Discovery Spark

Discovery Spark is more than a growth programme - it's a transformative experience designed to accelerate early-stage life science startups like yours

Register your interest

Want to be part of our next Discovery Spark growth programme? We're inviting early-stage science companies from all disciplines to register their interest. While we welcome innovators from across the scientific spectrum, our upcoming Cohort 5 - running from 9th September to 16th October 2025, will focus on startups working in Cardiovascular and Cardiometabolic Health. Participants will benefit from expert guidance, tailored support, and access to a powerful network of peers and partners. One standout company will also have the chance to win a prize package, including up to £250k investment from Zinc VC. Register your interest by 18th July to get early access to programme details and receive the full application form. If your work isn’t in cardiovascular health, you will still be considered for a future cohort.

Ignite your startup's potential with Discovery Spark

If you’re an early-stage scientist founder or business leader looking to commercialise a science-driven venture, Discovery Spark gives you the skills, connections, and confidence to build and scale a successful business. Whether you’re in Biotech, Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Medtech, or another science and technology field, this free and unique programme offers the support you need to move forward.

Designed as a high-impact, learning-intensive programme, Discovery Spark delivers specialist insights without demanding months of your time. Participants have described it as making ‘six months of progress in just two days’ thanks to meticulously crafted, bite-sized sessions led by expert mentors, ran bi-weekly over seven weeks. We don’t take equity but we do connect you with investors, sector specialists, and fellow founders who have been on the same path, to refine your strategy and position your company for success.

As part of the programme, you’ll also take part in a dedicated wellbeing and vision day designed to help founders recharge, clarify their goals, and develop a resilient mindset. Set in the calming surroundings of Kent, this unique experience helps you reset and refocus before diving into the strategic and commercial building blocks of your business.

Held just over an hour from London, the in-person sessions at Discovery Park provide a hands-on, practical approach to growing your venture. Plus, all participants can access six months of free use of CoLab and our Barclays Eagle Lab coworking space, providing the perfect environment to continue developing beyond the programme.

Click here for information about our forthcoming Spark programme with a Cardiovascular and Cardiometabolic Health focus.

Find out more about what you can expect from the Discovery Spark programme by watching our video, featuring insights from past cohort members.

Why join Discovery Spark?

Discovery Spark cohort group photo in front of Discovery Park sign

Discovery Spark bridges the gap between science and business, giving you the tools, mindset, strategy, and personal resilience to transform groundbreaking ideas into a thriving, investment-ready company.

Accelerate Your Growth

Startup cohort session with group learning from experts

Gain knowledge on fundamental topics including intellectual property, product strategy, financial planning, regulatory compliance, and branding. You'll also gain insight into what investors are looking for, learn how to present your business compellingly, build an investible leadership team, and position your company for growth and funding success, with all sessions delivered in an engaging and practical way.

Expert-Led Learning

Renos Savva talking to team member in window seat

Connect with fellow founders, investors, and industry experts who can guide you, challenge you, and open doors to new opportunities. The relationships you build here will shape your business for years to come.

Powerful Mentorship & Networking

First Discovery Spark cohort in Barclays Eagle Lab

Unlike other accelerators, Discovery Spark truly invests in your success. Participants say they feel "supported, not just lucky to be included." Expect hands-on, tailored guidance, relevant introductions, and to be part of a friendly, collaborative cohort.

A Supportive Community

Learn how to communicate your vision with confidence, refine your commercial strategy, and position yourself for future funding and partnerships.

Transform Your Pitch & Investment Readiness

Learn how to communicate your vision with confidence, refine your commercial strategy, and position yourself for future funding and partnerships.

Discovery Spark Cohort 2024 with judges outside Discovery Park

Every participant will have the chance to pitch their business to investors and industry leaders, gaining invaluable exposure and potential funding opportunities. The winning company and runner-up will also earn a place at an exclusive investor dinner. In addition, all participants will have the opportunity to access a year’s free lab or office space, benefit from onsite support via Barclays Eagle Lab, and compete for tailored business support from our prize partners.

