The Entrepreneurship Institute (EI) at King's Business School is featured in the Financial Times' Leading Start-up Hubs report, rising to 3rd university hub in the UK, marking year-on-year progress.
The recognition highlights the impact of the King's Start-up Accelerator, a dedicated programme of support which helps ventures, founded by King's student and alumni, to scale. Since launching in 2016, the accelerator has supported over 175+ ventures and over 300+ founders. Collectively, they have generated:
- £150.8m in revenue
- £121.8m in investment
- £11.6m in grants
and created 1,493 jobs in the UK economy and economies around the world.
Across the King's community, founders are developing solutions to some of the world's biggest problems, from cancer diagnostics and data-driven fertility treatment, to adaptive learning and accessible finance. King's ventures are disrupting the status quo to create a positive impact for people and planet.
The EI was first listed in the Start-up Hubs report last year. This year's ranking places the EI 9th in London (up from 11th last year). The report covers 180 hubs in 25 countries across Europe. Feedback from each start-up hub's alumni makes up most of the ranking, alongside views from investors, entrepreneurs and academics. Alumni assess their experience across six areas: mentoring and training, infrastructure, funding, networking, business development, legal assistance, and post-programme support.
The Financial Times ranking builds on the EI's global profile in venture creation, which was recognised at last year's Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) conference. The award for Outstanding Contributions to Venture Creation, recognised the breadth of support and enrichment provided to all students, staff and alumni at King's who are starting and scaling ideas and ventures.
We are delighted with this outcome, especially as it's based on feedback from people that we support across the King's community. As we move toward our 10th annual cohort of entrepreneurs on the King's Start-up Accelerator, we are excited to see what they and we can achieve next.
Julie Devonshire OBE, Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute
It's the best accelerator I've done. It's long, deliberate and thoughtful - absolutely ideal considering your company will move at too fast a pace for you to be able to reflect as much as you need to. I've felt incredibly well supported. Whether it's been pivots or developments, the suggestions from the entire EI team have been integral to shaping the company.
Salpie Nowinski, co-founder of Hijack Bio and King's alumna (Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine)
King's Start-up Accelerator is a founder first programme that combines strategic insight, practical guidance and a genuinely supportive community. It's not just about learning the concept of entrepreneurship - it's about tackling the real, messy, day-to-day challenges of building something impactful. Whether you're validating an idea, building traction or preparing for investment, the programme meets you where you are and helps you take the next step with clarity and confidence.
Mmekidmfon Umanah, Founder of Aimcare and King's alumnus (King's Business School)
The EI also runs the King's Spinout Accelerator, a 12-month programme dedicated to supporting the translation of inventions, born from ground-breaking research across King's.
The accelerators are just one of the ways the EI supports students, staff and alumni to develop their entrepreneurial skills and ideas, both during their time at King's, and for success beyond university. Visit our website to find out more.
