The Startup Accelerator is dead, long live Accelerator the 2nd!
by Startacus Admin
Bold vision often results in big change. Step forward UK accelerator Ignite who last week announced major changes to their startup accelerator programme and overall model of working. We fast-forwarded over the major details…
Ignite announced on Friday that they were tearing up the accelerator programme rule book to launch Ignite 2.0. With a new model, Ignite are aiming to work with the best founders, and the best companies, wherever they are based in the UK.
In comes…Rolling Applications, with Ignite investing in 2–4 companies each month, rather than doing 3 batches a year.
In comes… a Distributed Programme, with a more objective driven process lasting 3/6/12 months which each month will bring together companies on the programme for a two day offsite set of workshops focused on sales, marketing, operations and recruitment. Crucially, these off-sites will take place in a different city each month -hooray!
In comes - Funding Flexibility, with two options available to startups joining the programme, one involving investment + the programme, and one with reduced equity loss and just the programme facilitation and no 
investment.
Flexibility seems to be the key here.
Their new model is aimed at allowing Ignite to work with the best founders, and the best companies, wherever they are based in the UK. The ambition is that over the next 12 months Ignite will invest in at least 30 companies, of which 80% will be outside London and the South East. Hooray! Removing that barrier of needing to live / move or relocate to the ‘Accelerator’ location, which can be for some, a barrier they cannot move.
There’s loads of more stuff we could write about here, but we’ll let the Ignite team explain, Head on over to this blog announcement via Ignite CEO Tristan Watson to read all the details on the whats, whys and whens.
We wish the Ignite team well with this bold move - there’s loads of good stuff to consider here, and whilst this experimental approach may need to be further refined, we think Ignite should be celebrated for wanting to improve the Accelerator model, and fundamentally, how well they can and do, support startups and their growth via their programmes.
GreenJinn has just launched its crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube. They’re raising £600,000 to add new brands, shops & take their technology to the next level.
Talent take note. At Jobbio HIGHER, you'll be able to network & connect with some of the UK’s best tech companies & high-growth startups...
EmptyChair are building an online marketplace, but not for rooms, cars or beauty treatments, but instead to change the way people discover, book and host workshops & classes in London.
Applications are open for the Arsenal Innovation Lab, a fab looking 10-week programme for startups to test & demonstrate their products or services with one of the leading clubs in world football.
OfferMoments, the Minority Report style billboard creators, aim to disrupt the growing £1billion OOH advertising market, after a £1.5m cash injection to fund a brand new project.
The rate of inflation in the UK in August hit a 4 year high at 2.9% after being in decline for the previous 2 months. What impact might this have on UK business?
The innovative startup with fact checking at its very core...
The EdTech startup that's making it easier than ever before to find professional tutors...
Digital nomads & remote workers take note. This platform is on a mission to help remote workers connect with socially minded businesses.
Self care could be much easier thanks to this (coming soon) innovative new app...
Published on: 16th May 2017
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Arsenal Innovation Lab scouts top startups for new ten-week programme 14th Sep 2017 Applications are open for the Arsenal Innovation Lab, a fab looking 10-week programme for startups to test & demonstrate their products or services with one of the leading clubs in world football.
- Minority Report style billboard Startup raises £1.5m for new under wraps innovation 13th Sep 2017 OfferMoments, the Minority Report style billboard creators, aim to disrupt the growing £1billion OOH advertising market, after a £1.5m cash injection to fund a brand new project.
- As UK inflation rises to 2.9% in August, what impact might this have on UK business? 13th Sep 2017 The rate of inflation in the UK in August hit a 4 year high at 2.9% after being in decline for the previous 2 months. What impact might this have on UK business?
- FairFunders provides a rate-and-review service for female entrepreneurs looking for investment 1st Sep 2017 New platform FairFunders is on a mission to provide female entrepreneurs with the voice and power to access capital in a safe and inclusive environment.
