FAQS

We're looking for technology-focused startups with a passion for innovation, lots of creativity and who share our revolutionary vision. We are open to businesses across all aspects of financial services.

The Barclays Accelerator is looking for great founders with ideas that solve real problems or create meaningful innovations. For us, it’s about the team and because of this, we’re less likely to accept single founder companies. The best things you can do to strengthen your application are:

• Round out your team with business, technical, and other necessary skills.
• Make progress on your prototype or product and reference it in the application.
• Show us you’ve really thought about your business and have actually done something about it.

Your team must be capable of designing your solution and be ready to launch by the end of the 13-week programme. We are looking for impressive teams with an ability to execute.

We're committed to supporting entrepreneurs and startups. We'll provide tools, equipment and facilities – plus support for startups to get their products or services to market.

In conjunction with Techstars, we'll also provide mentorship from carefully selected business leaders and entrepreneurs to help you develop your business model. These mentors will be able to give you unparalleled advice with networking, marketing, PR, pitching and more - helping you accelerate your company's development.

No. Some will but the majority will be world-class entrepreneurs and acclaimed business leaders from outside the organisation.

The application process begins online, with an application form where you can tell us about your team, your product, and the market you are in. The questions are geared to understand both the business and the founders. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews that can take place in person or remotely.

In this initial application process, we ask applicants to describe the market opportunity, the team, the concept that you want to take forward and how you plan to execute it.

No, just complete the online application.

No, not at all.

Techstars and Barclays will take a small equity stake of 3% each in the common stock of each company.

The Barclays Accelerator’s London office is located at Rise, 41 Luke Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4DP.

Anyone from anywhere can apply. If you're accepted, you'll need to have a legal right to be in the UK. Techstars may be able to provide working visas for successful companies for the duration of the programme. If this isn't possible, we can put you in touch with agencies and services that can help you with visas and immigration, but we can only do this once you've been accepted onto the programme.

The next London demo days will be virtual, on 6th May 2020. One will be Barclays-only, so we have the first chance to see your work and ideas. Next is a Public Demo Day, which will be by invitation only. We'll invite key people from our strong network of industry leaders and press.

You'll be based in a large, beautifully designed co-working space, so you'll be surrounded by like-minded entrepreneurial people. This will give you an excellent opportunity to build strong working relationships, learn from others' experiences and share your own.

The Barclays Accelerator's New York office is located at New York Rise at 43 West, 23rd Street.

Anyone from anywhere can apply. If you're accepted, you'll need to have a legal right to be in the US. Techstars may be able to provide working visas for successful companies for the duration of the programme. If this isn't possible, we can put you in touch with agencies and services that can help you with visas and immigration, but we can only do this once you've been accepted onto the programme.

Demo Day will be on 22nd April 2021. Demo Day will be by invitation only where we’ll invite key people from our strong network of industry leaders and press.

The programme is designed to create deep mentoring opportunities. Participants will be connected with mentors from both Techstars and Barclays to help them think through their product and go-to-market strategies in the context of the financial services industry.

No, you'll need to make your own living arrangements. Techstars can help you to smooth the process.

We're pleased to say there's no such thing as a typical day. Throughout the programme, you can expect somewhere in the region of 150 meetings with mentors, CEOs, innovators and industry visionaries.

We'll support companies that are accepted by providing facilities, mentors, visibility and engagement around business opportunities that emerge from this programme. You'll also have the collective resources of Techstars, both during the programme and afterwards.

No, there are no guarantees. It's entirely at our discretion as to whether or not we enter into any commercial arrangement with a participating company after the programme.

Barclays is a trading name of Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries. Barclays Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered Number is 1026167 (Group VAT registration: 243852262) and its registered office is 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

Techstars is a selective mentorship-driven start-up accelerator. Founded in 2006, its philosophy focuses on deep mentorship and surrounding a small number of companies with highly engaged members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to coach and support them for success. The Techstars community currently includes more than 1,500 mentors and over 500 alumni companies. It operates multiple programmes each year in Boulder, Boston, Seattle, Austin, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, London and Berlin.