Pioneer Group and Innovate UK join forces to accelerate development of life sciences companies

Pioneer Group, a London based company combining laboratory development and operation with venture building, is continuing its collaboration with Innovate UK by bringing its venture development ‘Launch Programme’ to the Exploit stage of Innovate UK’s ICURe programme.

The Launch Programme welcomes invited life science founders from the ICURe Programme, as well as the Pioneer Group ecosystem, to provide support in accelerating their development from lab to market adoption. The ICURe programme is designed to help researchers explore the commercial application and potential of UK research.

Building confidence and commercial traction throughout several different stages, the life science teams that successfully progress to the ICURe ‘Spin Out’ route have the opportunity to continue their commercial learning journey within the ICURe Exploit Launch Programme.

The Launch Programme provides new entrepreneurs and spin-outs with access to tailored support and workshops to help de-risk the commercial and technical viability of their technologies and facilitate seed and series A investment. Pioneer Group was confirmed as a delivery partner for the Launch programme with Innovate UK in March 2023.

Led by Pioneer Group’s Director and Venture Development Partner, Lisa Thomas, the Launch Programme’s participants will work to refine their business model and transition into a fully-fledged commercial venture. Pioneer’s highly specialised life sciences team will provide 1:1 support to selected ICURe companies across the UK for a period of 12 months.

This includes regular sessions with a dedicated expert coach to strengthen business plans, pitching skills, as well as learning about the practicalities of building a business and raising investment.

Participants are also introduced to esteemed figures from the life sciences industry, who can provide sound advice and guidance on investment, market adoption and scale-up as part of Pioneer Group’s Expert Network.

Lisa Thomas commented: “Pioneer Group has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped create more than 100 life sciences companies that have raised over £300m in total investment, 35 per cent of which have been founded by at least one female entrepreneur.

“Indeed, over half of the companies taking part in our current Launch programme have female-led teams, something we are particularly proud of given the historical lack of female representation in the highest offices of the life sciences sector.

“In September 2023, the selected cohort gathered for the first of a number of in-person training sessions at Victoria House in London, which is one of two new Pioneer Group life sciences campuses in the city.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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