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.

A person with dark short hair and a black shirt, wearing glasses and a lanyard in conversation at a networking event.

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.

Venture Builder Incubator

Cancer Tech Accelerator

KQ Labs Accelerator 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 the 2026 cohort are now open. Apply here.

A man presenting in front of a whiteboard

Benefits of the Venture Builder Incubator

  • 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 Cancer Research UK Network
Apply now

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:  Applications have now closed. New dates to be announced. 

A man standing in front of a board presenting to a group

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
Learn more

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: Applications for the 2025-26 cohort have closed. Register your interest to be the first to know when applications for the next cohort open. 

Register your interest


 

A woman presenting in a hall

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
Find out more about the accelerator

Other things we can help with

A scientist wearing a blue top in conversation with colleagues. The scientist has curly hair worn in a bun.

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.

A person with short, blonde hair and a dark blue hoodie smiling in a meeting.

Intellectual property protection

Do you have a novel idea or discovery with potential for patient benefit? Let us help you unlock its clinical and commercial potential.

A person wearing short dark hair, glasses and a dark blue blazer in conversation with another person

Set up and build your start-up

Whether you have an initial idea or a start-up concept, we can help. We offer access to training, advice, and secure investment opportunities.

Attendees seated in red auditorium chairs engage in conversation at the Innovation Summit

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.

For regular updates on what's happening in our community, you can also subscribe to our entrepreneurial newsletter.

Find out how you can get involved

Find out how we can help you make an impact

We can identify the right entrepreneurial support for you. 

Get in touch today