AcceleratorEquity-free

MassChallenge UK

East London, United Kingdom

The UK cohort of the global zero-equity, zero-fee MassChallenge accelerator network.

The offer:
$20k per company
Location:
East London, United Kingdom
Duration:
18 weeks

What you need to qualify

  • Less than GBP 3M capital raised and less than GBP 3M in sales
  • You do not need to be incorporated to apply
  • An impactful product or technology with the potential to drive substantial economic growth and to transform society
  • A viable concept, with evidence of traction and a path to financial sustainability
  • A scalable concept with competitive pricing
  • A strategic connection with the UK, and the ability to travel to London and to Switzerland for the in-person activities

Eligibility

Eligible stages
All stages
Countries
Global, subject to the provider’s eligibility and approval

How to apply

  1. 1

    Check the published eligibility thresholds

    Confirm your startup has raised less than GBP 3M and has less than GBP 3M in sales. Incorporation is not required to apply.

  2. 2

    Submit the online application form

    Applications are made on the form linked from the MassChallenge UK programme page, before the closing date published for that cohort.

  3. 3

    Go through online judging

    The programme states that the selection process is carried out online, so no travel is needed before you are accepted.

  4. 4

    Run the programme in London

    Accepted startups take part for four months from June to October, with office space in the Royal Docks, London, mentoring from 400+ experts and access to 20+ global corporate partners.

  5. 5

    Travel for the in-person components

    Founders must be able to travel to the London activities and to the Switzerland in-person events, and to the awards ceremony held in London in October.

Frequently asked

No. The programme states that mentoring from 400+ experts and tailored programming are provided with no equity taken.

Startups that have raised less than GBP 3M and have less than GBP 3M in sales, with an impactful, viable and scalable product and a strategic connection with the UK. You do not need to be incorporated.

Participants compete for up to CHF 1M in non-dilutive cash prizes across the MassChallenge network, plus GBP 20,000 in UK prize money for the top UK startups, and receive office space in the Royal Docks, London for the duration of the programme.

Four months. The 2026 cohort ran from 23 June to 29 October, combining in-person and online activity.

Through the online application form linked from the MassChallenge UK programme page. Selection is carried out online, so no travel is needed before acceptance.
AIAutonomyCybersecurity

Related programs

We have not been able to confirm a deadline for this one. Check the official page before you start.

Do I qualify?

2 things decide this one. Check yourself against them before you spend time on the form.

Stage
Pre-seed, Seed
Where it runs
United Kingdom. In person, so you need to be able to take part there
What you give up
No equity stated
Deadline
Not confirmed. Check the official page

That is the rulebook. What we cannot show you here is whether your startup clears it, how this ranks against the other programs you qualify for, and what to fix if you do not.

Check what I qualify for

Five questions, about a minute, no account needed.

Last verified against the official page. Report an error

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