Growth capital and mentoring available for EpiCentre clients

The EpiFund is designed to help tenants build up to Angel investment. The EpiBoost element of the programme provides cash injections and tailored business support for companies based at the centre.

This intensive accelerator programme has already proved attractive and both options have an application deadline of 31st January 2025. Applicants must be located at or be a current occupier at TheEpiCentre.

For The EpiFund, The EpiCentre is offering support to selected businesses towards accessing angel investment of between £100,000 and £2 million from its sister company, OI Finance – one of the UK’s largest Angel investment networks.

With dedicated business support from the EpiCentre’s Innovation Director Gary Jennings, Research & Development focused companies are coached and mentored to become investment-ready, moving directly to the second round of Angel iInvestment consideration and bypassing early competition.

The EpiBoost is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses thrive. By securing an office, laboratory bench, or dedicated desk at The EpiCentre, a company will receive personalised 1-on-1 business support from Jennings.

Set business goals will be agreed for the next six months and if these targets are met a company will qualify for a cash injection to help with new products, launches or other growth initiatives.

Jennings says: “At the EpiCentre you don’t have to go down the university spin-out route, you can be your own boss, you can get all the business support and the facilities you need, and with the EpiFund we can support your application to the most active business angel network in the UK.

“For the EpiBoost if a company has been with us for six months and they have grown they will get a cash injection to go out and buy something that aids its growth such as a laptop or test equipment.”

The EpiCentre, is dedicated to helping innovative businesses thrive and is home to a community of ambitious innovators, start-ups and growing businesses and is located on the Haverhill Research Park, within easy reach of surrounding towns in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex.

It is managed by Oxford Innovation Space, the UK’s largest innovation centre operator and founded by The Oxford Trust to provide support to science, technology, and knowledge-led early-stage companies.

With over 30 years of experience, Oxford Innovation has a network of 30+ centres across the UK, housing and nurturing over 1,000 early-stage and start-up businesses.

For further information on the Growth Accelerator Programme: visit www.epicentrehaverhill.co.uk/growth-accelerator-programmes/