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SPARK 1.0

HIGHLIGHTS

SPARK is a four‑week residential incubator designed to help students, researchers and recent alumni transform early ideas into validated, investable ventures. The first SPARK cohort took place in summer 2025, bringing together innovators from across the University of Cambridge to develop prototypes, strengthen business models and build momentum toward early‑stage funding.

Originally created by King’s Entrepreneurship Lab in partnership with Founders at the University of Cambridge, the 2025 programme provided participants with expert mentoring, specialist workshops and access to entrepreneurial communities across both organisations.

SPARK portfolio

THE PROGRAMME
AT A GLANCE

SPARK 1.0 welcomed co‑founding teams and individual founders from across the University of Cambridge to materialise their ideas into action in just four weeks. The programme, designed for undergraduates graduating in 2025, postgraduates, researchers and recent alumni, guided participants through a structured process of validation, prototype development and business modelling. By the end, founders had a clearer pathway to product development, a stronger understanding of their team dynamics and a route towards seed‑stage funding and scaling their impact.

Drawing on the combined venture‑building expertise of King’s Entrepreneurship Lab and Founders at the University of Cambridge, SPARK 1.0 connected participants with experienced mentors and entrepreneurial communities. King’s E‑Lab has supported ventures such as Nemesis, PoliValve, Asan and ViraHealth, as well as Echion Technologies, RoboK and WaterScope. Founders at the University of Cambridge has accelerated high‑tech companies including Nanomation, Xterna and Molyon – ventures that together have raised over £50 million.

WEEK 1 Research

The programme began with deep market discovery, competitor mapping and early idea validation. Working closely with matched mentors, participants emerged from week one with a validated business idea, an understanding of product‑market fit and a concise 2‑minute elevator pitch to guide the weeks ahead.

WEEK 2 Develop

In week two, founders moved from concept to creation, developing prototypes and early MVPs while gaining an understanding of the tech‑stack and tools available to support their venture. Expert sessions explored product development approaches and common pitfalls faced by early‑stage teams.

WEEK 3 Validate

Week three brought the key question: What is the best business model for your idea? Teams learned how to experiment with pricing strategies, customer acquisition pathways and commercial positioning. They emerged with a stronger understanding of brand, marketing and how to keep their venture sustainable – socially, environmentally and economically.

WEEK 4 Pitch

The final week prepared participants for early‑stage investment, introducing the different types of financing available and what investors look for at this stage. Teams refined their pitch materials, deepened their understanding of funding pathways and presented at Demo Day to an audience of investors and ecosystem partners, with the opportunity to win £20,000 investment.

THE OFFERING

  • Four‑week full‑time residential programme
  • No programme fee for current students and alumni up to 2 years graduated
  • A dedicated mentor for each team
  • Masterclasses with global commercialisation experts, entrepreneurs and investors
  • Free working space during the programme
  • Curated access to more than 240+ experts in the Founders at the University of Cambridge Community
  • Curated access to global experts from the King’s E-Lab network
  • The chance to pitch for £20,000 investment (subject to eligibility)
  • The opportunity to engage investors at Demo Day
  • Social events organised throughout the duration of the programme
  • Two formal dinners at King’s College with expert community members from the Founders and King’s E-Lab networks

"Entrepreneurship can be about producing social good"

- Gabriel Brown, King’s College alumnus and winner of the King’s College Entrepreneurship Prize 2024.

APPLICATIONSOPEN
APPLICATIONSCLOSE
INTERVIEWS
PROGRAMME KICK-OFF
COMMUNITY DINNER
DEMO DAY
PROGRAMME FINALE

FAQ

Accomodation

  • Fully serviced single rooms with shared bathrooms are available at King’s College and will cost £3,000 for the duration of the programme.
  • Funding opportunities for the cost of the rooms may be available through your College, Department, or other sources.
  • Participants can have alternative accommodation but the residential aspects of the programme will take place within the College.
  • Occasional dinners and social events will be included in the programme fee, however most meals during the programme will be at participants’ own expense.


Eligibility

One co-founder must be affiliated with the University of Cambridge in one of the following ways:

  • Undergraduate students completing degrees in Summer 2025
  • Postgraduate students
  • Postdocs
  • Researchers
  • Alumni


Your idea

  • Industry: any technology-led industry or sector, as long as you see potential for high-growth and high-impact. This includes social ventures and social business models.


Do I need to pay to join the programme?

  • There will be no programme fees for current final-year undergraduates (graduating Summer 2025), postgraduates, researchers, or alumni from the past two years, thanks to both generous philanthropic support and funding from the University of Cambridge.
  • Those who completed their degree more than two years before the time of submitting the application will be charged a programme fee of £1,000.
  • Co-founders wanting to join who are not affiliated with the University of Cambridge will be charged a programme fee of £1,000.


Do I need to have a co-founder to join the programme?

No, you can apply as an individual. If you find a co-founder between being accepted on the programme and the programme kick-off, please reach out to us, and it may be possible for your co-founder to attend, too.



My co-founder isn’t affiliated with the University of Cambridge. Can they still join the programme with me?

Yes, only one co-founder per team must meet our eligibility criteria. Co-founders wanting to join who are not affiliated with the University of Cambridge will have to pay the programme fee of £1,000. 



How do I get the ￡20,000 investment at the end of the programme?

Cambridge Enterprise Ventures will fund up to two ventures coming out of the programme. We will assess the following factors in making investment decisions:

  • Must have a current University of Cambridge affiliation or have graduated within the last two years
  • A company must be formed (legally registered)
  • Strength of the founding team
  • Progress made during the programme
  • A clear plan to spend the money and what milestones that achieves for the company
  • A viable business model
  • A plan to raise follow-on funding


Do I have the opportunity to pitch for further funding?

  • The programme culminates in a Demo Day where you will have the opportunity to pitch for funding from a variety of investors.
  • Any company formed during the programme can pitch Cambridge Enterprise Ventures for further follow-on funding separately from the accelerator as milestones are achieved.


What are the attendance requirements?

We require your full-time attendance during the duration of the whole residential programme.



Can you sponsor a visa?

Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas at this time. However, you may want to apply to the UK’s Global Talent Visa which enables exceptionally talented individuals to come to the UK to work for five years.



Have more questions not covered here?



Terms and conditions

To see full programme terms and conditions, visit: www.founders.cam.ac.uk/privacy-policy