Surrey Venture Studio

A new initiative focused on the pre-incubation phase, supporting academics, students, and entrepreneurs in Surrey to shape business models and assess market potential.

We expect to announce more information about the second Surrey Venture Studio cohort in the spring. Subscribe to our socials to stay informed about future opportunities to participate in the Surrey Venture Studio.

To help participants progress toward founding a scalable business in Surrey. Outcomes vary by project stage but include market validation, business model development and
preparation for launch.

Innovators, academics, students and entrepreneurs based in Surrey with ideas that have strong commercial potential.  

Applications for the first cohort have now closed.

Seven questions covering your idea, R&D plans, business aspirations, time availability, learning ambitions, expected outcomes, and your definition of success.

No. You can apply with an idea, prototype or early-stage research that could become a marketable product or service. 

Organisers will signpost you to other suitable support programmes.

The workshops will be held at the campus of the host university and Surrey County Council’s HQ in Reigate. University for Creative Arts will host at their Epsom site.  

Participants will pitch their ideas to a panel. Successful applicants will join the six-month accelerator programme.  

No, there is not an option to attend online. If you have any accessibility issues that prevent you from attending in person, please contact the Surrey Venture Studio project team to ensure your needs are met.  

Spaces are limited and offered to those whose ideas show strong potential for innovation and commercialisation. 

Two-day ideation workshop in February, followed by a six-month accelerator for selected projects.

▪ University of Surrey Ideation Workshop – February 5 and 9, 2026

▪ Royal Holloway, University of London Ideation Workshop – February 12 and 16, 2026

▪ University for Creative Arts Ideation Workshop – February 19 and 23, 2026

▪ Open Call Ideation Workshop at Surrey County Council – February 26 and March 2, 2026

No, you do not need one to apply. But you’ll be willing to open one before any grant funding can be paid. 

No, all applications received before the closing date will be judged equally. 

You must commit to the two-day workshop and, if successful, the full six-month accelerator programme at around 2 to four days per month.  

Yes, you can join the second cohort starting around May.

£25,000 per project, 16 grants total (8 per cohort).

Activities including market testing, professional services (legal, IP advice), software tools, travel for customer engagement, consultants or interns

Activities including salaries, bonuses, pure R&D, office space, entertainment, gifts, or political activity.

Ideally not, but may be reviewed internally if it’s a barrier for academics.

The programme already provides one-to-one mentoring and coaching-style support, so additional coaching is generally unnecessary

Yes. Participants sign an offer letter covering confidentiality. Group work will avoid disclosure of sensitive details. One-to-one sessions are fully confidential.

You are not required to disclose technical details. Focus is on market need and commercial opportunity. IP strategy support is provided during the accelerator.

Options include Set Squared Surrey (Guildford), UCA campuses (Farnham and Epsom), and business hubs in libraries via Surrey County Council.

Access to Surrey’s innovation ecosystem, including Set Squared, V-Hive, UCA Games Incubator, Royal Holloway incubators, and the S100 Angel Investment Club.

No. The programme is technology agnostic to encourage diverse ideas. Main requirement is scalability and growth potential.

If you’re at the stage of developing an investment pitch deck, the programme may be too early for you. However, apply if unsure – organizers can signpost you to other support.