Accelerator
Programme

We help businesses to launch,
grow and scale

The Pioneer Group Life Science Accelerator Programme works with entrepreneurs at every stage – from idea to exit.

For 20 years, we have supported and invested in founders of cutting-edge life science technologies into visionary ventures, that scale. Helping to transfer ideas (and their founders) out of the lab and into the world.

 
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Pre-Accelerator

Three day Workshop

During the Pre-Accelerator Workshop, you’ll be introduced to proven entrepreneurial methods that de-risk the commercial viability of life sciences start-ups. Then, over a four-week period, you’ll use these tools and techniques to undertake rigorous customer discovery, which will test key assumptions about your idea and value proposition.

Accelerator

Eight week Programme

Work one-to-one with a dedicated coach and attend weekly sessions to develop your idea into a minimum viable product with a clear route to market. You’ll meet esteemed figures from the life sciences industry who will offer advice and guidance on investment, market adoption and scale-up as part of Pioneer Group’s Expert Network.

Launch

12 month Programme

Offered to promising ventures to carry out commercial and technical de-risking and facilitate seed and series A investment. As an invited company, you will have access to discounted bio-incubation space at a selected Pioneer Group location, continued access to the expert network and the opportunity for pre-seed investment.

Investment

Pre-seed to series A

For selected early-stage ventures, we provide initial investment and participate in follow on rounds, with support and guidance from the Pioneer Group investment team. Post-investment, we will provide you with ongoing mentorship, including managing investor relationships and introductions to corporate partners.

Upcoming Programmes

Health Innovation East Midlands NHS Programme

September 17 – 19

Health Innovation East Midlands NHS Pre-Accelerator Workshop

Tuesday 17 September: 12.00 – 16.00
Wednesday 18 September: 10.00 – 15.00
Thursday 19 September: 10.00 – 16.00

Pitch day
Thursday 17 – Wednesday 18 October

The Pre-Accelerator Workshops, funded by Health Innovation East Midlands and delivered by Pioneer Group, will be delivered virtually.

Frequently asked questions

Yes! If you’re an early or mid-stage business, our Accelerator Academy is a great starting point. It takes you through the entrepreneurial concepts you need to know about, giving you the tools and expertise to reach (and smash) crucial milestones to launch and grow a business. Find out more here

Yes. If your business or idea falls into the Life Science sector, then the Programme is suitable for you. We work with entrepreneurs at every stage from idea to exit.

Yes, you will get the most out of the workshop by attending all sessions and be best prepared for the pitch day.

Of course, many international businesses have been through the Pioneer Group Accelerator Programme. As long as you’re able and willing to travel to the in person sessions, most of our Programmes offer virtual, or hybrid attendance.

We take between 6 – 8 companies per Programme from a pool of 40+ opportunities attending our Pre-Accelerator Workshops.

No. The Accelerator Programme is equity free and cost free, with no fees, shares, equity, or board seats.

No, the Programme runs for half a day, once a week for 8 weeks. The 1-1 sessions with your coaches and additional work can be done at a time to suit you.

Apply now

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Accelerator Programme Graduates

Here are just a few of the fantastic Pioneer Group Accelerator Programme graduates and those we have invested in (*)

Deep Branch Biotechnology*

DXcover

EnteroBiotix*

IntoDNA

MicrofluidX

Novosound*

Secondperspective (Suji BFR)*

Tay Therapeutics (In4Derm)

NeuroBell

Excellent Programme, excellent presenters, excellent material! I am very grateful for the encouragement and constructive criticism that was provided on our project. GalMax

The Accelerator was very useful and valuable for Neurobell. We have a much clearer route-to-market strategy, and now understand that there is a different value proposition firstly for each type of hospital, and secondly for each stakeholder archetype within each hospital. We plan to refine this as we conduct more extensive customer discovery prior to product launch. Neurobell

It is a wonderful Programme and it should be compulsory for all those starting on the entrepreneurial journey. I felt like I was in the dark commercially before I started but now I have 20/20 vision. Theia Eye Care

