2026 Venture Catalyst Challenge

About

A three-month accelerator program designed to transform early-stage ventures into impactful startups, offering mentorship, workshops, and a chance to win a £20,000 prize at the Grand Final. Participants will receive tailored support based on their innovation track, helping them refine their business models and pitch effectively to industry experts.

Benefits

• 💰Financial Prize
  £20,000 top prize for the winning team at the Grand Final
• 🎓Mentorship
  Access to 1-to-1 coaching and expert mentoring throughout the program
• 🏢Workshops
  Evening workshops designed to refine business ideas and pitch skills
• 🌐Networking
  Opportunities to connect with a community of founders and industry experts
• 📈Tailored Support
  Access to tailored coaches and sector experts based on the chosen track
• 🎤Pitching Opportunity
  Chance to present ideas at a live Grand Final event to a panel of judges

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to Imperial undergraduates, postgraduates, and Early Career Researchers
• Team Lead must be a current student or recent graduate (2023 or later) while other team members can be students, alumni, or external collaborators
• Teams do not need to have raised any funding to apply
• Must be working on an innovative idea in one of the specified tracks
• Must be committed to participating in the program activities

Participation Commitments

• Must attend all scheduled workshops and mentoring sessions during the program
• Must participate in the Grand Final pitch event in November
• Team Lead must be a current student or recent graduate from Imperial
• Commitment to work on the startup idea throughout the three-month program

Target Sector

Focused on technology and innovation across various sectors

Target Location

Open to participants from Imperial College London