Comparing the ever growing number of UK Startup Accelerators

Startup accelerators are popping up everyday here in the UK. So to make things easier for you to choose between them, we've put together a comprehensive list of all UK startup accelerators. We will be updating this, as and when we hear about any new UK startup accelerators as well.

You can find out what a startup accelerator is, and how it differs from an incubator, here in our incubator vs accelerator post.

Let's get started!

Techstars Accelerator

Techstars London provides €15,000 in seed funding and an optional convertible note of €70,000. This is on top of intensive mentorship and an amazing network of mentors and alumni in return for 6-10% equity in your company. Techstars are an internationally renowned accelerator with large success in the US. They are one of the hardest to get into with less than 1% of applicants making it on to their programmes.

Length: 12 weeks

Funding: €15,000 seed with an optional convertible note of €70,000.

Equity: 6-10%

Location: London

Barclays Accelerator powered by Techstars

An intensive 13 week programme designed to take your business further with a fintech-focus and overflowing with opportunities.

Length: 13 weeks

Funding: £12,500 with an optional convertible note of $100,000.

Equity: 6-10%

Location: London

Dot Forge Accelerator

Dotforge is a well established pre-seed startup accelerator located in the North of England. The Dot Forge Startup Accelerator work with key supply chains and industry partners to ensure our startups have the access they need to customers and investors.

Length: 13 weeks

Funding: Up to £20,000

Equity: 7%

Location: Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds

Seedcamp Acceleration Fund

One of the first UK startup accelerators on the scene Seedcamp has evolved and act much more like a VC these days. Seedcamp have a strong reputation in Europe and one of the best networks.

Length: N/A

Funding: €75,000

Equity: 7%

Location: London

Ignite 100 Accelerator

Ignite's angel-led UK startup accelerators offer world class coaching and support to startups in 3 locations across the UK. As well as the usual accelerator programme content they also offer a founder trip to the US east coast.

Length: 12 weeks

Funding: Up to £17,000

Equity: 8%

Location: Newcastle, London, Manchester

Pi Labs Accelerator

Property Innovation Labs (Pi Labs) is Europe’s first venture capital platform to invest exclusively in early stage ventures in the property tech vertical. Pi Labs was founded to become the centre of the property innovation ecosystem with the vision to identify, mentor, invest in and accelerate high-calibre startup ventures looking to disrupt the property industry.

Length: 13 weeks

Funding: £50,000

Equity: 7%

Location: London

Accelerator Academy

The Accelerator Academy is a part time 12 week high growth training and mentoring programme for digital entrepreneurs looking to grow their business, through training, mentoring and access to capital. Focused on startup and early stage high growth potential Tech, Media, Telecoms (TMT) businesses. The cost for accepted applicant companies is £600 (plus VAT) for the full 12 week course, due to the sponsor subsidy. Accelerator Academy does not take any equity upfront. Participant companies agree to sell 5% of their shares as Options to the Accelerator Academy, divided between the Academy and their Personal Business Mentor. The Options are granted at a valuation set by the next external investment round.

Length: 12 weeks

Funding: £0

Equity: Upto 5%

Location: London

Bethnal Green Ventures

Bethnal Green Ventures is an accelerator programme supporting great teams with new ideas to help build solutions to social and environmental problems through an intensive three-month programme.

Length: 12 weeks

Funding: £15,000

Equity: 6%

Location: London

MassChallenge UK

A different model to most UK startup accelerators. MassChallenge is a 0% equity accelerator that connects high-impact, early stage startups with mentors, partners and investors, whilst offering startups the chance to compete for shares of £500,000 at the end of each programme.

Length: 4 months

Funding: £0

Equity: 0%

Location: London

Entrepreneur First

Another one with a different model to most UK startup accelerators. EF is different in that you do not need to apply as a team. They specialise in supporting people to build technically defensible companies from scratch. They fund you as an individual, then help you meet your cofounder and develop an idea.

Length: 6 months

Funding: £1,200 per month in individuals & £16,600 to £19,900 for startups created during the programme

Equity: 8%

Location: London

BBC Worldwide Labs Accelerator

Labs is a BBC worldwide digital media startup accelerator providing outstanding entrepreneurs with mentors, infrastructure and partnerships. Labs differentiates itself from other UK startup accelerators by providing emerging digital media startups with the opportunity to forge commercial partnerships, utilising its existing partners and brand reach.

Length: 6 months

Funding: £0

Equity: 0%

Location: London

L Marks

L Marks run UK startup accelerators across industry sectors, encouraging innovation, investing in startups and connecting startups with corporates. Recent innovation programmes have included JLAB with John Lewis, WHlabs with William Hill and Last Mile Labs with DPD. Check out there website for current programmes and terms.

Length: Programme Specific

Funding: Programme Specific

Equity: Programme Specific

Location: London

Level39

Level39 is one of the largest UK startup accelerators for finance, retail, cyber-security and future cities technology companies​ providing mentorship, networking and investment opportunities. Technology startups can work from the space and access programme content by applying for workspace membership.

Length: N/A

Funding: N/A

Equity: N/A

Location: London

Microsoft Accelerator

Microsoft Ventures is a global initiative empowering entrepreneurs around the world on their journey to build great companies. Another one of the corporate backed UK startup accelerators, startups can leverage Microsoft’s routes to market, workshops, 1:1 mentors, office space, and access to Microsoft’s customer and partner network.

Length: 16 week

Funding: £0

Equity: 0%

Location: London

Wayra

Telefónica's startup accelerator offering a place to work, mentors, business partners, access to a global network of talent and the opportunity to reach millions of Telefónica customers. Wayra has now expanded to multiple UK startup accelerators including health and cyber security.

