Grindstone, a renowned accelerator known for engineering high growth entrepreneurship globally, is excited to introduce its upcoming UK and Channel Islands Programme scale-ups, in collaboration with Digital Jersey, KISCH IP, the Polygon Collective, ReVive Impact Partners, Knife Capital and Thinkroom Limited. A carefully curated cohort of ten innovative scale-ups from the UK, Channel Islands and South Africa have been selected to join the accelerator, handpicked for their ground-breaking ideas and potential for exponential growth.
Empowering growth on a global scale
The chosen scale-ups will leverage Grindstone’s acclaimed growth engineering programme while gaining access to vibrant tech ecosystems and thriving innovation hubs in the UK, Channel Islands, and South Africa. By bridging these geographies, Grindstone is taking a significant step towards fostering a unified global entrepreneurial ecosystem and building intentional access to market and funding bridges.
Powered by collaboration
Grindstone is proud to collaborate with world-renowned partners and sponsors, including local partner, Digital Jersey, and local sponsor, ReVive Impact Partners. KISCH IP, the Polygon Collective, Knife Capital and Thinkroom Limited have also joined as sponsors. Together with its partners and sponsors, Grindstone aims to create an electrifying environment that fosters collaboration, experimentation, and disruptive thinking, enabling the scale-ups to refine their business models and accelerate their success.
Driven by innovation
The 10 scale-ups from the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, and South Africa operate in the fields of Fintech, Healthtech, Edtech, IT and Advertising services. With proven post revenue traction, they include Digi-Fu, Play Sense, Defence Logic, DFX Jersey, Hailr, CoSteer, Enlabeler, Multilink Financial Services, Veriport and Zak Health.
“Diverse in their pursuits yet united in their commitment to innovation, these scale-ups, led by remarkable entrepreneurs in the Channel Islands, United Kingdom, and South Africa, are poised to revolutionise their respective fields. Our approach for this cohort is to truly expand our global reach and build global market access and
funding bridges for the scale-ups across these geographies,” said Catherine Young, Managing Partner at Grindstone.
The Grindstone advantage
Grindstone, founded in 2013 and co-owned by Knife Capital and Thinkroom Limited, is renowned for assisting high-growth, innovation-driven companies in scaling their businesses. With successful acceleration programs conducted in over nine countries, Grindstone has enabled countless startups and scale-ups in becoming growth-focused, investible, and exit-ready. Alumni of Grindstone cohorts have experienced a remarkable 52% rise in revenue on average and a 30% increase in business efficiency across all functional areas. Many Grindstone alumni have raised significant follow-on capital (over 50%), and several have successfully exited locally and internationally.
Programme details
The UK and Channel Islands Programme will run from August to December 2023, with a residency week in December. The scale-ups will benefit from in-depth workshops, virtual mentoring and coaching sessions throughout the programme, with a particular focus on accessing funding and customers.
Phillip Faure, Programme Director, added: “I view this programme as a vital catalyst for growth. It’s not just about economic prosperity; it’s about encouraging positive societal change. We’re dedicated to accelerating the progress of businesses shaping our future, bolstering their survival rates, and drawing in crucial funding.”
Seize the opportunity
Grindstone UK & Channel Islands is offering the disruptors, mavericks, trailblazers, and visionaries the chance to seize this game-changing opportunity to join the UK and Channel Islands Programme as a partner or sponsor.
Companies joining as sponsors have the privilege of positioning themselves at the forefront of global tech innovation, becoming vital contributors to the sustainable economic growth of digital industries worldwide. They also have the chance to collaborate with fellow innovators and tech leaders and engage with groundbreaking innovative companies. Any partners and funds wanting to get involved should contact Grindstone at [email protected]
