Accelerator

Zinc VC

London, United Kingdom

A mission-led venture builder helping founders build science-driven, health- and environment-focused businesses since 2017.

The offer:
$300k per company
Location:
London, United Kingdom
Duration:
39 weeks

What you need to qualify

  • You are a Mission Area Expert, or a Business or Technical Leader: Zinc states the Start-up Route is designed to help those founders build an ambitious new business from scratch.
  • The venture must address one of Zinc mission areas, environment and health.
  • You must be building a new business from scratch, not scaling an existing one.
  • Phase 2 investment is conditional: Zinc invests only where it shares your conviction in the vision and the team.

Eligibility

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

How to apply

  1. 1

    Complete the short application form

    Zinc states: fill out the short application form to share some information with us about your mission, experience and plans, and our talent team will be in touch. The form is hosted on Airtable and linked from the Start-up Route page.

  2. 2

    Talk to the talent team

    Zinc talent team makes contact after the form. There is no published sequence of interview rounds or assessment days on this page.

  3. 3

    Phase 1: build for six months on a stipend

    Zinc pays a GBP 13,200 stipend to each founder for six months, GBP 26,400 for a typical team of two founders, while you create the business alongside other founders on the programme.

  4. 4

    Phase 2: take investment if selected

    Zinc will invest up to GBP 300,000 in your business, comprising a GBP 150,000 initial investment and a GBP 150,000 follow-on investment in your next funding round.

Frequently asked

A GBP 13,200 stipend per founder for six months, which Zinc gives as GBP 26,400 for a typical team of two founders, while you build the business.

Up to GBP 300,000, made up of a GBP 150,000 initial investment and a GBP 150,000 follow-on investment in your next funding round, and only where Zinc shares your conviction in the vision and the team.

The Start-up Route is described as two six-month phases, with the first phase given as 4 to 6 months of building before the investment decision.

Mission Area Experts, and Business or Technical Leaders, who want to build an ambitious new business from scratch in Zinc environment and health missions.

Zinc publishes no deadline, cohort name or start date on the Start-up Route page. The form is open and the talent team responds, so submit when you are ready rather than waiting for an announced window.

The page does not state an equity percentage. It describes the Phase 2 investment amounts but not the stake taken for them.
HealthEnvironment

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
Idea, Pre-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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