Book a tour
Select your location
Get a free coworking day when you book a tour
Brighton
Brighton
Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GL
Book a tour
Slough
2 Brunel Place, Slough SL1 1FQ
Book a tour

CRL Accelerator

January - May 2024
London
Hammersmith
London
London
London
London
London

The CRL Accelerator offers an unrivalled package of support to hardware startups. Over the course of 4.5 months, the intensive and hands-on innovation programme focuses on product and business development. Support includes access to industry-leading mentors and an experienced product development team, alongside introductions to suppliers and manufacturers.

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This programme is no longer accepting applications.

A hardware founder working with the product development team on creating a prototype during the CRL Accelerator

About

The internationally-recognised CRL Accelerator provides world-class product development support and access to prototyping facilities to innovators building hardware products.  

Over the course of the programme, a cohort of makers prototype, test, and validate their revolutionary technology with the support of experts from Plus X Innovation and the wider industry.

Product-led startups will benefit from:  

  • A fully funded programme of tailored support
  • World-class mentorship from business experts and entrepreneurs
  • Practical product development support from the specialist Plus X Innovation team
  • Introductions to suppliers and manufacturers in the UK and China
  • Access to specialist product development facilities at a Plus X Innovation Hub
People learning on the CRL Accelerator
Members of a CRL Accelerator cohort visiting a factory

Eligibility

To be eligible for selection you must have:  

  • A business registered or operating in London, UK
  • A prototype (it does not have to be pretty or very advanced!)
  • Technical knowledge relevant to your hardware development
  • The desire to build a scalable product-based business
  • A product or business model displaying genuine innovation
  • The ability to attend the programme in person in London for two days a week (Mondays and Tuesdays) during the course of the programme
  • Desirable but not essential: Two or more team members

Really enjoyed the sessions. They were very interactive and so beneficial with regards to key aspects of the business and product development. I loved the interactivity, and also the balance between the activities and learning more about the CRL was extremely beneficial and really got me thinking about aspects of our product and business.
Ashley Johnson
Founder
Applied Atomics

temp tag

The people I have met here make it a dream coming in a few times a week! I don't see myself being able to go back to working from home the same way I did before coming to Plus X Innovation, I don't think I could leave the sense of community behind. It really is something everyone who is working from home should try!

Benjamin Plumpton
Freelancer
Unlimited Member
temp tag

Central Research Laboratory has contributed to our journey in many ways: access to a network, manufacturing, procurement services, and workshop facilities. CRL enables us to feel like a slightly bigger company than we would otherwise be if left to our own devices. Being here at CRL as a cohort member, makes it feel a lot more real and plugged in into the ecosystem.

Florian Richter
Accelerator alumni
Studio office member
temp tag

Besides the workshop facilities, the best thing about working in the Brighton hub has got to be being able to collaborate with people in the same building as you. The variety of expertise and experience in the building is awesome.

Dave Lock
Technical Director
Resident desk member
temp tag

We could not be in a better place to grow as a company. We get amazing support from the Plus X Innovation staff, plus collaboration opportunities with the other inspiring residents and companies. We feel like we’re living in the future of workplaces in the present and that is pretty damn cool.

Marc Convey
Founder
Studio office member
temp tag

Through my time at Plus X Innovation my business has turned from a student project into a registered R&D company. My favourite thing about being at Plus X Brighton is having a mini family in the office and a beautiful space to be the best you and make the best connections.

Lucy Hughes
Accelerator alumni
Resident desk member

No items found.
No items found.

Programme features

Intensive product development support
Work in collaboration with a dedicated and experienced industrial design team
Mentorship from inspiring experts
One-to-one tailored business support with industry-leading mentor
Business and product-focused workshops
A series of group workshops on bringing your hardware product to market

Programme details

Applications for this programme are now closed.

Up to 20 companies will be selected to attend a Bootcamp in London on 28th-29th November. This two-day bootcamp will include insights into the full CRL Accelerator, as well as thought-provoking workshops that test assumptions about your business and learn how to pitch their idea.

Of the companies attending the bootcamp, six of the most innovative companies will be selected to participate in the full CRL Accelerator programme. The final cohort will be selected in December.

The 11th cohort of the CRL Accelerator will run from Jan 15th-10th May (16 weeks). This programme will run in London two days a week (Mondays and Tuesdays). Our product development specialists and mentors will also be on hand throughout the week to support you.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Programme Manager, Ben Harrison.

Funding details

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.

People working in a sunny coworking space at Plus X Innovation Brighton