Startup accelerator programmes often last between 3 to 6 months and operate over a set time frame. Such programmes provide founders with advice, training, mentoring, networking opportunities with and industry experts might often provide financial support.
Birmingham is a major city in England’s West Midlands region, with multiple Industrial Revolution-era landmarks that speak to its 18th-century history as a manufacturing powerhouse. In 2019, Birmingham was voted the best city in the UK for small businesses according to research by Sum Up thanks to its relatively cheap rent and high levels of investment. Choosing an accelerator programme in Birmingham can be a great decision for your startup but there are a number of factors you need to consider before making a decision.
Finding the best accelerator programme for your business will depend on the type of support you are looking for, the size and stage of your business, if you have a team and investment or not. Accelerators will sometimes offer serviced office space as well as networking opportunities with the other companies in the accelerators and with the accelerator advisors.
There are a number of accelerator programmes in Birmingham. Here are a selection of accelerators:
Despite accelerator programmes being a great place for startups and entrepreneurs, it is important to ensure you have sufficient legal protection to make sure your intellectual property is protected. Robust non-disclosure agreements and employment contracts can protect your startup idea and build it into a great business confidently.
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA), also known as a confidentiality agreement, is a contract between a party disclosing confidential information and the party receiving that information. The receiving party, who is also known as the recipient, agrees to protect the other party’s confidential information by keeping it secure, not using it for unauthorised purposes, and not disclosing it to third parties. NDAs are crucial whenever sensitive information is being shared, especially in an accelerator programme where other members might overhear information or see sensitive data. Members of an accelerator programme often enter into an NDA to ensure that they do not use other members' confidential information for their own purposes and that their own confidential information is protected.
An employment contract allows an employer to hire an employee for a specific role in exchange for a salary. The employment contract should have a number of restrictions to prevent the employee from working for a competitor or for intellectual property developed during the course of employment from being used by the employee outside of work.
Having the right non-disclosure and employment agreements in place will allow you to thrive in a coworking space. To create a customisable lawyer approved contract for only £9.95, sign up to Legislate. Legislate offers all the essential legal documents on no legal budget so that you can focus on your business and have peace of mind that your legals are in order.