Accelerate your business
Exeter Innovation Accelerator
Develop and grow your venture with tailored support from the Exeter Innovation Accelerator. Our programme supports high tech ventures to achieve accelerated high growth through via expert business support.
The Accelerator Programme boosts opportunities for innovative STEMM start-ups and SMEs by providing enrolment on to our word-leading accelerator programme, enabling strategic empowerment through the delivery of workshops, seminars, and drop-in surgeries.
Our team of experienced business support managers, regional professional services Advisors in Residence, accomplished Entrepreneurs in Residence, and knowledge coaches and mentors deliver this structured programme over a 6–12-month period, providing founders with expert support during their growth journey.
The programme covers all aspects of organisational growth, including business fundamentals, sustainable and scalable product development, and finding and managing investment.
As a member of the esteemed SETsquared Partnership, you're guaranteed award-winning support that will help you turn your ideas into a thriving enterprise.
Business acceleration support in numbers
100+
Member businesses supported
£5.7m
Grant funding raised
£15.3m
Investment raised
Are you an innovative high-tech venture with ambitions to grow?
Are you actively seeking grant funding or looking for investment?
Are you developing a scalable tech product?
Our Business Accelerator Programme is open to start-ups and SMEs from any industry that can evidence their STEMM innovation credentials and a scalable business model. The Exeter Innovations Business Accelerator can help you to gain access to vital knowledge, networks, and investment opportunities.
Full access to the programme and all its resources for £150 pcm ex VAT.
In addition to our structure programme of workshops and seminars, members can make use of The Hive, our high-quality incubation space at the Exeter Science Park, have access to a network of expert coaches and mentors, will be invited to a range of community events and peer learning sessions, and have the opportunity to embark on our bespoke investment support programme, which culminates in our annual investment showcase.
Entrepreneurs in Residence are successful entrepreneurs that have “been there and done that” and are now available to share their knowledge, experience, and networks with our emerging entrepreneurs, startups and innovative projects.
During monthly catch-ups, our Entrepreneurs in Residence support our members and foster innovation by connecting them to a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
With experience being key when building strategy, our Entrepreneurs in Residence can bring a history of expertise in structure and governance, market strategy, brand and vision, investment, people management, manufacturing, procurement, and more.
Professional services engagement is an important part of any growth strategy. Planning and utilising the right services, initiatives, and schemes at the right time can have a measurable impact on an organisation’s success.
Our Advisors in Residence are experts in their field from respected regional firms that have an understanding that a healthy innovation ecosystem requires investment in people and skills.
We are proud to have continued support from:
Tom Torkar, Harry trick, and Philippa Collison of Michelmores, Lewis Banfield of PKF Francis Clark, Graham Heydon of Heydon Innovation, Stephen King of James Hallam, and Deborah Watson of Innovate UK.
The Innovation Hub
The Innovation Hub
Not sure the Business Accelerator is right for you? Explore all your options at the Innovation Hub. This space offers Exeter-based organisations the opportunity to connect with the University and other business support partners. Here, you can seek expert help, speak to advisors, and explore a range of business support programmes.
Download our flyer
View the hub calendar
Let's work together
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“Thank you (and the team) very much for everything you've done for us during our engagement with SETsquared. It has been a very useful and valuable programme that has helped tremendously. I feel honoured to be considered an alumni.”
Pete Russell
Ooooby
“Hugely appreciative of the support I have been fortunate enough to engage in. SETsquared has been a brilliant opportunity for me to have fantastic support and networking opportunities that I have taken a huge amount from.”
James Parkes
myday
“Great motivation, better knowledge of formal processes for RND collaborations, networking and overall quality support. Very grateful to the SETsquared Exeter Team.”
Tanya Larsen
EcoScanner
“A fantastic initiative which, once discovered, rapidly transforms new science-related enterprises and accelerates development.”
Nick Clifton
AuthentiSci
“SETsquared Exeter has put me in various networks that I would have otherwise taken a lot longer to create on my own. Solidarity with other Founders and our shared experiences, running alongside professional guidance and connections has been the blend of support I have needed.”
Ben Darby
Overgang Ltd
Connect with us:
Call: 01392 241455
Email: SETsquared@exeter.ac.uk
Address:
Science Park Centre,
6 Babbage Way,
Exeter Science Park,
Clyst Honiton, Exeter
EX5 2FN
Follow: LinkedIn
Website: setsquared.exeter.ac.uk
Kola Ladejobi
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Business Support Manager
Kola supports high-tech, high-growth businesses through the Business Accelerator at Exeter Science Park. He is an innovation practitioner with over ten years of experience leading technology-driven transformations that improve business and social outcomes.
