Finding the right incubator or accelerator (or even knowing which model is right for you) is a challenging process that can often leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Which is something I faced first-hand as I set out on my entrepreneurial journey. I’ve written about those experiences here if you’re interested in knowing a bit more.
There are several factors to take into account when considering a startup accelerator or incubator for your startup.
Things like the industry they specialise in, the amount of funding they provide (and the amount of equity they ask in return), the quality of the alumni community, etc.
It’s a long and arduous process that can quickly distract you from the important task of bringing your startup vision to life.
So, I thought I would give you a headstart and list the 17 best UK-based startup accelerators and incubators.
The top five include in-depth information on where and how to apply, as well as what you can expect from their specific program.
First, however, I wanted to give you a quick overview of what the similarities and differences are between incubator and accelerator programs and how each can help you.
Feel free to skip ahead to the list using the contents section below if you’re already familiar with the two models.
What Is a Startup Incubator/Accelerator?
There are some key similarities between a startup accelerator and an incubator. For example, they both support entrepreneurs with early-stage startups with training, mentoring and funding.
That being said, there are a few differences between them.
Incubators focus on helping startups that are yet to develop a full product and business model.
Whereas accelerators help startups who already have a basic product (like an MVP or POC) out in the market. They focus on helping startups scale and grow.
How Startup Incubators & Accelerators Can Help You
My colleague, Rui, recently sat down with a number of alumni from Y Combinator and 500 startups (check out those conversations here).
Of all of the benefits of a startup accelerator or incubator, they selected three that were the most important.
The first? Opportunities for funding.
When you are accepted to join a cohort, usually, the accelerator or incubator will give you an injection of capital (at the cost of a percentage of equity).
But more than that, they will put you in contact with angel investors and VCs for further funding opportunities.
The second is the entrepreneurial community.
When joining an incubator or accelerator program you get to meet not only the other entrepreneurs in your cohort. You also gain access to a network of alumni who have been where you were.
This allows you to quickly build a virtual Rolodex of professionals you can collaborate with.
Last but not least is mentorship.
The best startup accelerators and incubators bring on mentors and advisors who’re at the top of their industries. They’ve already built successful startups and have valuable experience which can help you avoid several hurdles they’ve faced.
The Top 17 Startup Incubators & Accelerators in the UK
Finally, here’s the list of the top 17 startup incubators and accelerators in the UK.
Having applied to several accelerator programs in my own startup career, I have some experience with the due diligence process. So I’ve added some in-depth information on the top five to help you get started. It includes details on the application process for each, and what you can expect from their programs.
Should you choose to work with one of the incubators listed below, neither I nor Altar receives any money from an affiliate link. The startup incubators were chosen based on the experience of myself, my co-founders and our extended network of entrepreneurs.
1. Seedcamp
Founded in 2007 and based in London, Seedcamp is one of Europe’s most respected pre-seed funds. They’ve backed more than 500 founders and their portfolio includes household names like Revolut, Wise, UiPath and Synthesia.
Seedcamp is fund-led rather than cohort-based, so support is hands-on and continuous from day one rather than tied to a fixed program length.
They typically invest in pre-seed and seed rounds, with cheque sizes that scale with the round. In return, founders get unfiltered advice, a global network of mentors and operators, and ongoing support across hiring, fundraising and go-to-market.
Once you’re in, you join the Seedcamp Nation — an alumni community used by founders to compare notes, find talent, and warm-intro investors at every stage from pre-seed through Series C+.
You can apply directly through their website at any time — there’s no fixed deadline.
2. Entrepreneurs First
Originally founded in London in 2011, Entrepreneurs First (EF) now runs its “talent-first” program out of San Francisco, with alumni cohorts continuing to build companies globally. Portfolio companies include Tractable, Phantasma Labs and Flowlity.
Their model is unusual: they back exceptional individuals before they’ve formed a company, helping them find a co-founder and shape an idea worth pursuing.
EF invests $250,000 at the pre-seed stage, with up to $5M in follow-on capital available as your company grows. The program runs for around six months, ending in a Demo Day where founders pitch to a curated investor audience.
After the program, you’re invited to join the EF alumni network — a global community of operators and founders used to “hire, advise, buy from, sell to and support each other.”
The application process is short and runs on a rolling basis. You can find the form here.
Entrepreneur First tells you: ‘you’re here to build billion dollar companies’. I remember thinking ‘that’s ridiculous.’
I guess it isn’t.
3. Bethnal Green Ventures
Founded in 2012, Bethnal Green Ventures (BGV) has now backed over 192 “tech for good” startups — companies tackling problems in health, climate, sustainability and inclusion. Portfolio companies include Fairphone, Commonplace and DrDoctor.
The program is 12 weeks long, divided into six sprints, each focused on a specific early-stage topic — from product-market fit to fundraising and impact measurement.
BGV invests £60,000 for a 7% stake in your startup. After the program ends, they continue to support founders for nine months with monthly check-ins, funding workshops and investor introductions.
