GAP is a 12-week part-time accelerator programme dedicated to the most promising early-stage startups co-founded by LSE students, staff, and alumni. In March 2022, we selected ten commercially viable startups that exhibit potential in attaining at least one of the UNSDGs through entrepreneurial activities.
After 12 weeks of hard work on our accelerator programme, they will be presenting their businesses and the amazing progress they’ve made at two live events! You heard it right - two! To cater to the hybrid world we are living in, we will be hosting an in-person Demo Day and an online Showcase event so that all of you could hear from our founders - wherever you are in the world.
Register here for our in-person Demo Day taking place at LSE on July 15 at 6.30 pm BST or here for our Online Showcase on July 18 at 4 pm BST.
Entry Criteria
We are looking for founders or teams who are beyond ideation - have an understanding of their market, customers, and end-users - and are on the path to developing their MVP.
-
At least one founding member is an LSE student, staff or alumni
-
Have a commercially viable business proposition and an initial idea about the revenue model
-
Have a validated need through thorough customer research
-
Can clearly articulate how the business aligns with at least one of the UNSDGs
-
Be able to attend in-person events at LSE campus (the programme hopes to run in-person dependent on Covid-19 conditions)
What can you expect from GAP?
Throughout the programme, you will have direct access to LSE's extensive pool of resources and alumni network to scale your business and build valuable connections. Our support is practical, flexible, and tailored to the needs of your team and startup.
The three key elements of the accelerator are: Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EiR), Experts and Mentors. Our experienced EiRs will work with you on a weekly basis. We will also bring in experts in their respective fields to share their knowledge through workshops for the cohort and 1:1s to look into the problem you are solving. And finally, we will connect you to our mentor network of LSE alumni with relevant (industry) expertise.
In addition:
-
£5000 grant per team
Please note LSE Generate can only transfer prize money; grants or awards to individuals personal accounts, and not corporate or business accounts. If you have any questions, please contact the LSE Generate team.
-
Access to co-working space at the heart of LSE
-
Startup Credits
Programme Structure
Week 1-2: Bootcamp
You will meet your cohort and attend social events. You will also have 1:1 sessions with our EiR to set your goals and priorities for the programme.
Week 3 -11: Sprint
You will work from your priorities, focusing on areas that move your business forward quickly.
Week 12: Demo Day
You will present your progress at the Demo Day, where you will meet investors, prospective partners, and talents interested in your venture.
Application Process & Key Dates
Stage 1 Online Application: 4th January - 15th February 2022
Stage 2 Interview: 1st - 14th March 2022
Stage 3 Selection Day: 25th March 2022
Programme Start: 25th April 2022
Demo Day (at LSE): 15th July 2022 - register here
Online Showcase: 18th July 2022 - register here
Meet the cohort
Current Cohort: Meet out 2022 cohort here