The world’s largest free business growth accelerator, Entrepreneurial Spark, is opening its doors to a new cohort of aspiring entrepreneurs.
Applications are now open for August new-starters, and they welcome start-up businesses from any industry. If you are a successful applicant you will be given access to a range of business support to help grow your business.
Entrepreneurs accepted onto the scheme, known as ‘chiclets’, are given free office space at the RBS Building in central Bristol, known as ‘the hatchery’. And if you are lucky enough to be selected you will also receive training from industry leaders, and help from a pool of mentors.
“Being able to bounce ideas off people, get their feedback or listen to their stories has saved me from bad decisions”
After going through a pitching process, chosen successful applicants are given a boot-camp style induction on Thursday 4 August and Friday 5 August and will meet the other chiclets. Friendship and support from peers is also valuable benefit of being a chiclet.
Tom Kelsey, current Entrepreneurial Spark resident and founder of Pedlar – a deal finder platform – reveals that, “The biggest benefit has been being surrounded by other entrepreneurs. Being able to bounce ideas off people, get their feedback or listen to their stories has saved me from bad decisions and wasted time on countless occasions.”
- Hear more from Tom: Interview: Tom Kelsey explains how you can get paid to share deals that you find online with Pedlar
Growing community for tech start ups
With Bristol already recognised as a thriving community for tech startups, chiclets should fit in well with the fast-growth culture. Some notable success stories being hatched are CrowdReach, a crowd-funding agency, who recently have helped business attract over £85,000 in funding. Or, Signable, which provides e-signature software. (Olly Culverhouse, founder of Signable, will be sharing his experience at next week’s Techie Brekkie.)
“Last year our chiclets across the UK attracted a turnover of nearly £86M”
Both of CrowdReach and Signable have completed the 6-month programme, and have become ‘nesters’ on the 12-month programme. It is continued support like this that means incredible results from being involved with Entrepreneurial Spark.
Watch the video below entitled “Bristol, we can help your small business take flight! Last year our chiclets across the UK attracted a turnover of nearly £86M” to find out more:
If you think your business could benefit from becoming a chiclet, apply now through their online application on their website You can keep up to date with all Entrepreneurial Spark news, by following #godo on twitter.
Why not come along to this month’s Bristol Techie Brekkie, devoted to Entrepreneurship. It’s a great opportunity for all aspiring entrepreneurs to find out what it takes to become an entrepreneur, and learn how 3 successful businesses overcame their obstacles. Panellists include, Signable’s Olly Culverhouse, Brightpearl’s Andy Mulvenna and Future Content’s Tom Sandford.