All the application information can be found here. If applications are closed when viewing, you can register to be notified about upcoming cohorts, or contact their team directly.
4. Techstars London
Launched in 2013, Techstars London is the UK arm of the global Techstars network — which globally has backed over 4,000 companies. Among portfolio names you’ll find Uber, Twilio and DigitalOcean.
Techstars invests $20,000 in return for 6% equity, plus an optional $100k convertible note — most startups use the stipend to cover living costs during the three-month program.
You can apply through their London page here. The first application takes around two to five hours to complete. If you pass the screening, you’ll be invited to a series of interviews over roughly four weeks.
The program itself runs for three months. Month one focuses on building your network and being introduced to over 100 mentors who can help with strategy, marketing, tech and hiring. Month two is about applying what you’ve learned and getting your business in shape to scale. Month three culminates in a Demo Day in front of investors.
5. Founders Factory
Founded in 2015 and based in London, Founders Factory has now helped launch and scale more than 200 startups. Portfolio companies include Shop Circle, Flourish and Fanbytes.
The program runs for six months. During that time you get hands-on support across strategy, fundraising, ops, BizDev, product, design, tech, growth, PR, brand and talent.
Their team of operators and mentors covers four core verticals: Fintech, Health, Industrial and Deep Tech — backed by long-term partnerships with corporates and institutional investors.
Funding is handled on a case-by-case basis rather than a fixed amount, with equity typically falling between 3% and 7% depending on stage and valuation.
You can find the application form here. You’ll be asked to describe your startup in detail and upload supporting documents such as a pitch deck.
Working with Founders Factory helped us focus our business in the early stages. This was key to enabling us to structure our business to scale. The continued support and infrastructure has empowered us to go on to build a creative technology platform that is transforming the way the world’s largest brands create video advertising.
That covers our deep-dive into the top five. Beyond those, there’s a wider field of UK-based programmes worth knowing about — from sector specialists in fintech, insurtech and health tech, to regional hubs and pre-seed funds.
Here’s the full Top 17 at a glance, sorted roughly by scale and breadth of activity. Use it as a shortlist to start your own due diligence — every programme links out to its official site so you can dig deeper into application windows, current cohorts and portfolio fit.
| Company | Location | Founding Date | No. of Investments | Industry Focus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seedcamp | London | 2007 | 500+ | Fintech, AI, SaaS |
| 2 | Entrepreneurs First | London / San Francisco | 2011 | 500+ | AI, Software, ML |
| 3 | Bethnal Green Ventures | London | 2012 | 192 | Healthcare, Software, Education |
| 4 | Techstars London | London | 2013 | 119 | Software, AI, IT |
| 5 | Founders Factory | London | 2015 | 114 | Software, AI, IT |
| 6 | Upscale | London | 2011 | 108 | Software, SaaS, E-Commerce |
| 7 | Outlier Ventures | London | 2014 | 78 | Web3, AI, Blockchain |
| 8 | Pario Ventures | London | 2010 | 71 | Automotive, Fintech, Software |
| 9 | Pi Labs | London | 2015 | 69 | Software, Real Estate, SaaS |
| 10 | CyLon Ventures | London | 2015 | 69 | Cyber Security, Software |
| 11 | Tech Nation | London | 2010 | N/A (relaunched 2024) | Growth, AI, Fintech |
| 12 | Breed Reply | London | 2014 | 37 | Software, IT, IoT |
| 13 | L Marks | London | 2012 | 31 | Software, IT, Apps |
| 14 | Insurtech Gateway | London | 2016 | 30 | Insurance, Insurtech, Financial Services |
| 15 | DigitalHealth.London | London | 2016 | 28 | Healthcare, Medical, IT |
| 16 | Geovation | London | 2009 | 27 | Real Estate, Software |
| 17 | TechItalia:Lab | London | 2017 | 17 | E-Commerce, Marketing, AI |
How to Choose the Right UK Accelerator or Incubator for Your Startup
The UK accelerator landscape has matured significantly over the last decade. Some long-running names have wound down or pivoted away from cohort-based programmes, while others — like Seedcamp, Entrepreneurs First and Founders Factory — have doubled down and broadened their scope.
When choosing where to apply, the brand name matters less than the fit:
- Stage — pre-idea (EF), pre-seed (Seedcamp, BGV) or post-MVP (Techstars, Founders Factory)?
- Sector focus — generalists give optionality; sector specialists like Insurtech Gateway, DigitalHealth.London or Outlier Ventures bring deeper networks and customers.
- Cheque size and equity — from £20k for 6% all the way to $250k+ pre-seed cheques.
- Geography and format — fully remote, London-based, or part of a regional hub like Geovation or TechItalia:Lab.
Whichever route you take, getting accepted into a programme is only the start. The real value comes from how you use the network, the mentors and the focused time to validate your assumptions and ship faster than you could on your own.
If you’re weighing your options or still shaping the idea itself, feel free to get in touch — we’ve been on both sides of the table and are always happy to share what we’ve learned helping founders go from zero to product.