Exclusive Prizes & Investment Opportunities

Programme details

We run up to three Discovery Spark programmes each year. Each programme consists of seven sessions in total, delivered bi-weekly over a series of in-person workshops at Discovery Park in Kent.

The structure includes:

Three sets of back-to-back sessions – Held over two consecutive days, allowing deep focus and peer collaboration. Overnight accommodation is covered for these sessions.
One final pitch day – Where participants present to investors and industry leaders, putting their newly refined skills into action.

Discovery Park is easily accessible from London with regular high-speed trains from St Pancras and Stratford International to Thanet Parkway, our closest station. A free, electric shuttle bus will complete the short journey to the park. For those driving, ample free parking is available for delegates.

If you’re interested in joining one of our future cohorts, register your interest today for more information and to be sent the full application form.

Hear from our cohort...

The Discovery Spark Programme has been a truly transformative experience professionally, strategically, and personally. From day one, it offered a powerful blend of expert-led content, practical workshops, and peer learning that created the perfect environment for growth. Beyond skill-building, the network I’ve gained is invaluable. The cohort was filled with inspiring, driven peers each with unique perspectives and the facilitators were not only generous with their time but deeply invested in our success. Overall, Discovery Spark has helped me gain clarity, sharpened my entrepreneurial instincts, and left me better prepared to navigate the next phase of growth.

Nishenthaharan Balachandran , Founder & Head of R&D

Discovery Spark has been an incredibly valuable experience, offering both practical knowledge and exposure to key aspects of startup development. Throughout the sessions, I gained a much deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape and developed skills that I believe will be essential in driving my venture forward. Beyond skills development, the programme also expanded my professional network. It provided opportunities to connect with industry experts, advisors, and other entrepreneurs facing similar challenges. These connections will undoubtedly be valuable as I continue to grow my startup.

Meysam Keshavarz , Founder

The Discovery Park team and Dr Renos Savva have been pivotal in providing maximal and significant benefits to our entrepreneurial journey.

Their extensive and tailored business support, encompassing connections with clinical teams and experts in Kent, various financing options, and guidance on resilience in the face of adversity, has been both helpful and instrumental. This comprehensive support has played a crucial role in our growth and development.

Andrew Guo , Founder & Director

The Discovery Spark programme was transformative, equipping me with the skills, insights, and connections needed to advance my business. Highlights included sessions on intellectual property, storytelling, and pitch strategy, which refined our overall approach and messaging. Networking with the cohort and facilitators was invaluable.

Presenting to prize partners provided critical feedback that enhanced our investor approach. Thank you to the organisers for an impactful and inspiring journey.

Roghaiyeh Safari , Co Founder & COO RS & RS Scientific

What a journey it’s been with the Discovery Spark accelerator over the last few weeks for imphatec Ltd. A huge thank you to Renos Savva for putting together such an inspiring and educational programme and getting such great and enlightening speakers to treat us to brilliant discussions and seminars. The breadth and multidisciplinary teachings on offer is a testament to the programme’s aims to give the start-ups and founders involved a solid base from which to push on forward!

James Catt , Co Founder

Discovery Spark was transformative. From the diversity in the room to its focus on regenerative businesses, it was unlike any programme I’d done before. Instead of competition, it fostered support and camaraderie, creating an environment where we could thrive. The sessions helped us shape our pivot, clarify our strategy, and make rapid progress. Networking enabled valuable connections and collaborations at Discovery Park and delivering the final pitch felt uplifting, surrounded by encouragement and excitement for our progress.

Lisa Rickers , Co Founder & CEO Ultra BiOmics

The programme has helped me sharpen my pitch, clarify my business strategy, and connect with a network of experts and fellow participants. The knowledge and skills I’ve gained will accelerate SmileScaff’s growth, help secure funding, and position us strongly in the dental device market. It’s intense but highly practical, offering invaluable mentorship and a supportive environment. This programme is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to enhance their skills, build meaningful connections, and elevate their startups

Linh Nguyen , Founder & CEO at SmileScaff

If you have specific questions about Discovery Spark or want to hear more about the other mentoring and growth programmes we have available to innovators, please get in touch with Renos today.

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