Corporate report

Seeds of Scale - UK Space Agency Accelerator Impact Report 2026

Published 20 July 2026

I’m delighted to mark the publication of the UK Space Agency Accelerator Impact Report 2026 — and to celebrate a landmark achievement: Alumni of the programme have collectively raised over £100 million following participation in the programme. Over the last five years, every £1 invested in delivery of the Accelerator has been associated with £29 of funding raised by participating businesses. That is an extraordinary return, and exactly the kind of commercial success we need to see more of. 

The UK space sector attracted more private investment than any country other than the USA over the last decade. The Accelerator is a significant part of that story. These businesses are advancing solutions in agriculture, defence, maritime, climate and manufacturing - contributing to the way we grow food, protect our nation and safeguard our planet. This is precisely the kind of innovation that underpins the Government’s ambition for the UK to become a competitive, agile space power. 

But the Accelerator’s success is about more than capital raised. It is about people. It enables founders to thrive, builds lasting connections, and cultivates a vibrant community that is greater than the sum of its parts. Our open grant funding has made the UK one of the best places in the world to start a space business - and the Accelerator sits at the heart of that offer. We measure our impact not only in investment and innovation, but in the lives and opportunities this remarkable community continues to transform.

Rebecca Evernden, Director, UK Space Agency

Our Vision 

The UK Space Agency Accelerator exists to drive growth in the UK space industry by creating backable, resilient founders and supporting them to sow the seeds of scale in their businesses.  

We work with high-growth and high-potential founders from pre-seed or pre-revenue through to Series A, delivering targeted programmes and wraparound support to ensure our alumni continue to succeed. 

Our objectives are to drive meaningful commercial impact in businesses; promote and enhance the reputation of the Agency and its Accelerator; and develop a strong and inclusive national ecosystem for high-potential space startups. 

We deliver impact in three main areas:

• Mindset
• Funding
• Ecosystem.

Impact 

• 289 founders accelerated
• £102.2 million funding raised
• 220 reported jobs created
• 82% 3-year business survival rate
• 64% ethnic minority founders
• 99% of founders would recommend the programme

Job figures are self-reported by participating businesses. Businesses included in the survival rate joined the programme more than three years ago.

Our Programmes 

Explore​ 

Explore is our earliest programme for pre proof-of-concept businesses. We supported high-potential founders who were just starting out on their journey to build skills like execution and focus as they developed their value proposition. 

Leo​ 

Leo is for growing businesses with proof-of-concept in place, either through sales or funding. Core outcomes from Leo were building investability and customer traction, along with clarity of positioning and business model.  

Geo​ 

Geo is our pre-scale programme for founders with at least 5 employees and meaningful funding or revenue in place. Through deep, bespoke, and intensive support we helped founders develop commercial strategy, culture, and next-level investment readiness to increase valuation and round size. 

Shuttle​ 

Shuttle was our pilot spin-in programme for founders in adjacent sectors with proven propositions who wanted to grow into space. We helped them sharpen their space-specific proposition, build credibility and execute on their go-to-market plans. 

Fusion​ 

Fusion is our investment completion programme for founders who are almost ready for seed or pre-seed investment. Working with angel syndicate leads and fund managers, we honed their propositions to full readiness and made targeted connections to investors to support their raise.  

Trajectory​ 

Trajectory is our flagship space startup roadshow. We find interesting venues to bring our national space startup ecosystem together with regional business ecosystems for the benefit of all. To-date we have welcomed over 500 participants to these strictly non-conference, hackathon-style events!

Our History 

Launched in 2021 as the country was emerging from an unprecedented national lockdown, the Accelerator supported intrepid founders who were starting space businesses against all odds. Many of these have gone on to raise substantial investment, win commercial contracts, and grow internationally.  

Since then, we have continued to evolve our offering to deliver deeper support to upcoming space founders. Below is an overview of our key milestones: 

• March 2021 – First Leo Programme launches with 30 founders.
• November 2021 – First Explore cohort for our earliest-stage companies launches.
• March 2022 - Gemini Event at the National Space Centre closes out the pilot phase.
• February 2023 - Explore cohort 2 marks the start of phase 2.
• May 2023 – We hit 100 businesses supported!
• June 2024 – The first Fusion Demo Days in London and Leeds. 
• August 2024 – Our GovBridge Civil and Defence programmes launch to support space startups to accelerate sales to Government. 
• September 2024 – We hit 200 businesses supported!
• February 2025 – Our Trajectory roadshow event teams up with Ignite Space to showcase the strength of the UK space SME ecosystem. 
• August 2025 – The Shuttle Programme onboards the first cohort of cross-sector companies looking to grow into space.
• September 2025 – First Constellation members join the Geo programme. 
• February 2026 – Our latest Trajectory event brought together 71 people in Manchester to accelerate commercialisation.

