KQ Labs opens applications for early stage data-driven health start-ups for its fourth annual accelerator programme KQ Labs, a programme delivered by the Francis Crick Institute and funded by LifeArc, is now open for applications. Early- stage data-driven health companies are invited to apply via www.kqlabs.com.

LONDON, UK, 17 May 2021- KQ Labs, an accelerator programme for high growth potential companies in the area of data-driven health, is now accepting applications for its fourth cohort. The programme will kick off in late October and culminate in a Demo Day in March 2022.

Run by the Francis Crick Institute and funded by LifeArc, the KQ Labs accelerator programme is designed for early-stage data-driven health entrepreneurs looking for support to validate their ideas and develop their business goals in a supportive and enriching environment. KQ Labs provides a unique customised framework with a five-month accelerator programme entirely focused on data-driven health. Up to ten selected companies will each be offered funding (£40k) in the form of a convertible loan, a training programme with weekly workshops from experts tailored to digital health, introductions to investors and corporates, and mentoring by a hand-picked network of experts. The core programme content will be delivered virtually, supplemented with in-person or hybrid networking opportunities if circumstances allow. The virtual delivery of the core programme is aimed to facilitate participation from companies all over the UK.

Application criteria

The programme is open to start-ups who have:

  • a focus on areas which have the potential to have a significant impact on health, and where use of data is a core part of the business model
  • two or more founders or team members
  • a Minimum Viable Product, prototype or proof of concept
  • an early stage company (pre-series A)
  • a team based in the UK
  • the start-up’s legal entity must be UK-based

The deadline for applications is mid-day on 20 July 2021. For further information and to apply, please visit www.kqlabs.com

Hear from our founders and partners:

“KQ Labs was a remarkably supportive training ground for our next steps as a healthcare startup. Our mentors fostered a collegial atmosphere where knowledge-sharing and collaboration with other startups was encouraged, and the quality of speakers and workshops was hugely impressive. We’ve certainly made strides forward since starting our journey at KQ Labs” – Shivani Lamba, CEO of Brightlobe and KQ Labs participant

“KQ labs has helped us to grow our network, to uncover “unknown unknowns” and to map our “known unknowns”. We made tremendous progress during the program, which helped me steer the company towards our true north. The quality of our mentors (both on a professional and personal level) was invaluable, and they will be part of us for the foreseeable future.”- Jordi Fernandez, Benetalk CEO and KQ Labs participant

Barbara Domayne-Hayman, Entrepreneur in Residence at the Crick who leads the KQ Labs programme, said: “After having had three amazing cohorts of talented start-ups through our KQ Labs programme, I’m looking forward to meeting the applicants for our cohort #4. We are excited about the level of innovation happening in the space and continue to welcome start-ups from any area of data driven health. We are very grateful for the continuing support for the overall KQ Labs programme from LifeArc, which we appreciate enormously”.

Veronique Birault, Director of Translation at the Crick, said: “We are delighted by the continuing success of KQ Labs, and we are hugely grateful to all of the people and organisations who share our commitment to building the data-driven health ecosystem, who support KQ Labs through our workshops, mentoring and enabling the startups to build their networks.”

Clare Terlouw, Head of LifeArc Ventures, said:“LifeArc plays a vital role in advancing medical research through funding, advice and scientific expertise to translate early discoveries into patient benefit. We have been inspired by the strength of innovation seen in the earlier waves of the programme and we are pleased to be funding the next cohort. The programme provides a range of support to the participants, including on-going relationships with mentors and access to new networks. This hugely benefits the entrepreneurs as they tackle significant healthcare challenges with the critical support of KQ Labs, the Francis Crick Institute and partners like LifeArc.”

– ENDS – 

For further information, please contact:

Emma Fox
Programme Manager for KQ Labs
The Francis Crick Institute
emma.fox@crick.ac.uk

Notes to editors

About KQ 

KQ Labs is an accelerator dedicated entirely to data driven health with a global focus and providing longer term support, as we aim to catalyse the building of an ecosystem. Run by the Francis Crick Institute, funded by LifeArc, and with the support of many partners, KQ Labs offers a customised framework, providing critical expertise and support to ten carefully selected companies, all solving significant healthcare challenges. The programme includes a convertible loan (£40k), workshops with experts tailored to digital health, mentoring by a hand-picked network of experts, and introductions to investors and corporates.

The intersection between the biomedical and data sciences promises to play a transformational role in solving some of the most difficult challenges facing global health systems. The KQ Labs accelerator represents a unique opportunity to catalyse the creation of a world class sustainable digital health ecosystem based in London’s Knowledge Quarter. By harnessing the world-class data science and biomedical resources available in the area, we can reinforce the UK’s position as a major force in artificial intelligence in health and life sciences and build a world class cluster of successful data-driven health start-ups.

Follow KQ Labs on Linkedin and Twitter.


About LifeArc

LifeArc is a self-funded medical research charity. Our mission is to advance translation of early science into health care treatments or diagnostics that can be taken through to full development and made available to patients. We have been doing this for more than 25 years and our work has resulted in a diagnostic for antibiotic resistance and four licensed medicines.

Our success allows us to explore new approaches to stimulate and fund translation. We have our own drug discovery and diagnostics development facilities, supported by experts in technology transfer and intellectual property who also provide services to other organisations. Our model is built on collaboration, and we partner with a broad range of groups including medical research charities, research organisations, industry and academic scientists. We are motivated by patient need and scientific opportunity.

Two funds help us to invest in external projects for the benefit of patients: our Philanthropic Fund provides grants to support medical research projects focused on the translation of rare diseases research and our Seed Fund is aimed at start-up companies focussed on developing new therapeutics and biological modalities. Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.