I have identified the correct customer group – and can now focus on validating assumptions with them. The lessons I learnt about overseas (US) market will also be used going forward, as we continue to engage with stakeholders in the US healthcare framework. I am also keen to leverage the connections gained during the Programme in pursuing collaborations for the business. Psyrin

The Accelerator Programme was crucial to our 2020 successes. Since our time on the ONE x BioCity Accelerator Programme in 2019, we have been putting into practice all the lessons learned. We have seen quarterly revenue increases, and Wee are well on target to increase 2020 quarter 4 income which is great considering we have been in a pandemic for almost the entire year. A big thank you to all, it has made a massive difference and I feel much better equipped to run my business. Wee Hemp

The Accelerator Programme encouraged me to constantly challenge my own assumptions, and to ensure that every assumption could be backed up with valid market research. By following the lean start-up methodology that the Accelerator Programme taught, it enabled me to have a clearer picture of exactly what I wanted to address, and ensure that I was focused on that goal. Alcuris

Getting one team member out of the room is valuable for a start-up. But BioCity taught us more. We learned that getting the whole team aligned with where the company is, where it needs to be, and the assumptions on what it needs to do to get there is massively important. Having a team willing to run through brick walls, test all critical hypotheses, and all getting out of the building to build the network necessary to thrive, that is invaluable. BioCity Accelerator Programme – Nottingham Graduate

If I had one key take away from the Accelerator Programme, it would be getting out of the building and talking to potential customers. The other big message was to surround yourself with great people; no matter how good your innovation is, you won’t know everything about getting it to market. The Accelerator Programme gives you the ability to frame your business idea in a language that resonates with investors. Becoming familiar with the principles of Lean Start-up and the Business Model Canvas were critical in securing funding for us. One memory is from the pitch that secured our VC investment; as we rolled our key words and phrases that were from the programme, heads began to nod in agreement. Gendius

Over the 12 weeks we made huge progress in moving our business idea forward. The customer discovery was a key thing for us to test assumptions and create an evidence-based story to present to investors. Meeting on a weekly basis was intense but kept the pressure on just enough to keep momentum going. Both coaches were excellent is helping us to see the areas we needed to focus on, and the Accelerator Programme introduced us to the tools which were valuable in getting our story straight and more focused. Introductions through the expert network were also so valuable and helpful for our next stage as we continue to develop the business. BioCity Accelerator Programme – Aberdeen Graduate

The BioCity Accelerator Programme has helped us to focus and decide on our target market and what people require. When you have such a great development team and potential, it is sometimes too easy to add unnecessary features rather than get a basic solution to market, to prove the technology. The 8 weeks has been challenging with the amount of work and customer contacts whilst “pulling in the day job” but the support and encouragement has been outstanding. Convert Technologies

Overall I was very happy with the virtual accelerator. The coaches made sure that everyone had a chance to weigh in on discussions and make everyone feel connected, so they minimised any sense of remoteness from what was going on. I think the determination of the coaches to include everyone was vital; even when an in-person event is possible I would still consider the virtual accelerator because we had good interaction. Io-Cyte

The Team

Dr Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi
Director of

Venture Development

Dr Lisa Thomas
Launch Programme Director
Olivia Fletcher-Hogg 
Venture Development Programme Manager

Testimonials

“What really helped Reach was access to the Accelerator Programme. That really helped the directors build their business experience as a group of scientists coming into this. Pioneer definitely understand the needs of a company like Reach.”

Victoria Coulthard, Global Head of Business Development, Reach Separations


Victoria Coulthard is Global Head of Business Development with Reach Separations. When her company arrived at BioCity Nottingham, they were a small team, working from a small lab. Now, the company occupies three large laboratories, having capitalized on its innovative CRO solutions and reputation for speedy delivery.


A short film with Jamie Hodgson. Behind the scenes at Antibody Analytics, Contract Research Organisation based at Pioneer’s BioCity Glasgow.


What’s life like as a science entrepreneur? In this short film, we talk to science startup founder Alex Birks, about his journey to becoming CEO of MedTech start-up SUJI BFR. Product iterations, customer discovery and tough lessons, Alex takes us through the process from the very beginning and how the Pioneer Accelerator helped him along the way.