EXPLORE is an exclusive alumni programme that supports up to five deep tech entrepreneurs to increase their visibility, connections and exposure to investment in new overseas ecosystems.
Take the guesswork out of the decision to grow your markets beyond the UK. Through the Academy’s global network and unmatched convening ability, EXPLORE opens doors to world-class deep tech support, training and mentoring to develop lasting connections between talent and global expertise.
Each round is tailored to a specific industry and ecosystem around which the content, networks and an international mission is focused to enable targeted and tangible support. Our last round focused on France, and brought together a cohort from the Life Sciences.
EXPLORE harnesses the Academy's expertise and role in deep tech innovation by creating a tailored 12-week programme for Hub Members to tap into an overseas entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Each year, EXPLORE selects a different deep tech sector and builds a 12-week programme of expert training and mentoring that culminates in a five-day mission to an international 'ecosystem-in-focus'. The opportunity is exclusively offered to nurture the talent of Hub Members who have completed an Enterprise Hub programme in the past.
What does this programme offer?
Across 12 weeks, EXPLORE designs a unique package of training and mentoring around you, the cohort of five entrepreneurs, their tech sector and the ecosystem-in-focus:
- a five-day international mission to the ecosystem-in-focus packed with unmissable meetings, insights, and networking opportunities to increase your visibility, on-the-ground connections, and exposure to investment as one of the UK’s most promising deep tech founders backed by the Academy and its prestigious networks.
- 10 days of expert-led workshops on industry insights centred on capital, talent, market and intellectual property.
- 1:1 business coaching and mentoring from international and UK advisors to develop your goals, capitalise on your strengths and align your roadmap.
- up to £12,000 in equity-free funding to embed the programme's learning and connections.
- subsidised access to our diversity and inclusion platform for engineering startups, Culture+
- introductions to our network of investors and experts in the ecosystem-in-focus, including Academy Fellows, expat communities, fellow deep tech founders, and invaluable peer networks for mutual support around challenges.
Key growth areas
The content is expert-led and driven by our cohort’s needs offering you access to, and insights from, a network of industry experts, investors, and business support providers. Broadly, this will cover six key areas:
- optimising your IP strategy
- bridging business culture and expectation gaps
- recruitment and establishing operations in the new ecosystem
- expansion strategy
- understanding the political and financial landscapes of the ecosystem
- navigating regulatory hurdles.
The programme will deepen your understanding of the ecosystem-in-focus, offer practical support, and prepare you for an unmissable international mission to explore, and tap into, investment and expansion opportunities.
Who is the programme for?
We are looking for:
- Hub Members who have successfully completed an Enterprise Hub programme (please note: those who are currently active on any of the programmes are not deemed eligible).
- deep tech leaders and entrepreneurs interested in market expansion, within the specific sector focus outlined above.
You must be:
- working in a company that is based in the UK and registered with Companies House (For multinational companies, the Head Office must be based in the UK).
- able to commit to the international mission from 20th - 25th January 2025 (five full days, excluding travel), if successful.
The Academy is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from women and other groups who are currently under-represented across engineering.
Check your eligibility for the programme and review the Applicant Guidance Notes.
Your journey
Starting in November, your cohort will meet for 10 days of hybrid training led by experts in expansion strategies
You will be matched with a mentor from the Academy's international network of Fellows and industry experts
You will have a 1:1 business coach who will provide advice and support throughout the programme
In February you will embark on the five-day international mission to make real connections on the ground
The Academy have made an assessment of the Explore scheme against the principles of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The Scheme has also been published on the transparency database SC11083. Link to the subsidy doc.
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