Applications open for accelerator programme supporting tech entrepreneurs

HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology at MediaCity, Salford, is calling on entrepreneurs to apply for this year’s fully funded accelerator programme, HOST 50. Returning for a second year, HOST 50 aims to remove barriers to entrepreneurship to create a community of business leaders from all backgrounds. The 12-week flagship programme will provide 50 early-stage tech businesses access to unrivalled opportunities:

• first class facilities for product development and testing
• introductions to leading players in the UK investor community
• access to exceptional talent• joining an inclusive, collaborative community

Sponsored by Bupa in collaboration with GC Angels, the programme is open to applications from digital or tech businesses with less than 50 full-time employees and a turnover of less than £5m – with the ambition to grow, innovate and scale-up. Applications from diverse and under-represented communities are particularly encouraged.

Part of Salford City Council’s investment into innovation and business growth, HOST’s 12-week programme will include a series of interactive workshops that encourage peer-to-peer support whilst providing access to experts in the tech, investment, product development, innovation fields.

Entrepreneurs will have access to state-of-the-art facilities at HOST – including R&D and prototyping environments that enable the exploration of immersive technologies such as AI, gaming, and data science. They can also build relationships with some of the UK’s most influential tech innovators such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Inventya which partner with HOST.
Catherine Jones, innovation and community manager at IN4 Group, operators of HOST said: ‘‘HOST 50 is unlike any other business support programme. We get to the heart of barriers to entry such as access to finance, fear of taking the next bold step, gaining traction, creating a go-to marketing plan and – most of all – product development. It will be an intense 12 weeks but for those who are serious about business growth, it’s an incredible opportunity.’’

Alumni from last year’s programme have gone on to see phenomenal success; prop-tech company Mr Investa, for example, is one organisation experiencing outstanding growth, with the business selling more than £5 million of property nationwide in its first year of trading.

Ryan Hughes, Founder and Managing Director of Mr Investa said: “The benefit of HOST 50 is not only the programme itself and the networking opportunities it presents, but also the real community that exists here. Being at HOST makes you feel limitless and helps you see how far you can push boundaries. The real-time tech available also adds a tangible benefit and helps you to scale your business faster. It has opened doors for me that I never would have had access to.”