Discovery Spark

Applications are open!

Welcome to Discovery Spark, the ultimate growth programme designed to ignite your scientific and tech innovations. Whether you're pioneering in biotech, medtech, or any cutting-edge field, Discovery Spark offers an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your startup to new heights. Our programme is designed to refine your business model, enhance your pitch skills, and give you a unique opportunity to compete for free lab space at Discovery Park, along with a valuable support package from our esteemed prize partners.

Register your interest today!

Free programme to support early-stage life science and tech companies

Learn from industry professionals and make vital connections

Running bi-weekly between 22nd October - 28th November 2024

Chance to win free lab space & a package of support worth over £50k

Why Discovery Spark?

Discovery Spark is a growth programme and immersive learning experience unlike any other. Connecting visionary founders with a vibrant network of peers and expert mentors, Discovery Spark will help sharpen your ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders through impactful messaging and storytelling. It will help you develop a growth mindset while refining your commercial strategy to lay healthy foundations in your business and attract investment.

Our varied and engaging sessions cover essential topics such as intellectual property, startup legalities, branding, financial planning, EDI, ESG, data security, and regulatory compliance. You’ll gain valuable insights from successful founder ambassadors, exchange experiences with fellow founders, and build meaningful connections.

Discovery Spark also offers the opportunity to compete for free lab or office space and a support package worth over £50k, awarded to the standout company during the final pitch to prize and investor partners.

Watch the video for more information.

Programme Details

Our upcoming cohort offers three immersive 2-day sessions, culminating in a single pitch day where you’ll put your newly honed skills into action, delivering a compelling presentation that showcases the insights gained throughout the programme.

Programme Schedule:

Sessions 1 & 2: Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd October 2024
Sessions 3 & 4: Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th November 2024
Sessions 5 & 6: Tuesday 19th & Wednesday 20th November 2024
Prize Partner & Investor Pitches: Thursday 28th November 2024

Location:

All sessions will be held at Discovery Park, Kent. Our address is: Discovery Park, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, CT13 9FF. The closest train stations are Thanet Parkway or Sandwich which are easily reachable from London St Pancras. We provide a free electric shuttle bus from these stations which complete the short onward journey to the park.

Other important information:

While participants are responsible for their travel expenses, we will pay for your accommodation for the overnight stays between consecutive sessions and lunches at all sessions will be provided.

You must be available to attend all sessions of the programme. If these dates aren’t suitable, please contact us – we’d be happy to discuss upcoming cohorts or explore alternative opportunities that may align better with your schedule.

Our Prize Partners

4 hours of free guidance around IP, contracts and collaboration agreements, plus trademark and patent advice based on the needs of the winning business.

IP & Patent Specialists

4 hours of free guidance around IP, contracts and collaboration agreements, plus trademark and patent advice based on the needs of the winning business.

6-months free Barclays Eagle Labs membership at Discovery Park, free access to mentored support navigating the online Barclays ecosystem learning and support content, including Academy, and growth and funding readiness programmes, investor connectivity and events.

Startup Support, Incubators, Coworking Spaces

A discounted startup package for regulatory advice and support.

Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Specialists

A discounted startup package for regulatory advice and support.

Free ESG audit and consultation.

Environmental, Social, and Governance Experts

Free ESG audit and consultation.

Up to £10,000 worth of business support from a top UK firm with specialists in Life Science, offered free of charge. The support can include bi-monthly meetings, R&D review and support, funding & structuring review and business planning.

Accounting, Tax, and Business Advisory Specialists

A free business consulting BD taster session.

Life Sciences Innovation and Investment Experts

A free business consulting BD taster session.

A full data room package worth around £500 per month: Startup plan for data room and secure file sharing package to include Projectfusion’s full suite of products including document collaboration and redaction. First 12 months completely free of charge.

Virtual Data Rooms Experts

12 hours of free mentoring and support with the people side of the business choosing from a menu of options in talent and board advice such as workforce planning, the STEM market, culture & values, board, etc.

Leaders in Life Science, Engineering and Clinical Recruitment

A face-to-face brand strategy workshop free of charge.

Brand & Marketing Specialists

A face-to-face brand strategy workshop free of charge.

Application Process

To enter, you must be a start-up working in scientific and technological innovation, have demonstrated proof of concept, have the freedom to operate and have raised less than £1m in investment.

Step 1: Register your interest using the form above before midnight on 24th September 2024.

Step 2: You’ll be contacted the next working day with more information and a link to the Application Form, where you’ll be asked to complete some basic questions about your business and upload supporting documents in the form of a pitch deck and short, 1 minute video.

Step 3: The completed Application Form must be submitted before midnight on 1st October 2024. The applications will then be reviewed with the chosen cohort selected and notified no later than 9th October, 2024.

If you would like to hear more about the programme and discuss your suitability before applying, you’ll have the chance to arrange a Teams call with Discovery Park’s Head of Innovation and Venture Development, Renos Savva. Please register your interest using the form above and we’ll share more details on this.

Hear from some of our previous cohort...

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

A heartfelt appreciation for Renos Savva and all of the team at Discovery Park. I am absolutely blown away, this course has been a transformative experience for me and so many others. The course is meticulously designed, with each lesson building on the last, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of key entrepreneurial concepts. The interactive nature of the course kept me engaged and motivated throughout. The community of fellow entrepreneurs I met through this course has been phenomenal. The collaborative environment, has encouraged us to share ideas, seek feedback, and support each other’s journeys. Thank you again Renos for creating such an enriching and empowering course. Your dedication to helping aspiring entrepreneurs like me succeed is truly inspiring. I am excited to apply everything I’ve learned and continue growing my business with the confidence and knowledge gained from your course. If you’re considering taking any course here, do it!

Katy Longhurst , Founder & CEO

It was an amazing opportunity to have been selected to participate in the Discovery Spark Femtech and Women’s Health edition programme. As a new start-up we felt it would be really helpful joining a programme like this and it certainly did not disappoint. It has been such an experience; we’ve learnt so much from this process from both the lectures by amazing speakers and the other amazing start-ups in the cohort. What we really loved about the programme is that it introduces you to different concepts around business and things we can really embed as we’re starting on our journey to ensure we’re going in the right direction. If you get the opportunity to take part in Discovery Spark we really recommend jumping at it!

Rebecca Hyman , Co Founder & CEO

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

It felt as though the sessions were designed for us personally as we have changed immeasurably throughout. We have pivoted and changed direction throughout as well. We have come together through the program as a company and as people. I just want to say thank you for believing in us. You have made us believe in ourselves as well!

Stephen Hilton , Founder & CEO

The support we’ve received from the Discovery Park team has been truly uplifting and friendly. It provided us with valuable insights into how we’ve progressed since our last pitch.

Renos has been exceptionally understanding and supportive throughout the program, and we appreciate the team’s hard work in guiding us.

Heraldas Gaspariunas , Chief Operations Officer

Looking for free lab space?

CoLab, a partnership between Discovery Park and Canterbury Christ Church University, offers flexible, shared lab space designed for early-stage life science companies. Founders can benefit from 6 months of free rent, plus free access to our on-site Barclays Eagle Lab coworking space and a broader support network. With ready-to-use lab facilities in a collaborative environment and a lab technician on hand, plus flexible, easy in easy out terms and a wealth of business support, CoLab provides everything you need to start, scale and succeed.

Find out more