Allia in it together for Future 20
“Future 20 is a really good incubator,” says Francesca O’Hanlon of Blue Tap, one of 20 start-ups – pictured below – chosen by Allia Future Business Centre to receive a bespoke package of strategic support and practical business advice for “the very best UK tech for good and social ventures”.
“It’s an amazing thing if you’re starting a company,” Francesca adds, “especially if you’ve not done it before, and there’s lots of free advice around but Future 20 gives you structure. Having structure and mentorship is really valuable, it really helps there’s someone you can ask a question about finance, or technology, or legislation.
“It’s a great hub, and being part of a community is a very valuable learning experience.”
Challenges include climate action, clean water and sanitation, food poverty, clean energy, responsible consumption, gender equality and well-being – to help them “develop into sustainable businesses, scale and go on to create maximum impact”.
Emma Mee, Allia’s Future 20 programme manager, said: “The problems the world faces today need more than out-of-the-box solutions.
“The members of our Future 20 programme will bring new passion and innovation to meet these challenges, and we must help them succeed. We will curate a completely bespoke programme of support for each one over the next 12-18 months to help them achieve their impact. Allia will draw on its own experience and skills together with those of our partners, mentors and through our network in Cambridge’s incredible ecosystem to accelerate their pace of growth and development.
“This is an open, collaborative programme – we’re excited to get started!”
The 20 start-ups receive a 12 to 18-month bespoke package of strategic support and practical business advice, from Allia and a network of partners from across the UK tech, innovation and professional service industries. This includes mentorship from select entrepreneurs and angel investors as well as introductions to funders and opportunities to raise capital, plus advice on product development, go-to-market roadmaps and access to testing sites, together with free workspace and prototyping facilities.
