Science Creates partners with leading VCs to support equity-free Accelerator Programme

Science Creates Accelerate, launched last year with a UK-wide, equity-free Engineering Biology Accelerator in partnership with government agency UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), today announces the second round of their flagship programme with the support of leading European and US VCs. 

This unique partnership, where VCs take no equity and no Right of First Refusal in companies formed through the Accelerator, seeks to find the best fit between companies and investors, intentionally providing deep tech founders and entrepreneurs with the best opportunity to succeed in their journey to improve the health of people and the planet.

Dr Harry Destecroix, Science Creates Founder and SCVC Managing Partner, says:  “Our objective is to build an internationally recognised accelerator programme that gives the direct training and mentorship that is so important when transitioning from scientist to entrepreneur. Neither SCVC nor our partners take any equity or option to invest, which is intentional because we believe the opportunity is both enormous and largely untapped. For us, it’s about getting the best VCs together and developing the best founders to forge great co-investments that will lead to building a new wave of multibillion dollar startups that could move the needle in terms of healthcare and sustainability.” 

Amino Collective, Giant Ventures, Local Globe and Pillar VC are just a few of the firms who join SCVC, Science Creates’ official venture arm, in supporting Science Creates Accelerate. The first cohort to benefit from the VC partnerships will be the upcoming Engineering Biology Accelerator Programme.

Jon Dishotsky, Investment Partner at Giant Ventures, says: “I’m thrilled to embark on this journey with the Science Creates Accelerate team as we launch a groundbreaking Engineering Biology Accelerator. At Giant Ventures, we’re passionate about backing purpose-driven entrepreneurs solving the world’s biggest challenges. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission and offers an unparalleled opportunity to support and shape the future of biomedicine, clean growth, food systems, and environmental solutions. I look forward to contributing our expertise and getting an early glimpse into the entrepreneurial talents that will redefine our tomorrow. Let’s make a meaningful impact together!”

Building the next generation of Engineering Biology founders

Officially announced today, our next Accelerator Programme, funded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund,  provides deep-tech start-ups and innovators with the support needed to transform your engineering biology ideas into ground-breaking inventions to advance the health of people and the planet.

Our fully-funded Programme is open to anyone with an existing engineering biology startup in its very early stages or anyone wishing to launch one. Technology may be focused on either biomedicine, environmental solutions, food systems or clean growth. Our UK-wide hybrid Programme will take place at Science Creates’ deep tech hub in Bristol, as well as remotely, over nine weeks starting on 17 June. 

Participants will have access to a variety of training and workshops, as well as a network of investors critical to a startup’s journey.  There is also the opportunity for selected successful candidates to unlock equity-free feasibility funding from UKRI for their startups to test the feasibility of their ideas and technologies. 

This launch follows the successful completion of a first Accelerator Programme in 2023 that supported 19 companies, 8 of which were formed during the Programme. These companies focused on exciting deep tech solutions such as engineering yeast to produce alternative food flavourings or textile dyes, developing novel targeted cancer therapeutics using synthetic biology and harvesting energy from waste using microbes. Over half of the graduating companies were selected for equity-free feasibility funding from UKRI to help take their ideas to the next stage.

Dr Christopher Waite, graduate from the first Accelerator Programme, comments: “Joining the Science Creates Accelerator Programme has put me 9 months ahead in the development of my vision, venture, and founder skills. I might have given up by now if I were still alone on this journey. I can’t recommend the programme highly enough for anyone who has an idea or some technology and would like to seriously explore founding an engineering biology company.”

If you are interested in finding out more about how the Programme works, you can join our Accelerator Roadshows taking place throughout March in Edinburgh, Manchester, Southampton, London and Bristol. During these events, we will will provide further information on the Programme, showcase regional research commercialisation services and continue to grow a nationwide network to support innovation in engineering biology. 

There are up to 24 places available on the Accelerator Programme and expression of interest applications close on Wednesday 3rd April.

Find out more and apply