News / The University of Bristol
Bristol University launches new startup accelerator
The entrepreneurs behind the UK’s only urinal for women are among the first residents of a new accelerator space launched by the University of Bristol.
Based within the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Runway will provide dedicated space to help turn fledging startup ideas into high-growth businesses.
The accelerator has launched with a £750,000 investment and will give students and recent graduates access to co-working space, mentoring and funding.
Each quarter, student startup teams can pitch their ideas to an investment panel, giving them real life experience in winning venture capital funding.
Teaching staff within the centre are entrepreneurs who can help with everything from patenting ideas to connections with funding and the idea is to develop an accelerator that will complement SETsquared Bristol, the university’s world-leading tech incubator.
Mark Neild, programme director for Runway, said: “Runway is where student startups take off, and we’re excited to see it become an inspiring space full of energetic young entrepreneurs.
“All of our staff have real-world business experience so we can help with the nuts and bolts of founding a venture, but also the psychological stuff: dealing with imposter syndrome, staying disciplined, that sort of thing.”
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Amber Probyn and Hazel McShane, the co-founders of PEEQUAL, which is manufacturing the UK’s first women’s urinal, are the first entrepreneurs in the space.
Hazel, who studied physics with innovation at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, said: “We are finally leaving our bedroom offices. Runway is a game-changer for PEEQUAL growth, the whole ecosystem the centre provides helps us solve problems quicker.”
Runway will offer private meeting rooms, breakout space and professional presentation venues; access to student consultants and interns; designers and prototyping facilities; and an in-house investment fund.
Students with technology-focused business ideas can launch their startups through Runway before graduating to SETsquared Bristol.
The launch follows a recent report that found Bristol University spinout companies generated higher average returns on investment than those of any other UK university.
Main photo: Bristol University
Read more: The Bristol startup pioneering ‘pee-equality’ for women
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