LONDON/DUBLIN – As the UK and Ireland continue to compete for global startup leadership, incubators and accelerators have become the backbone of early-stage innovation across the region. The ecosystem has rapidly matured: London remains a powerhouse for fintech and AI, while Dublin expands its influence as an EU-connected gateway for digital and deep-tech ventures. With hundreds of programmes operating across both countries, choosing the right one can be a defining decision for founders. This newsroom report identifies the most active, high impact incubators and accelerators shaping the 2025 landscape along with case studies and insights that reveal how these hubs are supporting the next wave of high-growth startups.
A Rapidly Evolving Acceleration Landscape
In the past decade, the UK and Ireland have seen a surge in startup support programmes. But as more accelerators enter the market and some quietly shut down, founders increasingly require clear, reliable guidance.
Industry analysts note three key 2025 trends:
- Stronger specialisation, with programmes focused on synthetic biology, marine tech, AI, and Web3.
- Growth in university-linked incubators, where research infrastructure is a competitive advantage.
- A push for standardised metrics, as investors demand transparency on programme outcomes.
With this shift, “activity” now means more than cohort numbers that includes investment raised, alumni traction, commercialisation success, and the ability to scale deep-tech ventures.
The Most Active Incubators & Accelerators of 2025
1. SETsquared – The UK’s Deep-Tech Powerhouse
Location: Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton, Surrey & Cardiff
Type: University-backed incubator
Best For: Deep-tech, engineering, med-tech, research driven startups
Often recognised as one of the world’s leading university-run incubators, SETsquared remains a dominant force in the UK innovation ecosystem. Blending academic expertise with commercial mentorship, it supports founders turning research breakthroughs into market-ready companies.
Case Study: Turning Scientific Research into Scalable Startups
A Bristol spin out working on advanced photonics used SETsquared’s research commercialisation support to secure early grants and pilot partners, a journey that later helped it raise multi-million-pound seed investment. It’s a prime example of how university ecosystems can turn high risk science into scalable businesses.
2. Founders Factory – London’s Build-and-Accelerate Engine
Location: London
Type: Venture studio + accelerator
Best For: AI, fintech, health-tech, enterprise software
Founders Factory remains one of the UK’s most active operational accelerators, known for hands-on support from product, growth, and engineering teams. In 2025, it expanded into AI and Web3, launching new accelerator programmes backed by global tech investors.
Case Study: From Idea to International Acquisition
Food-tech startup Feedr began its journey inside Founders Factory, refining its marketplace model with the studio’s product and growth team. It later grew into a leading corporate food platform and was acquired validating the value of a hands-on venture-studio model.
3. Dogpatch Labs & NDRC – Ireland’s Startup Epicentre
Location: Dublin, with national reach
Type: National accelerator (NDRC) + innovation hub
Best For: Digital startups, globally ambitious tech companies
Dogpatch Labs continues to anchor Dublin’s thriving startup scene while operating Ireland’s national accelerator programme, NDRC. Its model blends funding, training, and a strong founder community attracting talent from across Europe.
Case Study: Nurturing Ireland’s Global Success Stories
Intercom, one of Ireland’s first unicorns, had early roots in Dogpatch Labs. While it predates the modern NDRC model, it remains a case study in how Dublin’s tech ecosystem supports globally oriented ventures.
4. Seedcamp – Europe’s Original Super Seed Fund
Location: London (pan-Europe)
Type: Seed fund + accelerator-style support
Best For: SaaS, fintech, B2B, developer tools
Often called “the first cheque in Europe”, Seedcamp continues to be one of the most active early-stage investors operating with accelerator-like intensity. Founders gain access not only to capital but also a deep network of operators, mentors, and global VCs.
5. Entrepreneurs First – Building Companies From Talent, Not Ideas
Location: London
Type: Pre-team, pre-idea talent accelerator
Best For: Technical founders building deep-tech & AI
Entrepreneurs First (EF) remains uniquely focused on individuals rather than existing startups. It brings together talented engineers, researchers, and operators to form new companies from scratch, a model that has produced several high-profile exits and unicorns.
6. Bethnal Green Ventures – The Home of Tech-for-Good
Location: London
Type: Impact-focused accelerator
Best For: Health, social impact, climate solutions
BGV specialises in startups with a measurable social mission. It continues to attract founders building health-tech, inclusive digital tools, and sustainability driven platforms sectors that are receiving growing investor attention.
7. Techstars London – A Global Accelerator with Local Firepower
Location: London
Type: Global accelerator
Best For: Software, consumer tech, AI, B2B SaaS
Techstars London remains one of the most international accelerator programmes in the region. With three months of intensive mentoring and a global investor network, it continues to draw hundreds of applications per cohort.
Ireland’s Specialised Deep-Tech Accelerators
Ireland’s Specialised Deep-Tech Accelerators
Location: Dublin
Focus: Agri-science, genomics, sensors, food-tech
Backed by industry expertise, this accelerator helps science heavy startups commercialise tools for food production, sustainable agriculture, and biotech.
9. The Yield Lab Europe – Climate-Smart Agriculture Takes Centre Stage
Location: Dublin
Focus: Agritech, food sustainability, supply chain innovation
With rising global emphasis on climate resilience, The Yield Lab Europe continues to expand its presence, supporting startups tackling food security and sustainable production.
10. Hatch – The Marine-Tech Specialist
Location: Cork
Focus: Aquaculture, marine biotech, blue economy
Hatch is one of the world’s few accelerators dedicated to marine innovation supporting sustainable seafood, ocean-tech and climate-friendly marine solutions.
Regional Growth: Beyond London & Dublin
While capitals dominate headlines, regional hubs across the UK & Ireland are gaining momentum. Programmes such as Entrepreneurial Spark, Innovate Limerick, and Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre offer accessible, cost-efficient support networks for founders outside major metro clusters. These hubs are increasingly important for building inclusive innovation ecosystems.
How Founders Can Choose the Right Accelerator
With more choices than ever, founders should prioritise:
- Stage alignment: Pre-idea, early-stage, or scaling?
- Sector fit: Deep-tech, AI, biotech, fintech, sustainability?
- Long-term value: Networks matter more than demo days.
- Funding structure: SAFE, equity, grant-based or hybrid?
- Programme activity: Check recent cohorts, not historical reputation alone.
For early-stage teams seeking speed, generalist accelerators like Techstars, Founders Factory, or NDRC may be ideal. For deep-tech or science driven research ventures, SETsquared or niche programmes like Hatch or The Yield Lab provide domain specific support rarely available elsewhere.
The UK and Ireland now stand as two of Europe’s most diverse, mature and ambitious startup corridors. With London driving global momentum in fintech and AI, and Dublin strengthening its position as a deep-tech and EU-connected powerhouse, founders in 2025 have access to more specialised, better-funded and outcome driven accelerators than ever before. As these programmes evolve into sophisticated launchpads offering deep expertise, capital, and international networks, the region is increasingly positioned to produce the next generation of globally influential technology companies. For entrepreneurs across Europe, Asia or any emerging ecosystem, the UK–Ireland accelerator landscape offers a powerful pathway to launch, scale and commercialise breakthrough ideas that can shape the coming decade of innovation.