The ScaleUp Accelerator

What The ScaleUp Accelerator does

The ScaleUp Accelerator is a UK-based virtual accelerator programme founded in 2020 as part of The Accelerator Network, headquartered in London. It serves UK B2B SaaS tech companies approaching or past £1m net revenue that are targeting £1m–£5m Series A rounds within 12 months, supporting them through 6 weeks of half-day intensive online sprints covering Vision, Strategy, Funding Growth, Go To Market, Finance, and Investor Readiness, followed by up to 12 months of 1:1 deal support to a curated virtual investor event and through term sheet negotiation and due diligence to close. The programme is delivered via live interactive online sessions on standard video conferencing — there is no proprietary software product; the curated methodology ('Raise VC', co-developed with PwC in 2018) and the network of 800+ institutional investors (~130 close relationships) are the substantive assets. The sole revenue stream is a 5% contingent success fee on Series A funding completed within 12 months of the investor event, with no upfront fees and no equity taken; the 4-person core team (Ian Merricks, Duncan Knight, Piers Linney, Luigi Meschini) is supplemented by White Horse Capital as embedded VC advisory partner. The programme has supported 30+ scaleups to raise Series A, with 75%+ of cohort companies receiving investment and alumni rounds reported in the £1m–£4.6m range across VCs including Fuel Ventures, Nauta Capital, Mercia, Calculus Capital, Guinness Asset Management, Earthworm Capital, Blackfinch, Amadeus Capital Partners, and Finch Capital. The business has recently repositioned to a 'ScaleUp Community of founders' under a new VenturePath direction, with the operating model now emphasizing community rather than cohort delivery.

Name

The ScaleUp Accelerator

Legal name

The ScaleUp Accelerator

Website

https://thescaleupaccelerator.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The ScaleUp Accelerator is a UK-based virtual accelerator programme that prepares scaling B2B SaaS tech companies for £1m–£5m Series A funding through a 6-week sprint curriculum plus 12 months of 1:1 deal support, earning a 5% contingent success fee on closed rounds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator and Series A Fundraising Advisory Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Series A readiness
• Scaleup accelerator programs
• Venture capital advisory
• Investor readiness training
• Fundraising advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Contingent Success Fee: No upfront fees and no equity commitment. The programme earns a 5% contingent success fee only upon successful completion of the Series A funding round within 12 months of the investor event. This makes the revenue model entirely performance-based and aligns the programme's incentives with the client's funding outcome.
2. Fundraising Advisory Services: 1:1 support through investor outreach, qualification, term sheet negotiation, and due diligence preparation from White Horse Capital embedded team. Provided as part of the programme's 12-month support period.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The ScaleUp Accelerator delivers a virtual cohort-based accelerator programme that prepares UK B2B SaaS tech scaleups (approaching or past £1m ARR) to raise a £1–5m Series A round. The programme combines 6 weeks of intensive half-day training sprints with up to 12 months of 1:1 deal support, including document review, pitch practice, curated virtual investor events, ongoing investor outreach, term sheet negotiation, and due diligence guidance through to close. Revenue is earned solely through a 5% contingent success fee on completed Series A funding—no upfront fees and no equity taken.

Product overview

The ScaleUp Accelerator is a virtual programme for UK scaling tech companies (particularly B2B SaaS) preparing for Series A funding. The programme combines 6 weeks of intensive half-day training sprints covering Vision, Strategy, Funding Growth, Go To Market, Finance, and Investor Readiness, with up to 12 months of ongoing 1:1 support until the deal is done. Key components include weekly 'VC Voices' sessions with UK leading VCs, document review and feedback (business plan, financial model, pitch deck), pitch practice coaching, virtual investor events with curated investors, and ongoing investor introductions and deal negotiation support. The programme operates on a contingency fee model (5% success fee on completed Series A funding).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Raise VC: Investor readiness programme developed by Ian Merricks with PwC in 2018

