Venture Treks
Interested in growing your business outside of the UK? Ready to explore the investment landscape in another region? Apply to join a Venture Trek and open a world of opportunities for your startup. Apply nowWhat’s a Venture Trek?
Unlock a world of opportunity for your startup on an international trip to a global startup hub.
As part of our commitment to supporting our community to explore and grow in new markets, we’ll be selecting a series of Imperial founders to accompany us to various global locations in 2024.
We’ll put together a series of meetings and events to help you make the most of the visit and you’ll be pitching at an Imperial event to an audience of alumni, investors, industry representatives and the local startup ecosystem.
You can read all about last years Venture Trek to San Francisco here.
Before, during and after the trips, we will be posting on social media and sharing press releases that will profile your company. We will also provide training on how to make the most of these trips, with founders who have been on previous Venture Treks sharing their insights.
Imperial Enterprise Lab will cover your hotel, visa costs and £700 toward your flights. We will also cover any group travel and Imperial organised activities while we are there.
To join us on one of these trips, you must be available for the dates listed below and submit your application no later than Monday 29 April 2024.
Who are they for?
Venture Treks are specifically for Imperial founders (staff, student or alumni) who have proof of concept or an MVP and sufficient evidence of traction. You must also have clear motivations to attend the trip, for example, you wish to launch in that market or seek investment opportunities.
You must be available on the dates of your preferred trip
Imperial will fund one representative from your startup to attend. That representative must have an Imperial connection (student, alumnus, staff), other members of your team are able to attend, but they will need to be self-funded.
You should have proof of concept or an MVP and sufficient evidence of traction and clear motivations to attend the trip (i.e. you wish to launch in that market or seek investment opportunities).
You must be willing to pitch your startup at an ICL event and provide all materials in advance of the visit in the required formats.
You must be willing to take part in publicity before, during and after the trip, and to give us feedback about your experience.
You must be willing to join a WhatsApp group for ease of logistics
To apply for New York, your startup must be focussed on Climate & Sustainability.
To apply for Singapore, your startup must have an AI focus and be planning to raise equity investment in the 6 months following the trip.
To apply for San Francisco, your representative must identify as a woman.
Venture Treks 2024
We have some exciting trips planned for 2024. Take a look at the upcoming Venture Trek opportunities below:
Accra, Ghana
Sunday 14 July – Saturday 20 July 2024
Explore the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Accra, meet founders from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast. Visit entrepreneurial hubs and explore what Ghana has to offer!
The location in West Africa opens doors to a burgeoning market of over 300 million people, making it an ideal launchpad for scaling businesses across the continent. Experience the energy of Accra’s startup scene firsthand and unlock endless possibilities for your entrepreneurial journey.
We are seeking startups in any industry; however, we’d encourage those operating in health, climate tech, sustainability and agritech to apply.
Singapore
Sunday 28th July – Friday 2nd August 2024
We are seeking startups with a focus on AI to join us in Singapore to explore the vibrant ecosystem and numerous opportunities for growth and innovation. Singapore serves as a gateway to Southeast Asia, offering access to a diverse market of over 600 million people. With its robust infrastructure, supportive government policies, and well-established startup ecosystem, Singapore provides an ideal environment for entrepreneurs to network, access funding, and collaborate with like-minded individuals and organisations.
Additionally, Singapore’s strategic location, efficient regulatory framework, and favourable tax policies make it an attractive destination for startups looking to expand globally. Imperial has recently launched a global hub in the city and participants can expect to make use of our growing network and engaged alumni in the region. This trip will also mark the opening of Imperial Global; Singapore, our first overseas research and innovation centre to strengthen collaboration between the UK and Singapore.
New York City, USA
Monday 23 September – Friday 27 September 2024
Join us in NYC for Climate Week, where we’ll be hosting an Imperial event that welcomes guests from all over the world as part of the UN General Assembly and Climate Week. With a robust network of investors, mentors, and industry experts, New York provides opportunities for startups to scale and succeed.
From access to top-tier accelerators like Techstars and Climate Tech to proximity to leading universities and research institutions, founders can tap into a wealth of resources to drive their ventures forward. Additionally, New York, and global connectivity make it an ideal hub for forging partnerships and gaining market traction. Whether you’re seeking funding, talent, or strategic partnerships, New York offers the ideal environment to accelerate your climate tech startup’s growth and impact.
San Francisco, USA
Sunday 27 October – Friday 1 November 2024
As part of a suite of activities celebrating 10 years of WE Innovate, our programme for women led teams, we’ll be inviting female founders to join us on this exciting trip to launch Imperial’s new Global Hub in San Francisco.
Not only is San Francisco home to some of the world’s leading tech companies and venture capital firms, but it also hosts numerous networking events, incubators, and accelerators. The visit will also coincide with Tech Crunch Disrupt, and we will provide you with tickets as part of the package! So, if you’re a female founder looking to thrive in the startup world, San Francisco is the place to be.
The visit will also officially launch Imperial Global: San Francsico.
Key Dates
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Applications open |
Monday 8 April |
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Info session |
Friday 19 April at 12.00pm (online) Email [email protected] to attend. |
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Applications close |
Monday 29 April |
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Interviews |
w/c 6 May |
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Decisions communicated |
Monday 13 May |
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Onboarding session |
Monday 20 May |
Apply
If you would like to attend one of this years Venutre Treks, fill in the application form by Monday 29 April. If you have any questions about the Venture Treks, email a member of the team at [email protected].