Startup Support in...Leeds
by Startacus Admin
Leeds based early-stage startups and entrepreneurs take note - here's the lowdown on key startup support and help available where you are...
Away from the established startup hubs like London, the support for setting up a business isn’t always so clear. It’s not a lack of support, just a quieter ecosystem that takes a little more work to unearth. We want to help with this by highlighting what some other cities have to offer for startups.
After a tour of startup support and help available in Sheffield, we’re going further north again, to Leeds. 
And good timing it is, as the excellent real-life business and social network TableCrowd have just announced that they will be launching their informal 'business dinners with expert speaker' events in Leeds, their third City location after London and Cambridge.
Co-Working space
Duke Studios provides hot desking, dedicated desks, and studio space for individuals and companies in the creative industries. Use of the space includes free access to 
meeting rooms; discounts on services, the café-bar, and food; free tea (it’s the North); a pool of standard and e-bikes; and more. Pricing starts at £115 per month.
Wizu Workspace is another good one. As well as the all-important unlimited premium coffee, they offer a stocked kitchen, meeting rooms, reception services, showers, and more. This comes with hot desking, fixed desk, or serviced office in one of two Leeds locations.
Lightspace Collective is, as the name suggests, light and airy. It is a collection of mainly - but not only - creative businesses and dogs. We’re unclear on whether the dogs are their own entrepreneurs or part of another business. With dedicated desk or studio hire, everything is included in the price.
Dock Work at Leeds Dock looks to be a great and vibrant place to work. This one isn’t opening until late 2018/early 2019, but it will include flexible hot desking and fixed desks
Finances
Based in Yorkshire generally, the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels looks for patented products or niche market services with a high growth potential in any market. They have expanded their reach to the whole of the North of England.
NorthInvest is a not-for-profit back by The Northern Powerhouse that connects businesses with mentors and investors. They specialise in the wide tech and online spaces and their various sub-categories.
The startup ecosystem and programmes
The Start and Grow programme is open to startups that meet certain criteria, such as being based in and creating employment in the Leeds area. The advice and support provided by the programme is valued at around £5,000.
The NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator has a hub in Leeds offering an 8-week pre-accelerator, a 6-month accelerator, and a 6-month fintech-specific accelerator, all 
fully funded and equity free.
Elmwood LaunchPod is a 12-week accelerator for startups and scaleups. Each 12-week cohort will be focused around a theme; for example, the September 2018 theme was ‘The Future of Consumer Health’.
For the tech community of Leeds, Leeds.tech is a platform built for you. With news, job listings, workspace openings, events, and features, Leeds.tech is a good central hub for all thing tech. And Leeds.
As always, this is not an exhaustive list, so feel free to let us know at editorial@startacus.net if you think there is a particularly deserving entity in any of these categories.
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Published on: 28th December 2018
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