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.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The FinTech startup which is shaking up how personal taxes are done in the UK....
leAD Sports is on the hunt for early-stage SportsTech startups to join their latest 12-week Accelerator program in the heart of Europe’s thriving and vibrant startup ecosystem in Berlin.
The London based startup that's analysing the natural interactions between autonomous systems and people
The startup that's using advanced technologies to transform un-recyclable plastics into virgin quality chemicals...
London-based cyber-security startup PixelPin want to simplify security using image-based authentication to replace passwords.
The InsurTech startup which covers the risk of non payment of invoices...
AO, the UK’s leading online-only household appliance and electrical retailer is looking discover and integrate startups with solutions that will help AO’s customers.
.jpeg)
Technology has transformed how people interact. We are on the cusp of an exciting new era in clinical communication, and a key shift in the empowerment of patients as a stakeholder in healthcare.
Exercise made fun thanks to this location-based strategy game for runners and walkers
The innovative Social Community App that's been created for those living & working with Dyslexia and ADHD...
Published on: 16th May 2017
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- leAD Sports Accelerator targets a hat trick of successful SportsTech cohorts 23rd Apr 2019 leAD Sports is on the hunt for early-stage SportsTech startups to join their latest 12-week Accelerator program in the heart of Europe’s thriving and vibrant startup ecosystem in Berlin.
- AO launches Innovation Lab to integrate online retail solutions 17th Apr 2019 AO, the UK’s leading online-only household appliance and electrical retailer is looking discover and integrate startups with solutions that will help AO’s customers.
- EDP searching for startups to join the Starter Acceleration Program 8th Apr 2019 EDP, one of Europe's major electricity operators is currently looking for startups for their new EDP Starter Acceleration Program.
- United Utilities launches Innovation Lab 2.0 21st Mar 2019 Leading UK water and wastewater company United Utilities has launched its second accelerator programme to help innovative businesses grow and develop their solutions through a collaborative approach.
