New SPARK incubator programme to turn Cambridge vision into venture

Brains behind the summer sizzler are King’s Entrepreneurship Lab (King’s E-Lab) and Founders at the University of Cambridge. The project is designed to act as a blueprint for enabling cross-collegiate innovation at the University and nurture new high-growth businesses in the UK. 

The programme will scout talent from the University’s 23,000 student and researcher population across 31 colleges and will run from August 26 for four weeks.

Participants will receive specialised support to turn their concepts into investable ventures that can ultimately feed the pipeline of high impact businesses serving the UK’s  long term economic growth.

Both the King’s E-Lab and Founders at the University of Cambridge have been instrumental in inspiring students, researchers, and alumni across King’s College and Cambridge to explore how their ideas can turn into real-world impact.

King’s College and the King’s E-Lab have been at the forefront of collegiate entrepreneurship through the King’s Entrepreneurship Prize for the last 10 years.

Demand for the E-Lab has grown exponentially since its inception in 2021, hosting some of the biggest names in entrepreneurship and social innovation globally in their Speaker Series, as well as launching several programmes and residentials for young innovators. 

Founders at the University of Cambridge brings a wealth of expertise in venture building, investment, and commercialisation. This strategic initiative is delivered by the University’s innovation arm, Cambridge Enterprise, as part of its suite of services.

At the cutting edge of University innovation globally, Founders at the University of Cambridge has already launched two programmes: START (seed accelerator programme) and SYNC (co-founder matching programme for software and AI).

The team has also cultivated a growing global expert community of more than 240 investors, industry executives, entrepreneurs and leaders, many of whom are University of Cambridge alumni.

By partnering to deliver SPARK, King’s E-Lab and Founders at the University of Cambridge will combine their extensive networks and expertise to address a critical gap at a University College level to drive innovation.

Through SPARK, students, researchers and University of Cambridge alumni will be empowered to transform their ideas into valid market products, build sustainable business models and attract the financing needed to accelerate their businesses and scale their impact.

Diarmuid O’Brien, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Cambridge said: “The University of Cambridge is famous for producing graduates and Nobel Prize winners that have changed the world. 

“SPARK 1.0 will be a key addition to the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, contributing to our transformative vision to double the number of unicorns over the next decade and accelerating significant growth for the economy.”

Kamiar Mohaddes, Co-Founder and Director of King's E-Lab, added: “To ignite economic growth, we need to ‘grow up’ our University talent and the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

“The King’s E-Lab, since its inception three years ago, is modelling the kind of culture change seen at the likes of MIT and Stanford – where entrepreneurship is in the air.”

And Gerard Grech, Managing Director of Founders at the University of Cambridge, said: “I’m delighted to see SPARK bring together Founders at the University of Cambridge and King’s E-Lab to unlock entrepreneurial graduate talent across the colleges and the University. 

“Startup creation at UK universities is a vital driver of economic growth. This programme is about empowering founders and turning ideas into impactful ventures.”

The programme is free of charge for final year undergraduates (graduating Summer 2025), postgraduates, post-docs, researchers and alumni who have graduated in the last two years from the University of Cambridge, made possible by both the generous philanthropic support of a successful Cambridge entrepreneur together with funding from the University.

It is also open to University alumni (more than two years-graduated) for a programme fee of £1000. The cohort will include up to 40 participants, working in teams or individually, with ideas, early-stage products, or social ventures in any technology-led sector.

The programme combines the unparalleled networks of the King’s E-Lab and Founders at the University of Cambridge to deliver an intensive and structured four-week practical and applied curriculum covering market validation, product development, business strategy, and investor pitching.

Participants will benefit from 1:1 mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs. The programme culminates in a Demo Day where all participants have the chance to pitch to an audience of angel investors, venture capitalists and industry leaders, with the potential to secure seed funding.

Eligible participants will also pitch for two £20k investments from Founders at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Enterprise Ventures.

• Applications for Spark are now open. For more information and to apply, visit kingselab.org/spark