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Entrepreneurs in Wales have only a few days remaining to submit applications for the Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator, with the deadline set for Monday, 15 September 2025.
The completely funded, 10-week online initiative will take place from 30 September to 12 December 2025 and is tailored specifically for founders with high-growth business concepts. The accelerator aims to assist early-stage entrepreneurs in acquiring their initial customers, validating assumptions, and establishing a groundwork for future investment.
Participants engage in a structured methodology to refine their business concepts, develop sustainable frameworks, and generate income. Weekly webinars, masterclasses, and personalized mentoring are paired with networking opportunities to connect founders across Wales.
The initiative additionally addresses leveraging AI for creativity and market analysis, providing practical resources to shorten time to market and enhance productivity, alongside PR and marketing avenues to elevate visibility.
Qualified applicants must reside in Wales and present a pre-revenue business concept that has the potential to:
• Achieve £1 million in annual revenue by 2029
• Generate 10 or more full-time employment positions by 2029
• Engage in international export
Lucy McCarthy-Christofides, founder of the ADHD supplement brand Môr and a previous participant, remarked that the accelerator was crucial in advancing her idea:
“The Start-Up Accelerator provided me the framework and assurance to transition from concept to execution. It transformed Môr from a solo venture into a concentrated, investable business and reminded me that I didn’t have to do it all independently. If you possess a solid idea and the determination to validate it with actual customers, I’d urge you to submit your application before 15 September.”
Programme Director Fiona McLaren underscored the urgency of the approaching deadline: “This is the last call for applications before 15 September. We seek robust business concepts from founders who have pinpointed a customer issue and early indicators of demand. Over ten weeks, we emphasize implementation — testing assumptions, fine-tuning pricing, and utilizing AI to streamline research and administrative tasks. The programme is entirely funded, meaning there is no fee to participate.”
The accelerator also offers barrier funding and modifications to assist entrepreneurs with access needs or caregiving roles, ensuring participation is as inclusive as possible.
Richard Selby, Chair of the Institute of Directors Wales and a judge for the Accelerator awards, stated: “Innovative ideas evolve faster with structure, challenges, and the right connections. The Start-Up Accelerator amalgamates these elements in a practical manner that enables founders to achieve measurable advancements and bolsters the wider Welsh economy.”
How to apply
Applications must be submitted by 15 September 2025. Entrepreneurs can apply online
With no participation fee, individual support, and weekly objectives, the accelerator provides aspiring founders a distinctive chance to transform their ideas into investable businesses while contributing to Wales’s expanding entrepreneurial environment.
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