Worcestershire technology accelerator BetaDen has announced a partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs that will see BetaDen extend its remit to support startup businesses.
BetaDen Incubate will deliver support for up to 60 startup technology and digital businesses over four intakes, with the first intake starting the programme in July.
The programme will be match-funded by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and supported by the Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme.
Businesses winning a place on the incubator will benefit from face-to-face workshops on key topics, 1:1 tailored business support from BetaDen’s team of experienced commercial mentors, access to dedicated office space at Worcester co-working space The Kiln, a programme of specific networking events, and access to BetaDen and Barclays Eagle Lab’s extensive partner and alumni network.
“This is an exciting development for BetaDen, which will allow us to extend our specialist, commercially-focused support for technology and digital businesses to earlier-stage businesses across the county,” said Donston Powell, external affairs director at BetaDen.
“While BetaDen was named best accelerator in the UK in 2022, Worcestershire is one of the country’s best-kept secrets when it comes to technology expertise. However, the county has a rich history of developing revolutionary technology dating right back to WWII when it was a centre for radar development.
“As home to one of the country’s first 5G testbeds, it is perfectly placed to support exciting technology businesses on the front wave of the digital revolution and we’re looking forward to working with more early-stage, technology start-ups to develop their ideas and deliver nimble technology solutions to the world’s problems from right here, in the heart of the country.”
Amanda Allan, director of Barclays Eagle Labs, said: “We are excited to be facilitating this funding to help Betaden launch its new tech incubator and we are very much looking forward to seeing this support reach tech businesses in Worcestershire.
“Using our Ecosystem Partnership Programme, we are allocating funding to organisations like Betaden that are already plugged into their regional ecosystems. We are proud to be able to support these projects, which are designed to help early-stage tech entrepreneurs.
“Our support for Betaden and similar organisations highlights our ongoing commitment to support the tech sector, which is vital to the continued growth of local economies across the whole of the UK.”