Program Overview

University Programs

The University of Edinburgh offers various programs, including the Venture Builder Incubator and the AI Accelerator.

Venture Builder Incubator

The Venture Builder Incubator is a program that supports entrepreneurs in building their ventures. The program has had several cohorts, including:

• Venture Builder Incubator Cohort 6.0 (2026)
• Venture Builder Incubator Cohort 5.0 (2025)
• Venture Builder Incubator Cohort 4.0 (2024)
• Venture Builder Incubator Cohort 3.0 (2023)
• Venture Builder Incubator Cohort 2.0 (2022)
• Venture Builder Incubator Cohort 1.0 (2021)

Cohort Details

Each cohort has supported various startups, including:

• 2.5D Printer
• AlphaEO
• Alsun.ai
• Ascent RNA
• Balint Thamo
• Broonie
• CardioWaive
• Chronic Fatigue Solutions
• Coflip Ltd
• CriticiseAI
• Data Harmonise Ltd
• DORIOT AI LTD
• Elloise Hannah Stephenson
• Garandor
• Health Empower Ltd
• Janki Group Ltd
• Jingxin Qiao
• Khu Bio
• LotusDx
• MMWR LTD
• MiChro
• ND Axon
• NeuroCreate Ltd
• Nikki Graham
• Oroff
• Paralegal
• Qinara
• Raygonal Ltd
• Solarsub
• Stephanie Droop
• TGP Technologies
• Valuebased.Work Ltd
• Wholeheartedly
• Yinhuan Dong

AI Accelerator

The AI Accelerator is a program that supports startups in the AI sector. The program has had several cohorts, including:

• AI Accelerator Alumni
• AI Accelerator Cohort 7
• Edinburgh AI Accelerator Cohort 6
• The Edinburgh AI Accelerator Cohort
• Post-Covid AI Accelerator
• Bayes Corporate Accelerator
• Bayes Wayra Accelerator Cohort

Cohort Details

Each cohort has supported various startups, including:

• NOMW Health
• Lola cares
• Nooku
• ProfessorMe
• INSINTO
• Engage Smarter
• MapMortar
• Chirrup.ai
• ThermaFY
• Fyne Labs
• TrueDeploy
• Lovat Compliance

Engage Smarter

Engage Smarter is an enterprise platform that enables financial services companies to provide expert-level financial guidance to consumers using AI. The platform aims to decrease costs, increase financial inclusion, engagement, and firm's Assets Under Management and income.

Problem

26 million UK consumers are underserved by financial services, where they either cannot afford to pay for advice or do not want to speak to a regulated IFA. The cost of financial advice is too high for 90% of consumers, and firms cannot afford to provide financial guidance via human agents.

Solution

An enterprise platform for expert conversational AI Agents specifically for Financial Services, including a bench of pre-built AI Agents and guardrails for financial guidance and customer engagement. The platform has strong risk management and moderation built-in for safety and accuracy.

Market

Financial guidance is at a nascent stage, with the UK market expected to be more than Ł4 billion. The initial focus is on the pensions and wealth sector.