A doctorate student at the Unicaf University, Kola also holds a BSc in Computer Science from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, an MBA from the University of Leicester, and an MSc in E-Business Technology from Manchester Business School.
Previously, he served as a National Innovation Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria, where he improved Health, Education, social, and behavioural change programmes, benefiting millions of children, women, girls, and youth.
Kola's expertise extends to venture value creation, design thinking, project management, product development, and stakeholder management in the private and public sectors.
Contact: k.k.ladejobi@exeter.ac.uk
Andrew Southall
Entrepreneur in Residence
Andrew is a business expert with over 35 years’ experience in driving business growth strategies predominantly in the private sector and across a number of geographies. Andrew expertise spreads across the marine (geophysics), utilities and construction sectors, with a long period in the UK water industry involving the buying and selling of a small number of businesses before successfully building and selling a group of companies to a FTSE plc in November 2010.
Luke Lang
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Entrepreneur in Residence
Luke Lang is an entrepreneur, founder, chairman, NED, advisor and mentor. He co-founded Crowdcube, a pioneer of equity crowdfunding, which has raised over £1 billion for high growth European businesses such as Monzo, BrewDog, and Pod Point and amassed an investor community of over one million people.
He was named by Debrett’s as one of Britain’s 500 most influential people, EY Entrepreneur of The Year for London and the South and was selected as one of The Sunday Times ‘Maserati 100’ game-changing entrepreneurs.
Molly Coleman
Project Officer
Molly works alongside Harry, helping to manage the day to day running of the Innovation Hub, as well as supporting in the delivery of the business support programmes, workshops and events. With half her time spent in the student startups team, Molly provides a key link to student entrepreneurship on campus.
Contact: m.r.coleman@exeter.ac.uk
Harry Neill
Business Support and Community Manager
With a background in accountancy and business planning, Harry first joined the University of Exeter as part of the Student Startups Team designing and delivering entrepreneurship support programmes for students prior to his current role.
Harry is responsible for managing the Exeter Innovation Hub and delivering business support programmes to Exeter based organisations, helping them develop new and innovative products and services.
Contact: H.Neill@exeter.ac.uk
Colin Dart
Technology Manager
Initially a technologist by trade, Colin has been designing, managing, and delivering support programmes for a number of years. A keen advocate of sustainable product and service development, Colin aids founders and business leaders to plan and deliver robust technology strategies.
At Exeter Innovation, Colin is responsible for programme management, business support, and technology development support.
Contact: c.j.dart@exeter.ac.uk
Joe Pearce
Head of Business Support
As Head of Business Support, Joe is responsible for teams which provide Venture Creation and Business Growth Support for students, researchers, and staff at the University of Exeter, as well as leading programmes for innovative and high growth regional businesses.
Joe has been instrumental in developing the entrepreneurial programmes at the University of Exeter and in growing the impact of Exeter Innovation in supporting the ecosystem of start ups and high-growth businesses in the South West. He is currently responsible for business support programmes delivered on Exeter and Falmouth campuses, in Exeter City Centre from the newly launched Innovation Hub, and from Exeter Science Park.
Contact: j.c.pearce@exeter.ac.uk
Helen Loubser
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Senior Administrator
As the Senior Administrator, Helen serves as the primary contact for the Exeter Innovation Accelerator programme, offering support to innovative STEMM start-ups and SMEs. She takes charge of both program and member administration, overseeing the daily operations and management of the Accelerator space. Helen collaborates closely with colleagues throughout the University, establishes connections with external business clients, and cultivates relationships within the broader innovation ecosystem.
Helen brings a wealth of skills and experience to her role as Senior Administrator, having built her career within an airline's Operations department. Her expertise contributes to the efficient and effective functioning of the Innovation Accelerator programme.
Contact: h.j.l.loubser@exeter.ac.uk
Julie Waddell
Entrepreneur in Residence
Successful Ex-Founder of a high growth FMCG brand. Now a High Growth Innovation Consultant, Strategist, Virgin Startup Mentor, Broadcaster, Speaker and EIS Investor.
After a corporate career at British Airways and as a BBC Broadcaster and Journalist along with several roles in University Marketing and Corporate Relations, Julie Founded Moorish Ltd, the UKs best-selling humous and dips brand, in 2012.
Julie secured distribution for Moorish in the UK retail market in Sainsbury's, Asda, Ocado, Booths, Hello Fresh, Getir and internationally in Spinneys UAE, Park n Shop Hong Kong and onboard British Airways.
