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Digital Catapult [2021]
Infrastructure
Key sectors
Created in 2013, Digital Catapult is focussed on driving early adoption of advanced digital technologies and supports scaling and pipeline businesses through its accelerator and open innovation programmes. Since 2013, scaling and pipeline businesses that have worked with the Digital Catapult have collectively raised £4bn of investment. More than 120 new partnerships or collaborations have been created.
Recently the government-supported organisation has strategically evolved to better support the specific needs of scaleups by developing a soon-to-be-launched growth accelerator programme. This will specifically target barriers to growth experienced by scaling firms. Mentorship will be provided by a network of industry advisors supporting businesses to bring products to market and introducing them to new customers. One-to-one coaching with founders and founding teams will focus on how to adapt leadership style to a fast-growing scaling business with sessions on developing a growth culture, governance, and hiring and retention, as well as where to find the best talent.
Access to finance will also be an important theme with a series of sessions designed to help businesses understand their options for fundraising. Each pipeline and scaling business is also paired with a VC investor to access support and guidance and they can pitch to a network of over 600 investors at an Investor Showcase event at the end of the programme.
The government-supported organisation works with partners across the UK with centres in London, the North East, Tees Valley and Northern Ireland to provide localised and tailored services as well as offering facilities and testbeds including immersive labs in Manchester and Brighton and a number of 5G testbeds.