Products and services

• The ScaleUp Accelerator Programme A virtual cohort-based accelerator programme for UK scaling tech companies (often B2B SaaS) approaching or past £1m ARR that are preparing to raise a £1–5m Series A round. The programme combines 6 weeks of half-day intensive training sprints (covering Vision, Strategy, Funding Growth, Go To Market, Finance, and Investor Readiness) with up to 12 months of 1:1 deal support, including document review, pitch practice, weekly VC Voices sessions, curated virtual investor events, proactive investor outreach, qualification, term sheet negotiation, and due diligence guidance through to deal close.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75%+ of programme companies receive investment
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Accelerator NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent network organisation with nearly a decade of experience accelerating tech startups and scaleups across 50+ accelerator programmes. The ScaleUp Accelerator is part of The Accelerator Network ecosystem. The network has supported 1,000+ startups and scaleups and is the platform through which The ScaleUp Accelerator recruits cohort members.
• White Horse CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmbedded VC advisory partner embedded in The ScaleUp Accelerator. White Horse Capital is embedded in the programme, providing investment readiness content, deal support, investor introductions, and ongoing fundraising advisory through to deal close. Has advised on £350m+ of fundraises. Led by Keith Marriott (Founding Partner) and Ian Merricks (Partner).
• BVCAminorOthersBritish Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Listed as a partner of The ScaleUp Accelerator, representing the UK private equity and venture capital industry.
• Capital EnterpriseminorOthersLondon-based body for technology incubators, accelerators, and early-stage investors. Listed as a partner of The ScaleUp Accelerator.
• ScaleUp InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK organisation focused on supporting scaleup businesses. Partner and ecosystem member. CEO Irene Graham OBE is an expert contributor to the programme.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: One of the largest global accelerator operators, running cohort-based programmes with mentor networks and investor introductions. Directly comparable as a multi-stage accelerator for tech startups and scaleups, though at materially larger scale and with equity-based economics.
• Wayra (Telefónica): Corporate-backed global accelerator network with cohort programmes, corporate venture integration, and investor introductions. Comparable as a structured cohort accelerator with corporate VC ties, though primarily focused on Telefónica-relevant verticals.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator network with multiple vertical programmes, mentor networks, and corporate partnerships. Comparable cohort model and Series A-readiness focus, though generally operates at seed stage with equity-based economics.
• Barclays Eagle Labs: UK-wide network of incubators/accelerators supporting scaling tech companies with mentoring, investor connections, and growth programmes. Comparable as a UK-focused scaleup support programme competing for the same B2B SaaS founder cohort at the Series A readiness stage.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator and founder development programme with mentor networks and investor connections. Comparable as a cohort-based virtual accelerator targeting early-stage tech founders, with a strong UK chapter presence.

Emerging players

• Entrepreneur First: London-headquartered 'talent-first' accelerator that builds companies from inception and invests in founders pre-idea. Comparable as a UK cohort-based accelerator competing for the same B2B/tech founder demographic, though operating earlier in the company lifecycle.
• Fuel Ventures: UK-based early-stage VC that has backed multiple ScaleUp Accelerator alumni (ContentCal, Edozo). Comparable as a UK tech investor operating at pre-seed/seed/Series A and interacting with the same founder ecosystem; also functions as a downstream capital partner.

Direct peers

• Sprint Ventures: UK-based growth and Series A advisory firm that helps founders prepare investment materials and connect with VCs. Closely comparable in mission (preparing UK scaleups for Series A), with overlapping investor network and similar advisory positioning.
• Seedcamp: London-based seed-stage accelerator and VC fund backing European founders from day one. Comparable as a UK-headquartered accelerator with mentor networks, demo days, and investor syndication for early/growth-stage B2B SaaS founders.
• Antler: Global early-stage accelerator that runs cohort programmes, provides founder mentoring, and invests directly into participating companies. Closely comparable in cohort-based delivery and B2B SaaS focus, with a strong UK/European presence that competes for the same founder pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeZ4D-c3btztGdP5JNFKJ2w

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The ScaleUp Accelerator