Startup Summer Accelerator 

Take your business idea to the next level with expert support and up to £3,000 in funding.

Startup Summer Accelerator 2023 - banner

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The Startup Summer Accelerator is a 3-month programme designed to help University of Edinburgh students, graduates and staff turn their ideas into thriving businesses. Called “the best programme in Edinburgh to accelerate your business from idea to reality” by past participants, it offers funding, mentorship and essential skills to drive your startup’s success. 

This year, the programme is sponsored by the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), offering additional tailored support and expert guidance in EFI key sectors.  

 

Who can apply?

The programme is open to students, recent graduates and staff of the University of Edinburgh building a startup.  

Eligibility:  

✔ At least one co-founder must be a University of Edinburgh student, staff member or recent graduate (within two years). 

 ✔ The University-affiliated co-founder must attend all core sessions. 

 ✔ Full engagement is required to receive funding. 

 

❌ Staff spinouts are not eligible for this programme. Edinburgh Innovations staff enterprise team offers dedicated spinout support—contact the team for guidance. 

 

Is this programme for you? 

This accelerator is ideal for those who: 

  •  Have a well-developed, innovative business concept 
  •  Can demonstrate market demand for their product or service 
  •  Are ready to commit time and energy to growing their startup 
  •  Are looking for mentorship and access to an entrepreneurial network 
  •  Have a UK presence and are looking to start their investment journey 

 

Industry Focus 

In 2025, the Startup Summer Accelerator is proudly sponsored by the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), with tailored support for businesses in: 

  • Financial Services & Fintech 
  • Public Services 
  • Creative Industries 
  • Tourism and Traveltech 

Applications are also encouraged from other industries, particularly those focused on: 

  • Health & Care 
  • Climate & Environment 
  • Data, Digital & AI 

 

What’s included? 

  • Up to £3,000 in funding to develop your business 
  • Guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and investors 
  • Weekly workshops on finance, pitching, sustainability and marketing 
  • Networking opportunities with fellow founders and the chance to pitch for a share of a prize fund at the final showcase 

 

📅 Key Details 

  • Applications close: 5th May 2025 at 12noon  

  • Programme dates:  30th May – 4th September 2025 

     

  • Sessions: Thursdays (2-hour core sessions), plus occasional 1-hour Friday sessions 
  • Format: Hybrid – mix of in-person and online sessions, with a final showcase event in person 

 

AI Gill 

Founders: Gillian Batty, Graham Curran, Jamie Love and Catherine Snaith 

A closed AI App offering people an interactive real time intervention that helps them to reduce anxiety through developing a greater understanding of the system that creates the anxious state and instructions on how to engage and influence it. 

 

Broonie 

Founders: Colton Botta, Max Norris, Vidminas Vizgirda and Amalia Maifatul

Bronnie empowers schools with cutting edge tools, currently foucsing on local and secure AI systems to help school staff enhance educational outcomes. 

 

Descrai 

Founders: Adithya Kumar and Ramiz Nathani 

Building retail checkout automation for brick and mortar businesses by using computer vision to instantly create bills, reducing checkout time and error while improving customer interaction. 

 

Elevate.Ed

Founders: Aurian Vanden Dael, Lorenzo Platt and Efe Unal 

Elevat.Ed is a digital consulting accelerator that connected high school students with real-world NGO projects, combining structured and professional mentorship to deliver mutually beneficial experiences, while transforming CAS requirements into a meaningful journey for students. 

 

EssAI 

Founder: Meiram Zhandidin 

An AI-powered platform that helps people improve their creative and academic writing with unique features: a vocabulary and grammar trainer based on micro-learning, gamification to stay motivated, a user-friendly interface and both AI and expert feedback on writing. 

 

KUMA

Founders: Isha Singh and Ana-Maria Railean 

KUMA is a privacy-first platform that helps families capture and transform voice memories into private podcasts, audiobooks, or memory books, using AI to enhance and organise stories effortlessly, making storytelling easy, natural and deeply personal for people.

 

LactIQ 

Founders: Jaiden Thomson, Alexander Dewhurst and Jovan Vojnovic

LactIQ is a continuous, non-intrusive lactate monitoring solution designed to aid and inform the training of endurance athletes.

 

Marine Magic 

Founders: Muhammad Farhan Aslam 

Transforming bioethanol production by harnessing bioengineered marine yeast with seaweed and seawater, conserving vital freshwater and arable land.

 

Note 

Founders: Silvia Shen, Joshua Slaughter and Lunan Zhao 

Note are enhancing efficiency in primary care by developing a digital platform (app/software) that gathers and synthesises longitudinal patient data to aid GPs with patient interview preparation, data interpretation and diagnosing/triaging.

 

Thermaquatic

Founders: Jingwen Lei and Ella Sapsford 

A 'cradle-to-grave' eco-friendly, seaweed-based insulation material for cold chain transport and storage that is a non-toxic alternative to petroleum-based foams—helping cold chain logistics companies and their partners reduce emissions.


 

SHOWCASE 

At the end of the Startup Summer Accelerator the cohort pitch to an audience of investors and those within the entrepreneurial community. Usually takes place at the end of August. 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to take part in the Accelerator, the passion for student enterprise at Edinburgh Innovations shines through and the support provided is unmatched. The access to patent attorneys, accountants, designers, investors and mentors has been invaluable, and I recommend any fellow PhD innovators reading this to visit the team! 

2024 participant 

Edinburgh Innovations has played a pivotal role in supporting my entrepreneurial journey. The grant money I received has enabled me to fully dedicate my time and effort to SimPat over the summer, driving its development. Being part of the Startup Summer Accelerator cohort has connected me with a talented group of fellow entrepreneurs, fostering a collaborative environment. The expertise, industry knowledge, mentorship and support offered has also been instrumental in guiding my startup’s growth.”

2023 participant 

Before being accepted onto the Startup Summer Accelerator, I was a solo entrepreneur, collecting market research and storyboarding ideas, but with no real direction. I had all these big ideas but no idea how to make them a reality. While it is still early days, I can safely say I can see these ideas becoming a reality, this wouldn’t have been the case without Edinburgh Innovations. I have a network of friends and colleagues who are all in the same startup boat and it is reassuring to know I am not in it alone.

2023 participant 

Not for you? Why not try...

Startup Basics - programme 

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply curious about the world of startups, our comprehensive Startup Basics programme is tailored to meet your needs. Equip yourself with the essential knowledge. resources and guidance to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey. With a series of workshops that cover topics such as: validating your startup, prototyping, pitching and funding. 


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