Start-up accelerator chooses Yorkshire to help supercharge mission-driven businesses

Successful London start up accelerator Unrest has picked Yorkshire as the base for its next programme to supercharge businesses and wants to hear from the region’s consumer driven companies.

By supporting these start-ups in its first programme outside the capital, Unrest hopes to tip the scales of investment and growth, accelerating businesses forward through workshops, one-to-ones, access to a similar business community and through exclusive opportunities with its partners.

It will be delivered in partnership with Capital Enterprise (UK) Limited and Barnsley Council, and is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund.

Orr Vinegold, Unrest Founder, said: “We first started in London in 2021 to support and accelerate start-ups changing the world. We champion diversity of thought, background, and geography to support more businesses that reflect the makeup of our communities. And this is why we have chosen to expand to build our next impact accelerator programmes within South Yorkshire.”

Orr added: “Not only does the Unrest programme aim to target and improve this imbalance in opportunity there’s a genuine flurry of purpose driven start-ups coming from Yorkshire and the North. Data shows that 20 per cent of impact companies are started in Yorkshire.”

Laura Bennett, regional lead, Capital Enterprise (UK) Limited, added: “Yorkshire is proudly supportive of social impact initiatives and mission-driven projects, and we have a long tradition of social enterprises founded here, working to support our communities and reduce inequalities.”

Unrest will run the South Yorkshire Programme in tandem with their London programme, with crossover events. At the end of the programme, startups from South Yorkshire will be invited to London to pitch alongside their London cohort counterparts at an investor-filled Demo Day.

The last Unrest demo day saw over 100 investors on the guest list including Big Society Capital, Balderton Capital, Beringea, Saatchi Invest, Qventures and Mission Ventures.

Orr Vinegold added: “This programme focuses on exponentially growing the right businesses that deserve to make a difference. We’re dedicated to building the next generation of mission-driven companies, turning businesses into a force for good. We can’t wait to help accelerate the next cohort of start-ups from Yorkshire that are looking to change the world.”

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