Accelerate50 – the Search for a Sussex Game-Changer
Win an acceleration package to scale your business, including CEO Club membership, strategic consultancy and a free office for a year!
At Sussex Innovation, we’re on the lookout for ambitious, game-changing businesses. We know that lack of access to space and community are two of the biggest factors that hold genuinely innovative businesses back from scaling up.
That’s why we’re pleased to announce our new Accelerate50 competition – an incredible opportunity to win a business acceleration package worth £50,000, including free serviced office space at Sussex Innovation Centre for a whole year.
The Accelerate50 Competition
Cost: Free
One Year
The winner of the Accelerate50 competition will receive a prize package worth £50,000, including:
- One year of free tenancy membership with Sussex Innovation, including office space for up to 30 desks with on-site car parking, utilities and concierge service included.
- Access to all other membership benefits, including regular strategy meetings with our senior consultancy team.
- Membership of our new CEO Club for peer-to-peer connections, advice and mentorship.
- Funded consultancy to help you deliver the key project holding your business back: market research, financial modelling or marketing and communications planning.
What are we looking for? The competition is open to any registered businesses with more than 4 employees that is not currently a member of Sussex Innovation. The winning entry will demonstrate:
- Ambition: we want to work with businesses going beyond the start-up stage and targeting 20% year-on-year growth, with ambitions to raise investment and create jobs.
- Innovation: you don’t need to be a tech scale-up, but at the heart of your business should be a truly innovative idea – a new product, specialist expertise or a model to disrupt your industry.
- Scalability: we’re looking for a clearly defined growth plan and an honest appraisal of the factors holding you back. What kind of support do you need to help you to achieve your aims?
Register below to tell us why your business deserves to earn this one-of-a-kind opportunity!
“It’s like having a team of non-exec directors on your board – to me that’s what it was. When you come to Sussex Innovation, they do everything that those non-exec directors are supposed to do.”
“It’s about having people that are approachable. I know that if we had a massive business problem, we could just talk to somebody, without having to plan lots of stuff in advance; we could say what do you think – can we talk this through with you? And that’s massive.”
APPLY NOW
Terms and Conditions:
1. The Promoter
The competition is organised and run by Sussex Innovation (the “Promoter”), whose principal office is located at Sussex Innovation Centre, Science Park Square, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9SB.
2. Eligibility
2.1 The competition is open to Sussex-based, registered businesses that:
– Have more than 4 employees;
– Are not current tenants or members of Sussex Innovation;
– Are legally incorporated and operating within the UK.
2.2 Employees of Sussex Innovation, their families, agents or any third party directly associated with administration of the competition are not eligible to enter.
3. How to Enter
3.1 Entry is free of charge and no purchase is necessary.
3.2 Eligible businesses can enter the competition by completing the application form provided via the Sussex Innovation website.
3.3 The application must include a description of the business, evidence of innovation and scalability, and an explanation of how the acceleration package will help to overcome current growth barriers.
3.4 Only one entry per business will be accepted.
3.5 The competition opens on 31st March 2025 and closes at 11:59pm on 7th May 2025. Entries submitted after this time will not be considered.
4. The Prize
4.1 One winner will receive a business acceleration package (the “Prize”) valued at £50,000, which includes:
– One year’s tenancy at Sussex Innovation Centre, including serviced office space for up to 30 desks, on-site car parking, utilities and concierge services;
– Full Sussex Innovation membership benefits including access to the business support team and regular strategy sessions;
– One year’s CEO Club membership for the business leader(s);
– A package of funded consultancy services (market research, financial modelling, or marketing and communications planning), to be determined in consultation with Sussex Innovation.
4.2 The prize must be accepted as awarded and is non-transferable, non-exchangeable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
4.3 The tenancy must begin by September 2025 unless otherwise agreed in writing with Sussex Innovation.
5. Winner Selection
5.1 The winner will be selected by a judging panel consisting of members of Sussex Innovation’s senior team and external experts.
5.2 Judging will be based on:
– Business ambition and growth potential;
– Strength and originality of the innovation;
– Scalability of the business model and readiness for support.
5.3 The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
6. Notification and Announcement
6.1 The winner will be notified by email and/or telephone within 14 days of the closing date.
6.2 If the winner cannot be contacted within 10 working days of notification, Sussex Innovation reserves the right to offer the prize to a runner-up.
6.3 The winner will be publicly announced on Sussex Innovation’s website and social media channels. By entering, you agree that your business name and a summary of your submission may be used for promotional purposes.
7. Use of Information
7.1 Any personal data provided will be used in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and our privacy policy.
7.2 By entering the competition, you agree that Sussex Innovation may contact you with further information about its services and events.
8. General Terms
8.1 Sussex Innovation reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion or if circumstances arise outside of its control.
8.2 Entry into the competition shall be deemed to constitute acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
8.3 These Terms and Conditions are governed by English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
