Venture Builder Incubator

Name: Venture Builder Incubator
Availability: Applications for 2025 closed | Register interest for 2026

Transform university deep tech research into a thriving startup

Applications for 2025 closed | Register interest for 2026

Welcome to the Venture Builder Incubator at the University of Edinburgh

Venture Builder Incubator empowers aspiring entrepreneurs from Scotland’s universities to start or grow their tech business. Bridging the gap between research and entrepreneurship, Venture Builder Incubator gives you the tools, skills, and support to transform your deep tech or data-driven idea into a thriving startup.

Scaleup Growth: Helping existing AI-driven companies reach global markets.

Ideation to Startup: Turning academic research into new companies.

130

Founders and companies supported since 2021

£55m

Grants and investments raised

36 entrepreneurs in the latest 2025 cohort.

Applications for 2025 closed | Register interest for 2026

Hear the latest from our programme team

What is the Venture Builder Incubator?

The Venture Builder Incubator empowers aspiring entrepreneurs from Scotland’s universities to start or grow their tech business. Bridging the gap between research and entrepreneurship, Venture Builder Incubator gives you the tools, skills, and support to transform your deep tech or data-driven idea into a thriving startup.

This five-month programme is designed specifically for students and staff from Scottish universities who want to explore the business potential of their research.

Venture Builder Incubator is delivered for Scottish Universities in partnership with Techscaler and the University of Edinburgh

Are you ready to tackle real-world challenges through tech innovation?

This five-month programme is designed specifically for students and staff from Scottish universities who want to explore the business potential of their research. Through a mix of interactive online workshops and in-person events, you'll learn to navigate the startup world with confidence.

Participants of the Venture Builder Incubator will benefit from:

Key Skill Development - Build essential entrepreneurial skills to help you stand out in a competitive market.
Build Understanding - Better your understanding of key market dynamics and commercialisation strategies to navigate the start-up landscape with confidence. ‍
Access to Expertise - Learn first-hand from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders and access the University of Edinburgh’s wealth of expertise and academic excellence.
‍Personalised Mentorship – Expert guidance from entrepreneurs-in-residence, National Robotarium collaborators, Cancer Research Horizons and our experienced programme team. ‍
Network Connections - Join a vibrant community of innovators, industry partners, and like-minded entrepreneurs, fostering meaningful ecosystem connections and unlocking new opportunities.

What can you expect?

Venture Builder Incubator runs over five months, from late October to March, with a break in December. It’s designed to be flexible and fit alongside your academic commitments, requiring around 12 hours of your time per month.

Through a mix of interactive online workshops and in-person events, Venture Builder Incubator provides you with the skills, confidence and connections required to start or grow your tech business.

Online workshops: Take place twice a week via Zoom - every Tuesday and Thursday from 16:00 to 17:30 - totaling 3 hours per week.
In Person Events: The programme hosts 3 in person event for participants including a welcome day, a team day and our cumulative programme showcase.

Programme format and key dates

Online workshops take place twice a week via Zoom - every Tuesday and Thursday from 16:00 to 17:30 - totaling 3 hours per week.

| Milestone | Date | |:--- |:--- | | Application Deadline | 07 Jul 2025 | | Programme Start | 14 Oct 2025 | | Welcome Day | 29/30 Oct 2025 | | Bootcamp Day | 10/11 Dec 2025 | | December Break | 11 Dec 2025 – 09 Jan 2026 | | March Showcase | 4/5 Mar 2026 | | Programme End | 12 Mar 2026 |

Please note that dates may change.

Through our ongoing partnership with Cancer Research Horizons, we offer tailored support for research staff and academics working on deep-tech oncology-related innovations from universities and hospitals across the UK.

Discover more about Cancer Research Horizon

Who can apply?

Venture Builder Incubator is designed for ambitious postgraduate students, early career researchers and academics who are looking to transform their deep tech or data-driven research into a viable business.

We welcome applications from individuals or founding teams at any Scottish university who are passionate about creating innovative deep tech or data-driven solutions to address real-world challenges.

Through our ongoing partnership with Cancer Research Horizons, we offer tailored support for research staff and academics working on oncology-related innovations from universities and hospitals across the UK.

Discover more about Cancer Research Horizons