About Durham City Incubator?
Durham City Incubator (DCI) was established between Business Durham, Durham University and New College Durham.
We’re here to support ambitious businesses based in County Durham less than a year old achieve their goals and local entrepreneurs launch start-ups with high growth potential.
We work with students and alumni of Durham University and New College Durham with innovative businesses ideas or concepts, as well as entrepreneurs and Durham-based business owners with a vision to grow and scale up.
How do we help?
We provide all the support you need to boost your business or launch an ambitious start-up in Durham, including:
-
Access to start-up funding opportunities including Finance Durham Start-Up Loan.
-
A mentor to share your ideas, thoughts and ambitions with.
-
The chance to connect, learn and collaborate with the like-minded entrepreneurs going through the programme alongside you.
-
Unique opportunities to connect with investors and funders that can finance your business growth plans.
-
Access to the virtual office and shared workspace
-
An opportunity to test a business model in the real world with a safety net there to support you.
-
The chance to gain hands-on experience through workshops by some of the North East’s leading experts in marketing, finance, legal and business growth.
-
Access to networks, events and meet-ups across the North East.
-
Free public relations and marketing opportunities that will help raise your profile and get your business on the map.
-
One-to-one support from DCI staff to help you plan and achieve your targets.
How does it work?
DCI is a six-month incubator programme that you and your co-founders can go through alongside the day-to-day running of your business.
The programme is delivered through boot camps, one-to-one support, mentoring sessions, workshops, seminars, and networking events.
It’s designed as a crash course in starting and running a business, equipping you with the skills you need to make sure your new venture thrives.
Over the course of six intensive months, you’ll learn new skills through workshops that will help you understand finance, develop market strategies, and map out your future growth.
DCI requires commitment and dedication to gain benefits from the programme. There is an expectation that workshops, mentoring and other forms of support are attended.
You’ll be assigned a dedicated mentor and work with DCI staff who will help guide you through the early stages of starting and running your business and help you turn your vision and ambitions into reality.
You’ll also get the chance to share your ideas and ambitions with like-minded entrepreneurs, pitch your business to investors and funders, learn from some of the North East’s brightest business minds, and much more.
DCI has been designed for busy business owners to attend around running their business, but it does require commitment. In total, you’ll need to attend at least 40 hours of workshops and support sessions during the six-month programme to get access to DCI’s many benefits.
Whatever you want to achieve, we’ll help you get there.
Am I eligible for DCI?
DCI is open to anyone with a high growth potential business based in County Durham that’s been trading less than a year or an ambitious idea for a high-growth start-up.
We encourage students and alumni of Durham University and New College Durham to apply. Please note: International students may require a visa to establish a business in the UK to access this support.
DCI will ideally suit entrepreneurs and business owners that have innovative concepts, products, services or business models that have high growth potential.
Not 100% sure whether your business qualifies for the programme? Just get in touch, email is best.
How do I apply?
To get on to the next cohort, simply fill out the short application form introducing yourself, your business and why you want to be part of Durham City Incubator.
Once the application is submitted, you’ll be contacted near the start date for DCI for a telephone interview. We then shortlist applicants to the next stage, inviting to attend DCI pitch event, where you’ll get the chance to explain your business or idea and how you’d benefit from DCI to a panel in a two-minute pitch.
If you make a big impression, you’ll be invited to join the six-month accelerator programme.