Tech for good or social innovation business that can demonstrate some market traction or first round of funding. We are looking for impact ventures that aim to address at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals with high growth and the potential to generate impact.  

Each one of our Future 20 will receive bespoke support that will help to build a resilient and sustainable business to inspire others. You will receive expert mentoring and advice, free 24/7 access to deskpace, valuable introductions and connections, and exclusive access to events. The Future 20 programme is one of a kind, and will help you to become a game changer in your field.  

Your application will include some details about your business, and asks for either a business plan or a pitch deck, alongside a video where you can tell us more about the market you are in. These will be reviewed first by the Programme Manager, and then by an advisory board with significant start-up expertise. A shortlist of applicants will be invited for an interview as a chance for us to find out more. This will either be in Cambridge, East London, or via skype. The advisory board will select the final 20 based on quality of the applicant and venture, and the breadth of impact related to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.  

Anywhere in the UK – you will get free desk space at any of our Future Business Centres, or we will help arrange work space for you with our partners. If you’re not close by to them, we will do our best to accommodate you.  

Yes! You can apply here.  

Once accepted, we will work together to create a roadmap to line up introductions, set goals and track progress. You’ll get a monthly check-in with the programme manager in person or by Skype, regular catch ups with mentors and others who may be supporting you, and opportunities to join workshops and events both locally, and in Cambridge or London. There is no specific time commitment per week or month,but we ask the founders to be committed to the programme overall, be willing to share openly, learn and collaborate throughout.

We are looking for start-ups that aim to address at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, (and especially invite applications from those working in tech for good). You should be able to demonstrate some market traction or first round of funding with a real potential to generate impact, and can be based anywhere in the UK.

A key aspect of any incubator programme is the connection you will make with other passionate and experienced entrepreneurs. You will meet the other members at the launch, a mid-way point and at the end of the programme, with optional workshops and events in between. There’ll be a Slack group for staying in touch online to encourage you to work with and support each other.

Our selected partners represent some of the best sector specific and professional support available for free. They will provide a range of support, resources and advice. Whether they are offering free memberships to their network, to broker introductions to other key players in your sector or supply chain, or giving access to their innovation programmes or marketing data, they are on board to help you succeed. Other examples of help already offered include a specific free legal helpline service, workshops on employment law and best practice, individual clinic sessions for advising on IP strategies and pitching to an audience for mentors or corporate ambassadors.

Our rich community of mentors and specialists will drive value to your business throughout the year. Mentors include serial entrepreneurs, business leaders and senior ambassadors from our partners. You will be allocated a mentor from the outset by the programme manager who can check in with you regularly and provide overall guidance, but additional mentors with specific skills and experience will be introduced as and when you are tackling specific challenges, such as in prototyping phase, or beginning fundraising.

We will support you in sharing your vision and impact goal, from ‘spotlighting’ your business through blogs and online profiles, to sharing your news and successes across our vast network, we’ll be on hand to help raise your profile.

Mentors and partners will be ensuring your business model is robust and your growth strategy is sustainable. When the time is right, we’ll leverage our relationships and bring together angel networks, venture capital groups, investment funds, foundations, and the venture arms of our partners and provide qualified introductions. The programme itself doesn’t offer investment or funds directly, but we know where to find them and will get you in the best shape possible to make fundraising a dream.

The programme of workshops, meetings and mentoring will be bespoke and customised to each founder based on the stage of their business, challenges, and pace of growth. Quarterly goals will be set across the full range of aspects of running a business, such as business finance and operations, team development, strategy and marketing. Workshops will be offered on specialist and general areas such as leadership, responsible tech, recruitment and legal issues. More elements will be developed as the programme evolves and a range of exciting opportunities to work with partners and other organisations are already under discussion.

Members of the Future 20 who are based nearby and require desk space will be offered it at any of our Future Business Centres in Cambridge, Peterborough and East London for free for the full duration of the programme (up to 18 months), depending on availability and for up to 4 members of the team. Members of the programme based elsewhere in the UK will be supported in finding some free space at any one of our partner sites (terms and conditions will apply).

You will become alumni of both the Future 20 and the Allia Future Business Centre network of impact ventures. We hope those that take up space in our Future Business Centres will stay on with us as tenants and feel part of the wider Allia family. A grand finale event will celebrate the journey of all the members, including some media and profile raising of the impact achieved. This will be a fantastic opportunity to bring more investors on board to supercharge your growth and impact onwards and into the future.