Accelerate Cambridge
Accelerate Cambridge is the roughly 12-week venture development programme of Cambridge Judge Business School's Entrepreneurship Centre, started in 2012. Teams get a dedicated coach, KPI reviews, mentors and specialists (investors, IP and legal advisors, deep tech commercialisation experts), plus access to MBA students and pitch events, with up to six months of follow-up coaching. It is for teams of two or more where one founder has a University of Cambridge or Cambridge town connection.
At a glance
Accelerate Cambridge key facts
- Deal terms
- The programme provides coaching and mentoring rather than a cash investment. The official pages do not state fees or equity terms; third-party listings describe it as equity-free, which is not confirmed by Cambridge Judge.
- Duration
- About 12 weeks
- Format
- In-person
- Headquarters
- Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cohort locations
- Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Stage
- idea, pre-seed
- Sectors
- general
- Application cycle
- 2 cohorts a year (spring and autumn)
- Next deadline
- January 15, 2027
Verified November 4, 2026 against the sources below. Terms change; confirm on the official site before applying.
Timing
Spring 2027 applications close Friday January 15, 2027. The programme runs April 5 (induction day) to June 24, 2027, with sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Applicants send a 60-second pitch video. The Autumn 2026 cohort (September 21 to December 10, 2026) is closed.
See all upcoming accelerator deadlines
Notable alumni
- bit.bio
- Nuclera
- Healx
- Speechmatics
- Cytora
FAQ
Applying to Accelerate Cambridge
- How much does Accelerate Cambridge invest?
- Accelerate Cambridge's standard deal: The programme provides coaching and mentoring rather than a cash investment. The official pages do not state fees or equity terms; third-party listings describe it as equity-free, which is not confirmed by Cambridge Judge.
- When is the Accelerate Cambridge application deadline?
- The next published deadline is January 15, 2027. Application cycle: 2 cohorts a year (spring and autumn). Spring 2027 applications close Friday January 15, 2027. The programme runs April 5 (induction day) to June 24, 2027, with sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Applicants send a 60-second pitch video. The Autumn 2026 cohort (September 21 to December 10, 2026) is closed.
- Where is Accelerate Cambridge based?
- Accelerate Cambridge is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The program runs in person.
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