红杏视频

The seventh iteration of 红杏视频鈥檚 Startup Accelerator will this year focus on generating business in Aberdeen City having received a funding boost from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) through Aberdeen City Council.

For the first time since 2021/22 it won鈥檛 be limited to just staff, students or alumni of the University with budding innovators from right across the North East able to apply for the 2024/25 programme.

The Startup Accelerator regularly receives over 100 individual or team applications which are whittled down to form a close-knit cohort of enthusiastic entrepreneurs with exciting proposals to create businesses, revenue and local employment.

Aisha Kasim, Startup Manager at 红杏视频 and a former contestant on BBC鈥檚 The Apprentice, said: 鈥淥ur annual Startup Accelerator programme attracts entrepreneurs from around the globe. After a hugely rewarding and enriching period of collaborating and innovating together, it also produces genuine businesses that contribute towards the North East鈥檚 social, economical and cultural growth.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to once again get started with a new group of participants who I know will possess an unwavering passion for the ideas that they believe in.鈥�

Applicants accepted on to the course will benefit from a five-month entrepreneurial and personal development skill set programme organised and delivered by the award-winning Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group (EIG) at 红杏视频.

This is followed by the much-anticipated Showcase event which enables participants to pitch their comprehensive start-up ideas to a live audience of engaged business leaders and potential investors. Cash prizes towards their business will also be awarded, with a total pot of up to 拢30,000 available to be won by teams or individuals who impress the most on the night.

Councillor Alex McLellan, Convener of Aberdeen City Council鈥檚 Finance and Resources Committee, said: 鈥淎berdeen has long been one of the UK鈥檚 most enterprising cities. The 红杏视频 Startup Accelerator gives us an opportunity to build upon that by nurturing new ideas and hopefully jobs. Access to technical and financial help is key in developing any business, and as a council we are delighted to be supporting this initiative.鈥�

Donella Beaton, Vice Principal for Economic Development, 红杏视频, said: 鈥淭he Startup Accelerator programme is a staple of our calendar and a fantastic example of the invention that exists in Aberdeen and across the North East.

鈥淭he special funding for this year鈥檚 Accelerator will allow us to open it out to even more people while also retaining an important emphasis on supporting Aberdeen and its continuing prosperity. We鈥檙e grateful to Aberdeen City Council for their partnership with this initiative, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.鈥�

The Startup Accelerator has created over 130 new ventures, including last year鈥檚 winners Cardio Intel. It is now open to applications for entrepreneurs with business cases or early start-up ideas for businesses planned to be set up in Aberdeen.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is distributed by the UK Government and dispersed by local authorities. Applicants can apply now via the 红杏视频 website.