American advertising agency, R/GA, is looking for start-ups to join its 12-week Internet of Things (IoT) Venture Studio UK accelerator program.
The Ventures initiative recently held its first UK event in London, England, in association with InnovateUK – the UK government’s innovation agency. The program is designed to help early-stage and growth-stage companies to ‘level up’ as businesses and brands on a global scale, according to the company website.
Good news for start-ups
Essentially, it is an accelerator program like Startupbootcamp or Oxygen Accelerator. How does it work: R/GA said it is looking to invest £75,000 each in 10 start-ups, which it will support through a 12 week program.
During those 12 weeks, R/GA will apparently assist start-ups by giving them access to its creative services and client network. The program is said to be stage-agnostic, but R/GA noted that it works best for early growth-stage start-ups.
Related: How do IoT up-starts survive and thrive?
At its most recent event, R/GA invited a number of different early growth-stage companies to showcase their technologies and network with like-minded individuals. The aim: “to celebrate seven of the best Internet of Things start-ups we’ve met over the past few months,” R/GA’s managing director, Matt Webb, said in an email.
Webb and R/GA have helped to develop start-ups including Chargrifi – “an alum of the Connected Devices program in NYC” two years ago, and known for its wireless charging technology – and Sensible Object – which makes games that connect objects, hardware and personal devices.
How to get involved
Now, R/GA is looking for the next start-up that needs a helping hand getting started. The theme is IoT and connected hardware and the program runs from February 2017.
If you’re interested, contact Matt Webb on [email protected] or see the company website. The deadline for applicants ends Monday 14 November.
Related: EU announces a VC fund of $442 million for tech SMEs