses. Founded in 2004, Envestors has raised over £120 million for 200 portfolio companies, supporting their entire growth cycle within its FCA-regulated platform technology, from connecting founders to the early-stage investment community, to a dedicated shareholder reporting tool.
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| Fashion Angel | A fashion industry accelerator that supports start-ups and entrepreneurs who want to create innovative, viable and scalable businesses within the fashion sector. They only consider visa endorsement applications from individuals that have joined their business support or mentoring programmes.
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| First Corporate Finance | They offer an open invitation to entrepreneurs worldwide with innovative business ideas to register in their Business Support Program, with future potential endorsement.
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| Fortunis Capital Ltd | Works with motivated individuals and teams who have innovative, scalable and commercially viable proposals that have an element of positive impact on wider society. They manage a £25 million innovation fund that provides R&D Funding, and a £100 million private equity fund. They actively manage their entire portfolio.
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| Founders Factory | Founders Factory is an award-winning tech StartUp accelerator and venture studio.
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| The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) | Founders Factory is an award-winning tech StartUp accelerator and venture studio.
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| (Innovator International) Geminus | Geminus provides endorsements to clients in their “Innovator International” business support programme, which offers bespoke 1-1 support covering all business sectors across the UK.
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| Ignite | They only endorse applicants who are successful in applying for one of their accelerator programmes. |
| Innovate Britain | Innovate Britain invite applicants to take part in their Mentoring Programme, designed to last 3 years and enable companies to hire teams, register IP and export goods and services. The proprietary platform provides guidance and resources to engage fully with the programme as well as peer-to-peer mentoring from other companies.
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| International Innovation Hub Ltd | An award-winning team who work with highly innovative and skilled individuals to realise their growth aspirations. Located in the north, particularly the Manchester and Liverpool region, with expertise in green and renewable energy, engineering, manufacturing, digital and tech. |
| Invest Northern Ireland | Invest NI endorses entities for Start-up/Innovator visas through participation on its accelerator programme or request from client companies only.
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| Kollider | Kollider is a high growth business incubator. They endorse members with innovative ideas in the creative, digital and tech sectors expected to scale in their markets within 24 months. Kollider provides businesses with a range of support including mentoring, workshops, industry specific events and guidance on funding – based within a community of likeminded entrepreneurs.
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| Level39 | Level39 is the most connected tech community, encompassing 1,250 leaders in Cyber Security, Fintech and Retail Tech, based in the heart of Canary Wharf.
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| MDR LAB | MDR LAB is an accelerator for tech start-ups in the legal space. They only endorse migrants accepted onto their 10-week May-July programme. |
| MedCity | MedCity is the life sciences organisation for the greater south east, incorporating the Golden Triangle: Cambridge – London – Oxford. MedCity can help you find expertise, resources, infrastructure, places and people to grow your company, operate successfully in Europe’s leading life sciences cluster and understand the route to market and regulatory frameworks.
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| NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator | Their Accelerator is designed for Entrepreneurs who already have a defined and validated business model. They provide a 6-month programme designed to help businesses grow and scale. Applicants should apply for their Accelerator online and if successful Endorsements can be provided 2 months after joining them.
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| North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) | Providing professional accommodation and business support services to ambitious and innovative business from all sectors, encouraging start-ups and scaling companies to foster innovation to gain competitive advantage and accelerate growth.
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| Panacea |
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| Royal Bank of Scotland Entrepreneur Accelerator | Their Accelerator is designed for Entrepreneurs who already have a defined and validated business model. They provide a 6-month programme designed to help businesses grow and scale. Applicants should apply for their Accelerator online and if successful Endorsements can be provided 2 months after joining them.
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| The Royal Society of Edinburgh | The Royal Society of Edinburgh only provide endorsement to their awardees who have received an RSE Enterprise Fellowship. Unfortunately they cannot support any individual who does not fall under this category. |
| Sapphire Capital Partners LLP | Sapphire is a multi-award winning venture capital firm located in London and Belfast. Sapphire seeks to identify and assist bonafide entrepreneurs who will qualify for further investment through Sapphire’s numerous startup venture capital funds.
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| Scottish EDGE | Scottish Edge can endorse winners of its bi-annual funding competition for innovative, high-growth potential Scottish businesses. Approximately 10% of applicants win. Winners receive grant and loan funding from £10,000 to £150,000, business support, training, mentoring alumni and networking events and acess to a business support package.
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| Seedcamp | Seedcamp invest early in world-class founders attacking large, global markets and solving real problems using technology. Please visit their website for more information and FAQs. |
| SETsquared Bristol | SETsquared Bristol incubator will only endorse technology start-ups meeting entry criteria to their incubator and looking to establish an office in Bristol |
| Severn Seed Finance (SSF) | SSF seeks interesting, dynamic and innovative business proposals. It offers applied technology solutions, specialist cross-sector expertise and commercial experience to assist UK and global entrepreneurs develop and deliver high growth businesses. SSF provides unique access to business finance through its dedicated private investor and funds network.
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| SFC Capital | SFC Capital is an award-winning investment firm, active in the startup ecosystem since 2013. SFC Capital specialises in first time equity funding (SEIS/EIS) and offers a wide range of supporting services to entrepreneurs directly or via associated businesses and selected partners.
Restrictions on applications: SFC endorses only businesses where at least one team member is part of their wider network, for instance, received investment or is in process of receiving investment from/via SFC, used or is about to use any of the startup support services, and/or enrolled or is in the process of enrolling into any of the entrepreneurial programmes offered by SFC Academy |
| Startup Giants plc | Startup Giants is a high growth business accelerator, providing endorsement for founders that have highly scalable business ideas. They collaborate with innovators on their programmes to realise the full potential of their value proposition and market potential, and provide additional expertise in areas of technology, strategy, marketing, and investment.
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| The Start-up Race | Our goal is to help international entrepreneurs like you establish successful business in the UK, because we believe entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful forces for good. Our online accelerator programme is run by experienced, well connected Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors who have coached and mentored thousands of entrepreneurs over the past 20 years. We can also help you raise investment and apply for grants and competitions worth £100,000s if you incorporate your new business in Scotland. Of course, you can base your new business anywhere in the UK.
Restrictions on applications: You need to take part in one of our Virtual International Accelerator programmes if you want to get a Startup or Innovator endorsement letter because we teach you the Lean Startup methodologies to increase your likelihood of being one of the 5% that actually succeed in building an Innovative, Viable and Scaleable business. |
| Techstars London | Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. They can only endorse Techstars backed Founders and other individuals from the Network. |
| Tech X | Unique technology accelerator & incubator for global start-ups looking to transform the energy sector – offers unparalleled funding and support as well as deep market access and access to investors.
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| Ulster Bank Entrepreneur Accelerator | Their Accelerator is designed for Entrepreneurs who already have a defined and validated business model. They provide a 6-month programme designed to help businesses grow and scale. Applicants should apply for their Accelerator online and if successful Endorsements can be provided 2 months after joining them.
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| University of Bradford | The University of Bradford welcomes applications to its Accelerated Global Entrepreneurship programme from eligible graduates of any university. An innovative business or social enterprise plan is required. Applicants must be committed to basing themselves and their enterprise in Bradford.
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| Wayra | |
| Zinc | Zinc builds new companies that solve the developed world’s toughest challenges. They do this through a Mission-led 9-month full-time Company Builder Programme which brings together top entrepreneurial talent, domain expertise, insights from social science and a leading network of experts to create new mission-led companies.
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