Access funding
Our funding streams can help you develop your research, share your innovations and build a business that can have real-world impact on patients.
Accelerate your idea
All companies start with an idea.
We can help you learn how to transform your early-stage idea into a start-up. You bring the ideas. We'll provide resources and knowledge to help you on your entrepreneurial journey.
Discover our business accelerator programmes.
Available training to help you accelerate your idea
Find out more about each of these programmes below or contact us to find out about other ways we can help.
Panacea Stars - Develop Programme
Venture Builder Incubator
What: Generate a wider impact, develop entrepreneurial skills, build a team and turn your research into a data-driven business. This programme is open to cancer researchers across the UK, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Innovations.
Who: Postgraduate students and researchers
When: Applications for 2024-25 cohort have currently closed. To apply to this 4 month programme for the 2025-26 cohort, please continue to check our website for application deadline updates.
Benefits of the Venture Builder Incubator
- £2,000 grant
- 1-to-1 support
- Links to investors
- The University of Edinburgh’s wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, including mentors and industry champions
- A curated and exclusive set of workshops and networking events to test your idea – tailored to suit your academic commitments
- Access to CRUK Network
- The chance to win £5,000 on Demo Day
Panacea Stars - OncoStars
What: Whet your entrepreneurial appetite and develop your vision with OncoStars' engagement, training, and translation platform for cancer researchers.
All stages or research ideas are welcome from idea to proof-of-concept.
Who: All cancer researchers working in detection, prevention, treatment, both as teams or single founders. Cancer Research UK funding not essential.
When: Programme runs for 3-8 months. The 2024 cohort is currently ongoing. To apply to the 2025 cohort, please continue to checkout our website for application deadline updates.
Benefits of OncoStars programme
- Entrepreneurial training
- Access to Cancer Research UK’s and PanaceaStars’ professional networks
- Mentoring
- A tailored pipeline and market strategy
Panacea Stars - Develop Programme
What: Challenge your ideas while refining your business offering and sharpening your commercial skills.
Who: Full-time or part-time founder(s) with an early-stage idea supported by preliminary data and/or sound proposal and a provisional or in-development business plan
When: Applications are currently open with a deadline of 21 October 2024. The programme runs for eight weeks.
Benefits of the Develop Programme
- Compete for a £100,000 non-dilutive prize package
- Academic and corporate mentoring
- Access to alumni, leading executives and science entrepreneurs
- Occasional working space at Panacea Innovation Centre
- Support in developing and crystallising a tailored pipeline strategy
Cancer Tech Accelerator
What: The programme is delivered in partnership with Capital Enterprise, Cancer Research UK, the Brain Tumour Charity, Blood Cancer UK, LifeArc and HGF with support from Roche. The six strongest teams will each be awarded £70,000 of non-dilutive grant funding and six months of tailored mentoring, to develop your concept, form a start-up, and gain all the tools to successfully bring your healthtech to market.
Who: For cancer researchers developing early-stage technologies relying on data, AI or MedTech to advance cancer detection, diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment.
When: The programme runs for nine months. To apply to the 2025 programme, please continue to checkout our website for application deadline updates.
Benefits of the Cancer Tech Accelerator
- £70,000 of non-dilutive grant funding
- Six months of tailored mentoring
- Five-day virtual bootcamp
- Advice to create a robust business and development plan
Life Science Accelerator @ Alderley Park
What: Designed to cater to the unique needs of early stage life science companies from across the UK, the programme offers six months of free laboratory space at Alderley Park, comprehensive support and specialist facilities to fuel your growth and development.
Who: Open to early stage and growing life science businesses
When: Programme runs for six months. Applications for the current 2024-25 cohort are closed. To apply to the next cohort, please continue to check our website for application deadline updates.
Benefits of the Life Science Accelerator
- 6-month dedicated lab space
- Access to state-of-the art equipment worth £20,000
- £10,000 in funding and access
- Tailored business support worth £60,000
- Bespoke mentoring from sector experts
- Access to Alderley Park's vibrant innovator community
KQ Labs Accelerator Programme
What: This accelerator programme helps start-ups to transform healthcare through data-driven solutions. To participate in the KQ labs accelerator, as a Cancer Research Horizons sponsored company, you must be an early-stage oncology healthcare-focused company using data as a core part of your business model.
Who: For UK-based early-stage companies with a team of two or more and a minimum viable product, prototype or proof of concept.
When: The programme runs for five months. Applications for the 2024-25 cohort have just closed. To apply to the 2025-26 cohort, please continue to checkout our website for application deadline updates.
Benefits of the KQ Labs Accelerator Programme
- Tailored weekly content
- £40,000 funding in the form of a convertible loan note
- 1:1 mentoring from subject-matter experts
- Access to experienced investor, corporate and pharma mentors
Our community of entrepreneurs
Are you interested in connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs and scientists? We're building a community through events, networking and other opportunities.
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Find out how we can help you make an impact
We can identify the right entrepreneurial support for you.