Length: 9 month

Funding: Up to $50,000

Equity: 7-10%

Location: London

FinTech Innovation Lab London

Accenture's mentorship programme brings together young FinTech companies with senior IT executives from 15 of the world’s leading banks.

Length: 12 week

Funding: £0

Equity: 0%

Location: London

Startupbootcamp FinTech London

Startupbootcamp FinTech London collaborate with 400+ mentors, partners, and investors to build world class FinTech products. They have a global network to draw from. FinTech London is one of two UK startup accelerators Startupbootcamp are running.

Length: 3+1 months free office space

Funding: €15,000

Equity: 6%

Location: London

Startupbootcamp InsurTech London

Startupbootcamp InsurTech London's selected startups collaborate with 400+ mentors, partners, and investors to build world class products for the insurance space, with the ultimate goal of becoming industry leading companies. It is the only purely InsurTech accelerator with a global network of 11 sister accelerator programs to draw from.

Length: 3+1 months free office space

Funding: €15,000

Equity: 6%

Location: London

CyLon Accelerator

Cyber London is a hub exclusively for the cyber security companies of tomorrow. Teams benefit from Cyber London’s unique network and expertise whilst they focus on business and product development.

Length: 13 weeks

Funding: £15,000

Equity: 3%

Location: London

Emerge Education

Emerge Education is an accelerator programme for startups aiming to improve educational outcomes worldwide. They look to support beta testing & accelerated customer acquisition tailored to your business model and access to further investment.

Length: 3 months

Funding: £15,000

Equity: 3-8%

Location: London

WebStart Bristol

WebStart Bristol is the internet accelerator for the dynamic city of Bristol which opened in January 2014. WebStart Bristol used Seedrs, crowdfunding site, to raise funds to invest in Bristol based startups.

Length: 12 week

Funding: £10,000

Equity: 10%

Location: Bristol

Collider Accelerator

Collider is an accelerator dedicated to marketing and advertising startups. The startups help brands and agencies identify, understand, engage with and sell to their consumers. Collider take on 10 startups, with 5 startups receiving a further £100k each, for 11% equity after the initial programme. These startups will be charged a further £10k for a further 8 months’ support.

Length: 4 month

Funding: £50,000

Equity: 11%

Location: London

The Bakery Accelerator

The Bakery bridge the gap between startups and brands. A place where brands and tech companies get new stuff to market together. It’s for brands who want innovation done, not just talked about. It’s a low cost and low risk model that gets tech to trial market.

Length: 8 weeks

Funding: Up to £50,000

Equity: 2-5%

Location: London

500 Startups Accelerator

The 500 startups accelerator launch a growth programme in London called the Dojo. The London team focus on user acquisition during the programme. This is to help the post seed funding companies go onto raise their next rounds of funding. Applications are taken via referrals only.

Length: 3 months

Funding: £100,000 to £200,00

Equity: 3-7%

Location: London

Entrepreneurial Spark

Entrepreneurial Spark have a number of UK startup accelerators. The free business startup accelerator programme is designed to help enable new companies across the UK. They are backed by Natwest. They have seen the most startups come through its programmes out of all the UK startup accelerators. The programme includes access to desk space, mentors and many optional workshops and events.

Length: 6-18 months

Funding: £0

Equity: 0%

Location: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Belfast, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol

Truestart Accelerator

Truestart give entrepreneurs the tools to accelerate and grow in the retail and consumer space. The Truestart accelerator has the benefit of being a part of the True Capital group, a specialist retail investment fund.

Length: 6 months

Funding: £25,000 or £50,000

Equity: 4.5% or 9%

Location: London

The Grocery Accelerator

The Grocery Accelerator accelerate new Food and Drink brands with cash and coaching. Teams get access to specialist coaching and network partners to help grow their food & drink brands.

Length: 12 months

Funding: £40,000

Equity: 15%

Location: London

Cinnamon Bridge Accelerator

Cinnamon bridge is also a business growth accelerator focused on food and drinks startups. The programme focus is on helping startups identify route to market, meet the top industry food & drink buyers as well as raise funding.

Length: 3 months + Demo month

Funding: £0

Equity: 6-10%

Location: London

HackTrain Accelerator

UK startup accelerators are continuing to niche down further. HackTrain is a great example. Accelerating Europe's best transport and travel startups at 200km/h. The rail industry is transforming the way it manages innovation and introduces new technologies. HackTrain are leading the charge to bridge the gap to startups.

Length: 4 months

Funding: £25,000

Equity: 1-10%

Location: London

Ricoh Ignite Accelerator

A B2B startup accelerator helping companies with some of the most advanced business growth methodology. Backed by innovative corporate, Ricoh UK.

Length: 12 months

Funding: £0 & no fee

Equity: 0%

Location: Northampton

Elevator Accelerator

The Programme helps business founders and entrepreneurs to test, research, develop, launch and refine their product or service-led business to become pitch and investor ready.

Length: 10 or 20 weeks

Funding: NA

Equity: NA

Location: Aberdeen

UP Accelerator

UP is a digital technology accelerator that connects corporates wishing to become more effective innovators with entrepreneurs who are ready to scale up their businesses.

Length: 10 or 20 weeks

Funding: £25,000

Equity: 12%

Location: Edinburgh, Manchester, London

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As a side note most of the UK startup accelerators above charge a programme fee. The funding shown is what you'll receive after a fee is deducted.

There are wide range of UK startup accelerators running programmes, all with different benefits. It's important to find the right one to support your growth going forward. Post accelerator, you may be eligible to join one of the Momentum London programmes for later stage B2B / B2B2C startups which helps validate markets and open commercial conversations with large enterprise.

Any UK startup accelerators that I'm missing? Get in touch: Tweet to @rishi_chowdhury

For corrections or updates email me.