ARC Accelerate

ARC Accelerate is a 6-month accelerator programme with time buyout that enables SHAPE (Social sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and the Economy) researchers to fully validate and develop their venture idea. 
It offers a unique package of financial support, expert-led training and dedicated mentors to help participants build ventures from their research and deliver impact at scale.

Find out more
Accelerate_Stacked_Colour-1024x474

Overview

  • Learning Outcomes

    Fully validate your venture idea, gain the skills to turn ideas into real-world ventures, develop a comprehensive business model for your venture, be ready to pitch for funding or investment

  • Duration

    6-month programme with time commitment of min. 3 days/week (exceptions possible), training sessions are virtual but there are in-person events

  • Eligibility

    Applicants must have a PhD or similar research or innovation experience and be based at an eligible UK research organisation

Programme details

ARC Accelerate is the third stage of the ARC Pathway and its most intense one. It is a 6-month programme designed to help researchers transform their innovative and ambitious social science, arts and humanities-based ideas into scalable ventures.

Successful applicants will receive up to £62,500, with circa 80% fEC provided by ESRC, in line with its standard funding rules, to fund commercialisation activities and bring new products, processes, services and experiences to market.

ARC Accelerate requires applicants commit to a minimum of 3 days per week for the duration of the 6-month programme and includes time buyout (- how much of the budget you use for time buyout is up to you). Most of this time will be spent validating the venture idea with customers, stakeholders and partners, together with around 40h of training sessions and homework as well as additional check-ins and 1:1 support.

The programme includes a virtual training bootcamp led by industry experts to develop key entrepreneurial skills. It also offers specialised, sector-specific training and access to experienced entrepreneurs, investors and networks. Dedicated mentors will help participants validate their venture idea, develop their business model and pitch for further funding or investment.

Pathway_Descending_Straight-arrow-512x1024

Application process

Expression of Interest (EoI) stage

  • 1-page application form focusing on venture idea and research background
  • Letter of support from Technology Transfer Office (an optional template can be found here)

Full application stage

  • 3-page application form (view a preview of the form here)
  • Letters of support from line manager and Head of Department (a template for the HoD letter of support can be found here)

Interview stage

  • Interviews consists of a 5min pitch using the pitch template* and a 15min Q&A (if you cannot open the file on slide 7 of the template, please try this link)

*The same template is used in the last ARC Launch session, where participants present their ideas and receive detailed feedback.

We cover the application process, including application questions and pitch template themes, in our application webinars. Sign up directly on Eventbrite or watch a recording in the News & Events section.

Timeline for cohort 1

Cohort 1 will start in March 2024. Applicants will be informed of outcomes in November 2023.

Upcoming cohorts

We will shortly announce the dates for the next cohort. Between 2023-2026, we have a total of 75 awards available and will run at least one ARC Accelerate cohort per year.

ARC_All_Together_image_02-768x972

Expression of Interest stage

Application form 

The form is designed to help us understand your venture idea, assess its impact potential and assess your commitment to commercialisation (PDF preview).

We will ask you the following questions:

  • What is your idea? (max. 75 words)
  • What is the problem you are trying to solve and for whom? (max. 75 words)
  • Why is your product, process, service or experience the best solution to the problem you have identified? (max. 75 words) For example, how does it differ from existing solutions?
  • Describe the research that you aim to make the basis of your venture. Please keep your answer concise and do not include references. (max. 200 words)

Please be assured we are not expecting these answers to be final or very detailed as the programme is designed to help you refine your ideas. In fact, it is likely that your idea and your plan on how to progress the idea will change during the programme.

TTO letter of support 

Applicants need to submit a letter of support from their organisation’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or from their organisation’s TTO equivalent, e.g., their Innovation, Knowledge Exchange or Enterprise Office. An optional TTO letter of support template can be found here.

Letters of support must be signed and dated within six months of the application submission date and be a maximum of 1 side of A4 per document. General letters of support should not be included with the application.

TTO letters of support need to be submitted via email to applications@arcaccelerator.io before the Expression of Interest stage closes (now closed). The email subject should include the applicant’s name.

 

 

 

 

What_we_do_image_01-768x1045

Full application stage

Application form 

The full application form covers similar information to the EoI form as well as questions about your project’s maturity, the intellectual property (IP), your project team and programme expectations. The exact application questions and additional guidance can be found in the form preview.

We also ask for a rough budget outline to understand your planned activities and time commitment. The proposed budget can still change and we will inform you if any of your proposed costs are ineligible. Detailed costings will only be required after applicants have been accepted onto the ARC Accelerate programme (in November 2023). More information can be found in the ESRC research funding guide.

Head of Department/line manager letters of support 

Applicants need to submit a letter of support from their line manager and their Head of Department. If an applicant’s line manager is also the Head of Department, they will only need to submit one letter of support from the Head of Department (template for HoD support letter).

Letters of support must be signed and dated within six months of the application submission date and be a maximum of 1 side of A4 per document. General letters of support should not be included with the application.

Letters of support need to be submitted via email to applications@arcaccelerator.io before the full application stage closes. The email subject should include the applicant’s name.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the value of the Award? Successful applicants will receive up to £62,500, with circa 80% fEC provided by ESRC, in line with its standard funding rules, to fund commercialisation activities. 
  • What is the Award duration? Up to 12 months (this must include participation in the ARC Accelerate training programme). The ARC Accelerate training will start in March and run for 6 months – it is your decision if you want to compress the Award into those 6 months. The 12-month Award duration does not change the required time commitment of 3 days per week during the 6-month ARC Accelerate programme.
  • Can the time commitment be shared as a team? Yes, the required time commitment can be shared as a team. Please provide a justification and/or outline your reasoning for the split as part of your application.
ARC_session_image_01-768x850

Interview stage

A shortlist of those who have submitted full applications will be invited to interview after the full application stage closes. Interviews will take place on Zoom and consist of a 5min pitch using the 3-slide ARC pitch template as well as a 15min Q&A. If you cannot open the link on slide 7 of the template, please try this link.

The pitch only constitutes a small part of the application process and is intended to serve as an informed discussion around your project. We want to learn more about the problem you are solving, your solution as well as any market validation you have conducted so far. We don’t expect a “formal pitch” as we cover in-depth pitch training during the ARC Accelerate programme.

Once you are shortlisted, we will invite you to interview and assign you a 20min time slot. You can let us know if there are any extenuating circumstances that mean you need to change the chosen time slot or find an alternative date.

 

 

 

Eligibility and suitability

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must have a PhD or similar research or innovation experience and be based at an eligible UK research organisation. For further information, please visit the ESRC’s research funding guide and check if you are eligible for research and innovation funding.

What are we looking for?

  • Ambitious research ideas from arts, humanities and social science disciplines that can be transformed into ventures to deliver impact at scale
  • Individuals or teams that want to develop their research insights into scalable products, processes, services or experience innovations
  • Please note: this is not a research call, funding must be used for commercialisation activities, not further research

Workshops and Webinars

Join our newsletter

Get the latest news and updates from the ARC Accelerator straight to your inbox!

Sign up to the ARC Newsletter

News and Events