Ignite 2010

Informatics Ventures presents an opportunity for Scottish universities to send ambitious startups/spinouts onto the Ignite programme run by the University of Cambridge, Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning.

In its eleventh year now, Ignite is Cambridge's flagship entrepreneurship education programme. It is an intensive, one week training programme for aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate innovators to trial and prepare business ideas for the commercial environment; comprising a blend of practical teaching sessions, expert clinics, mentors' sessions and experienced advice and support from leading entrepreneurs and innovators that provides the tools, contacts and confidence to transform ideas into a successful business project or venture. Over 240 participants from 25 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas have attended since the programme started in 1999. The alumni are made up of people from various disciplines and industry sectors, such as bioscience, physics, engineering and computer sciences. Over 60 businesses have been developed and more than £55 million in funding was raised by alumni in the period from 1999 - 2005.

The key outstanding factor of Ignite is the impressive ratio and quality of mentors, keynote speakers, entrepreneurs and facilitators on the programme:

http://www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/ignite/contributors.html

Informatics Ventures will be funding 20 places on Ignite 2010, including course fees and accommodation (you must pay your own travel). This represents about £4,000 of potential investment per startup/spinout that you can take advantage of.

To be eligible for this opportunity projects/companies must:

1. Be affiliated to or have a relationship with a SICSA department (http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/);
2. Have a credible Informatics/Computer Science* commercial venture or well developed concept (this can be pre or post incorporation);

* Informatics/Computer Science in the broadest sense can include anything related to software, web, ICT, digital media, gaming etc.

If you would like to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity please complete an application form by THURSDAY 29th APRIL 2010 at the latest. 

Applications should include a project/company name, key contact (founder) and a short paragraph describing the project/company. Once applications have been received they will be reviewed by the Ignite programme team at the University of Cambridge and invited to an interview (in person or via phone / video).

Some FAQ's:
- teams are eligible, we will consider sending up to two people from one project/company
- this opportunity is open to staff and students equally, what matters is they have a credible project/company
- existing companies are eligible, for example SME's that have a relationship with a SICSA department
- this opportunity does not cover Highlands and Islands based projects/companies