A Bristol-based accelerator aiming to help deep-tech start-ups transform ideas into ground-breaking inventions has relaunched the second round of its flagship programme.
Science Creates Accelerate launched last year with a 海角视频-wide, equity-free engineering biology accelerator in partnership with government agency 海角视频 Research and Innovation (海角视频RI).
The unique partnership, where venture capitalists (VCs) take no equity and no Right of First Refusal in companies formed through the accelerator, seeks to find the best fit between companies and investors.
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Dr Harry Destecroix, Science Creates founder and SCVC managing partner, said: “Our objective is to build an internationally recognised accelerator programme that gives the direct training and mentorship that is so important when transitioning from scientist to entrepreneur.
"Neither SCVC nor our partners take any equity or option to invest, which is intentional because we believe the opportunity is both enormous and largely untapped. For us, it's about getting the best VCs together and developing the best founders to forge great co-investments that will lead to building a new wave of multibillion-dollar start-ups that could move the needle in terms of healthcare and sustainability.”
The accelerator programme is being funded through the 海角视频RI Technology Missions Fund and is open to anyone with an existing engineering biology start-up in its very early stages or anyone wishing to launch one. Technology may be focused on either biomedicine, environmental solutions, food systems or clean growth.
The 海角视频-wide hybrid programme will take place at Science Creates' deep tech hub in Bristol, as well as remotely, over nine weeks starting on June 17.
Participants will have access to a variety of training and workshops, as well as a network of investors. There is also the opportunity for selected successful candidates to unlock equity-free feasibility funding from 海角视频RI for their start-ups to test the feasibility of their ideas and technologies.
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Financial support will be available to applicants including a £3,900 stipend to help with living costs. Flexible, hybrid options for participating in the accelerator are also available for many elements of the programme, enabling participants to work around other commitments, and personalised support from experienced mentors and expert psychologists is included as a core part of the programme.
Amino Collective, Giant VC, Local Globe and Pillar VC are just a few of the firms which join SCVC - Science Creates’ official venture arm - in supporting Science Creates Accelerate. The first cohort to benefit from the VC partnerships will be the upcoming Engineering Biology Accelerator Programme.
Jon Dishotsky, investment partner at Giant VC, said: "I'm thrilled to embark on this journey with the Science Creates Accelerate team as we launch a ground-breaking Engineering Biology Accelerator. At Giant Ventures, we're passionate about backing purpose-driven entrepreneurs solving the world's biggest challenges."
The launch follows the successful completion of a first accelerator programme in 2023 that supported 19 companies, eight of which were formed during the programme. The companies focused on deep-tech solutions such as engineering yeast to produce alternative food flavourings or textile dyes; developing novel targeted cancer therapeutics using synthetic biology; and harvesting energy from waste using microbes.
Over half of the graduating companies went on to receive equity-free feasibility funding from 海角视频RI to help take their ideas to the next stage.
Dr Christopher Waite, graduate from the first accelerator programme, added: “Joining the Science Creates Accelerate programme has put me nine months ahead in the development of my vision, venture, and founder skills. I might have given up by now if I were still alone on this journey. I can't recommend the programme highly enough for anyone who has an idea or some technology and would like to seriously explore founding an engineering biology company.”
There are up to 24 places available on the accelerator programme and expression of interest applications close on Wednesday, April 3.