Program Overview

Introduction to the Hatchery Incubator Programme

The Hatchery is UCL's equity-free incubator, providing co-working space, resources, and support to help startups succeed. It is a 2-year incubator programme for UCL students and recent graduates, located at BaseKX, UCL's dedicated entrepreneurship hub in King's Cross.

About the Hatchery Programme

New cohorts join the Hatchery twice a year, in spring and autumn. Following an 8-week induction programme, Hatchery members have access to a range of benefits to help drive their startup's growth. The programme is designed for individuals with innovative solutions who want to push their ideas toward commercial reality.

Induction Programme

For the first 8 weeks of the programme, participants attend a series of workshops and induction sessions. These sessions are designed to provide essential entrepreneurial skills and help participants connect with their cohort and other Hatchery founders. Each week, participants attend 1 in-person workshop on a Thursday evening and at least 2 virtual sessions. All sessions are compulsory, and only startups that can commit at least one team member to attending all sessions are eligible for the programme.

Hatchery Benefits

Throughout the 2-year membership of the Hatchery, participants receive continuous support tailored to their startup's needs, including:

• Regular workshops: Access to specialized workshops and training events to hone business skills
• Professional advice: Access to one-on-one meetings with experienced entrepreneurship advisors across a range of areas, including sales, intellectual property, legal support, and marketing
• Dedicated mentorship: Personalized guidance from a dedicated mentor invested in the startup's success
• Funding: Access to the Hatchery's wide investor network when ready to start fundraising
• Networking: Opportunities to connect with subject matter experts, founders, investors, and mentors through various events
• Facilities: Access to up to four hot desks for the team and the ability to book meeting rooms and host events in the event space for free
• Interns: Opportunities to employ fully funded interns to support the startup

Key Dates

• Applications open: Monday, 12 January 2026
• Applications close: Sunday, 29 March 2026, 23:59
• Interviews (in-person): 14 and 15 April 2026
• Induction programme launch day: Thursday, 7 May 2026
• Induction programme final day: Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Eligibility

To apply to the Hatchery, one must be a current UCL student or have graduated from UCL within the past 2 years. The company must be registered as a legal entity with Companies House before applying. At least one team member must commit to attending all induction programme sessions.

Application Process

The application process involves three steps:

1. Attend a group information session: Before applying, it is recommended to attend one of the online information sessions to learn more about the Hatchery and whether the business is at the right stage to benefit from the programme.
2. Complete the online application form: The form must be completed by 23:59 on Sunday, 29 March 2026. It is recommended to review the application questions before starting the application.
3. Attend an interview: If shortlisted, participants will be invited to a 30-minute in-person interview to showcase their vision and passion. The interview includes a 5-minute presentation covering the problem being solved, the solution, the team, and motivation for joining the Hatchery.

Further Support

For those still working on the early stages of their startup idea, support is available through the Venture Builder programme. Additionally, entrepreneurship advisors are available to provide support in starting and growing a startup.

Hatchery Alumni

The Hatchery has supported numerous successful startups, including:

• Afrocenchix
• Amaliah
• BatFast Cricket
• Brainpool.AI
• Double Dutch
• Dr Will's
• Enthuse
• Flair
• Genie AI
• GoUni
• HoxtonAi
• Hypervsn (Kino-Mo)
• In2ScienceUK
• Inspire Me Korea
• Kalgera
• Limbic
• Medefer
• MishiPay
• Neuroute
• Oslr
• Oxford Heartbeat
• Playbrush
• Poq
• Ricebrother
• Sishu
• Smartzer
• Spherical Defence
• Stasher
• Token Analyst
• Tuli.health
• Tuune
• Unibuddy
• WorldLabs

Case Studies

Success stories from the Hatchery include:

• Your Juno, a financial education app that has over 65,000 users and has raised over Ł2.5 million in investment.
• Oxford Heartbeat, a company helping brain surgeons perform delicate procedures more accurately with the power of AI.