Key Dates
Early Bird deadline (Receive feedback and the chance to resubmit.) |
Monday 10 June (midnight) |
Final deadline for applications |
Monday 15 July (midnight) |
Programme starts online |
Tuesday 22 October |
Join our online Information Session on Thursday 23 May at 12.30. Find out more about how the programme is structured and what to expect. Bring your lunch!
The Venture Builder Incubator is a curated hybrid programme of interactive, online workshops and events designed to provide postgraduate students and research staff with the skills, knowledge and networks to validate the commercial potential of digital and science-based ideas and innovations.
We are looking to work with motivated individuals and teams eager to test their ideas that address real world challenges by using digital technology.
The programme offers the opportunity to be at the heart of a vibrant community and to develop life-long professional and entrepreneurial skills.
Funding: access to a share of £100k+
Transform Ideas into Reality: the Venture Builder Incubator specialises in helping researchers bridge the gap between academia and entrepreneurship, guiding participants to develop a robust commercialisation and funding strategy.
Expert Guidance: Benefit from the mentorship from entrepreneurs-in-residence, and others in our network
Specialist Streams: Programme includes sessions for innovations driven by hardware (e.g.robotics and autonomous systems) and for those focused on Cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Access to Networks: Connect with a dynamic community of like-minded individuals. Meet mentors and investors. Forge valuable relationships, expand your professional network, and unlock endless collaboration opportunities
Entrepreneurial Education: Develop essential entrepreneurial skills through our tailored workshops and seminars. Acquire the knowledge necessary to navigate the competitive start-up landscape with confidence.
Who should apply?
We encourage applications from postgraduate students (Masters, PhDs) and researchers from the University of Edinburgh. Recent alumni with innovative ideas, are also welcome to apply. Please get in touch if you have any queries. Applicants may be solo founders or Teams.
While the programme is open to all sectors*, we provide special support for projects using robotics and autonomous systems, as well as health startups.
Thanks to our continuing partnership with Cancer Research Horizons and support via Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme, funded by UK Government, applications are welcome from teams outside of the University of Edinburgh who are interested in commercialising projects focused on oncology and other NCDs (non-communicable diseases).
*Projects coming from the University of Edinburgh can be related to a wide number of industries but we are particularly interested in:
Cancer Research Horizons is the innovation engine of Cancer Research UK, the world’s largest independent cancer research organisation. It was launched to take cutting edge innovations from the lab bench to the bedside and translate them into effective treatments and diagnostics for cancer patients.
