This scheme is now ended
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Creo is the UK’s first springboard programme for disabled founders and entrepreneurs innovating around disability.
Creo, forged in partnership with Motability Operations, exists to amplify and connect disabled and neurodiverse Founders, and entrepreneurs innovating around disability, and to provide them with the knowledge, connections and tools to scale their startups.
Creo is a first-of-its-kind springboard programme for founders, based on openness and intimacy. It is where honest conversations happen about what it means to be a disabled or neurodiverse founder, or a founder innovating around disability, and what it takes to succeed. It consists of industry expert-led workshops and content, peer-to-peer support, and coaching sessions. The programme will run September through to December 2024.
Benefits of the Creo Programme
Exchange: Join a lifelong community of Creo and Tech Nation alumni for skill-sharing, nuanced discussion, and support.
Build: Develop mutually beneficial relationships with larger corporates and the disability, neurodiversity and tech founder ecosystem.
Grow: Be supported to understand, demystify and access venture capital and angel investors.
Upskill: Gain access to vital knowledge and skills that will help you take your company to the next level.
Learn: Hear from industry experts and Tech Nation alumni who have lived experience of foundership.
Connect: Build deep and valuable connections and leverage peer-to-peer support within your cohort.
Who can apply
The Creo Programme is for pre-seed to pre-series A tech startups based in the UK. The company must have at least one founder who self-identifies as disabled or neurodiverse, or the company must be innovating around disability or neurodiversity.
Creo companies will have:
- At least one founder that self-identifies as disabled or neurodiverse – this member must have a majority/equal equity stake in the business
- OR the company must be innovating around disability or neurodiversity
- HQ in the UK
- A product or service, ideally within the tech sector but not essential
- Seed to pre-Series A funding stage. If bootstrapped, your annual revenue is below £1.5m
- A commitment to community – be able to demonstrate a willingness to support your founder community
- Proof of impact – the company must be working on a venture that has a positive socio, economic or environmental impact or if innovating around disability or neurodiversity this should be to improve life, community, equity, or inclusion of disabled and neurodiverse people
Programme Timelines
Applications open: 15 July
Programme FAQs webinar: 1 August
Applications close: 19 August
Startup interviews: 2-6 September
Programme starts: 17 September
Programme ends: w/c 9 December