Support
A wide range of support is available to London-based start-ups and scale ups across health and life sciences, looking to secure funding, build new partnership, grow and reach new markets.
Every company will need different forms of support at different points in their development. Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are used here to indicate what support may be most appropriate for each company depending on their stage of development.
Bringing together innovation and finance, there is nowhere better than London for life science businesses to access capital.
These funding opportunities are likely to be particularly appropriate for companies at Technology Readiness Levels 4-6.
Pitch Events: Access capital & Discover new Innovations
- The MedCity Newsletter provides regular updates on upcoming pitch events. Sign up
Venture Creators
- Deep Science Ventures: Combining scientific knowledge and founder-type scientists into high-impact ventures. Learn more
Funding Schemes
- NIHR i4i: Translational research funding scheme for medical devices, IVD and digital health. Learn more
- URKI: Various funding opportunities available. Learn more
London offers unrivalled opportunities to build connections and foster collaboration across the entire life sciences industry and beyond, inspiring creativity and driving innovation.
These programmes are likely to be particularly appropriate for companies at Technology Readiness Levels 4-6.
- Collaborate to Innovate: Offers cross-sector partnering and year-long support programmes for early-stage companies. Learn more
- DigitalHealth.London Evidence Generator Bootcamp: Connecting digital health companies with academics and research organisations. Learn more
- Techcelerate: Peer and specialist business support community for tech founders. Learn more
- UKRI Children’s Health Impact Accelerator: 10-week programme to test solutions with mentorship and healthcare community connections for children’s health start-ups. Learn more
Life sciences businesses in London can access a wealth of specialised accelerator programmes to support business growth and development.
These programmes are likely to be particularly appropriate for companies at Technology Readiness Levels 6-7.
- IMAGINE IF!: Healthcare science start-ups 3 -month accelerator to support early-stage ventures. Learn more
- We Are Pioneer Group Business Accelerator: 8-week life science accelerator with expert support plus 12-month launch programme with incubation space at Pioneer Group. Learn more
- Deep Science Ventures: Offering venture creation support for curative therapeutics. Learn more
- DigitalHealth.London: Offering 12-month accelerator, 12-week launchpad and other programmes for digital health companies in London. Learn more
- AWS Healthcare Accelerator: Accelerate Digital Health Solutions provides AWS computing credits, industry support, collaboration with customers and access to AWS network. Learn more
- KQ Labs: Accelerator for early-stage core data start-ups with human health applications with workshops and mentoring. Learn more
- NHS Innovation Accelerator: 3-year programme with mentorship, teaching, network development and navigation of innovation opportunities. Learn more
- Venture Catalyst Challenge: 3-month competitive programme for Imperial College London students and alumni. Learn more.
- White City Innovators Programme. Learn more
- P4 Precision Medicine. 6- to 12-month scale up programme for precision medicine start-ups. Learn more
- MedTech SuperConnector. Accelerating MedTech innovation from bench to bedside. Learn more
- Imperial MedTech Accelerator. Wellcome Trust funded support programme for Imperial Academics, Imperial clinical Academics, and ECRs. Learn more
As well as being a great place to begin, London is a brilliant stepping stone to bigger things, providing a wealth of programmes to prepare successful small businesses for scale-up and scale-out.
These programmes are likely to be particularly appropriate for companies at Technology Readiness Levels 6-9.
- Grow London Global: 12-month programme for innovative tech companies aiming to expand internationally. Learn more
- We Are Pioneer Group Business Accelerator: Life sciences scale-up programme to support rapid business growth. Learn more
- P4 Precision Medicine: Precision Medicine start up support through regulation, adoption, scale up and scale out. Learn more
- UK Export Academy: Free of charge training programme for overseas business. Learn more
- UK Export Finance: UK government export credit agency provides financial support for international trade. Learn more
A wide range of support, advice and insights can be found via the MedCity website.
Information on specific funders active in different specialty areas can be found on the Expertise pages. Further advice and resources can be found on the MedCity website.
