Chance for Cambridgeshire start-ups to shine

Make sure your business start-up gets the benefit of Allia

Start-ups with plans for making a positive impact on people, places or the planet are being offered help to launch and develop their ventures by a Cambridge charity.

Allia, which is based at the Future Business Centre in King’s Hedges Road, and was started in 1999, supports individuals and ventures who create social benefit. It does this in three ways: through social innovation, social finance, and workspace and enterprise support.

It is inviting applications for its next Serious Impact Accelerator programme in Cambridge. Successful applicants will receive up to 10 weeks’ structured advice and support to launch and develop their ventures, joining a cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs to build, develop and consolidate their knowledge and skills.

As well as one-to-one support from Allia’s experienced business advisors, the Serious Impact Accelerator programme – which is free – includes three one-day ‘pillar sessions’. These cover sales and marketing, operations and finance, as well as tactical short courses to develop skills and knowledge, and regular two-hour review sessions with the group.

Paul Hughes, director of enterprise support at Allia, said: “Serious Impact has been developed to give start-ups the best possible foundations upon which to build their ventures and, as a result, to maximise the positive impact they can make.

“We’re excited about the quality of ventures in and around Cambridge and can’t wait to start working with the next cohort.”

Simon Robinson, a participant in the final stages of the Accelerator, as he plans to launch his venture, Vital Viewing, added: “The programme has been very well thought out and fantastically implemented by talented and experienced staff. The business advisors are always prepared to go the extra distance to help my start-up at this crucial stage.”

The next Accelerator begins on May 22. The deadline for applications is May 15.

Start-ups especially encouraged to apply are those working in fields including – but not limited to – cleantech, energy and environment; food, agriculture and agritech; smart cities and the Internet of Things; healthcare and wellbeing; ageing population; education and edtech; and accessibility.

Individuals and teams interested in taking part are asked to apply online at seriousimpact.co.uk/accelerate.