Science to Startup

At Discovery Park, we’re committed to supporting the next wave of science and tech innovators. That’s why we’ve created Science to Startup, a practical guide packed with insights to help early-stage founders take confident first steps and build successful businesses.

A must-have guide for early-stage science and tech founders

Founding a new science or technology venture is exciting but it can also feel like navigating a maze in the dark. After years of working with startups and scale-ups at Discovery Park, we’ve learned that breakthrough ideas alone rarely secure funding or market traction. Investors look for teams that can marry technical brilliance with clear commercial strategy from day one. Yet time and again we see founders, brilliant scientists, engineers and inventors, wrestle with “obvious” business basics: defining a market, protecting IP, shaping a brand, modelling cash-flow. When those fundamentals slip, even the strongest science can stall. Designed for early-stage founders, Science to Startup is an easy-to-digest guide tackling nine core topics. It offers expert insights, interactive tools and actionable advice, helping you avoid the common pitfalls that can derail early growth. Download your free copy today!

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About Discovery Park

Discovery Park is one of the UK’s largest science and technology campuses, based in Kent and just over an hour from London by high-speed rail. We offer the space, support and potential investment early-stage businesses need to start strong and scale quickly. With flexible lab and office space up to 71% more cost-effective than London, Discovery Park provides a practical, well-connected base for ambitious founders. Our collaborative ecosystem includes tailored growth programmes, access to expert mentors, a thriving on-site Barclays Eagle Lab, and a growing investor network. You’ll also find opportunities to connect with fellow innovators, work alongside established industry leaders, and tap into a local pipeline of scientific talent. Now home to over 180 companies, from startups to global firms, Discovery Park is where early-stage businesses will find the right environment to grow.

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CoLab

CoLab offers 6 months of free lab space to help kickstart your innovation! Designed for early-stage science and tech businesses, our fully equipped and flexible lab environment provides access to specialist equipment and hands-on support from an experienced lab technician. Whether you’re generating early data, refining your technology, or exploring commercial potential, CoLab offers the ideal space to take your next step – without the overheads.

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Discovery Spark

Discovery Spark is our flagship growth programme for early-stage science and tech founders who want to get the basics right and take their business to the next stage. It’s completely free and offers tailored mentoring, hands-on workshops, and access to a brilliant network of investors, advisors and industry partners. Whether you’re shaping your business model or preparing for funding, Discovery Spark helps ignite your ideas and build a strong, investable business.

We’re now recruiting for Cohort 5, with a dedicated focus on Cardiovascular and Cardio Metabolic Health and the opportunity to secure up to £250k in investment from Zinc VC. If you’re developing solutions in this space, find out more and apply.

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