Delivered at Scale

Some of the Businesses Supported through the UK Space Agency Accelerator

One of the strengths of the UK Space Agency Accelerator is that we run a truly national programme with participation from every Nation and region of the UK. This means we can connect talent, investment, and capabilities between regions to grow the seeds of scale in our founders. 

Business	Region	What they do	Celebration
SmartResilience	East of England	Turn complex climate data into actionable resilience.	Raised £1.1m led by One Planet Capital.
Frontier Space Technologies	West Midlands	Enable next-generation biotechnology R&D in orbit.	Successfully launched its latest orbital test campaign, EGGS-2 (Early Gen micro-Gravity Service).
Spinning Around	Scotland	Develop low gravity environments for life science experimentation.	Inaugural satellite “SpinnyONE” successfully launched into orbit via SpaceX Falcon 9’s Transporter-16 flight.
Stirlight	Yorkshire & Humber	Simplify Friction Stir Welding.	Raised £1.2m led by Haatch VC.
3S Northumbria	North East	Provide unprecedented space awareness on high earth orbits.	Exited to ExoAnalytics.

Partners

We are supported by a group of experienced delivery partners who bring rich and diverse expertise to our programmes.  

Established in 2010, the UK Space Agency, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is responsible for the UK’s civil space programme and for delivering government priorities in space, while supporting the growth of the national space sector through investment, innovation and international collaboration. Across a range of programmes and initiatives, the UK Space Agency supports founders, startups and high-growth ventures in areas including satellite applications, Earth observation, communications, launch technologies and space sustainability. 

Learn more at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency

Founded in 2012, E-Spark is a global business accelerator and ecosystem developer supporting science, technology and deep tech founders at the earliest stages of growth through a human-centred, mindset-led approach to venture building. The organisation has designed and delivered over 100 accelerator cohorts worldwide, establishing 28 Accelerators across multiple ecosystems. To date, E-Spark has supported more than 5,000 entrepreneurs, who have collectively raised over £500M in funding. This global delivery experience underpins E-Spark’s deep expertise in investor readiness, venture development and founder mindset, helping ventures progress from early validation to scalable, investment-ready businesses. 

Learn more at https://www.entrepreneurial-spark.com/

Exotopic is a science and technology consultancy focused on bringing deep-tech innovation to market for economic and societal benefit. They work across sectors including space, quantum, semiconductors and advanced technologies. The company supports startups, scaleups, industry and government organisations through commercialisation, investment readiness, business development and strategic innovation support. Exotopic combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial delivery to help emerging technologies transition from research and development into commercially sustainable ventures. The organisation also delivers specialist programmes, ecosystem initiatives and training activities designed to strengthen innovation capability and support the growth of future technology sectors globally. 

Learn more at https://www.exotopic.com/

Cowe Communications has become a trusted name in business and brand development, not by following trends, but by helping organizations find their voice, sharpen their focus, and grow with intention. Founded by strategist and CEO Miri Rossitto, the firm is known for delivering clear direction, powerful storytelling, and strategies that actually move the needle. 

What sets Cowe apart is its ability to meet each client exactly where they are. Whether guiding a legacy brand through a reinvention or helping a fast-growing company navigate rapid expansion, Cowe brings both candor and clarity to the table. Their work is rooted in real insight, real experience, and a genuine commitment to helping leaders make smart, sustainable decisions. 

Cowe Communications isn’t just about visibility or marketing metrics. It’s about helping businesses step into their purpose, own their message, and lead with confidence in any market. 

Learn more at http://www.COWE.com   

Marks & Clerk is a specialist intellectual property (IP) firm with a dedicated team of space technology experts. They offer services across the whole breadth of IP including patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, and other unregistered rights, as well as IP-based agreements, arbitration and litigation. Their specialist team of attorneys and solicitors comprises experts with a broad spectrum of technical backgrounds (from engineering and physics to quantum technologies and computer science) as well as proven experience in obtaining, enforcing and licencing IP rights worldwide. 

Marks & Clerk are uniquely placed to help across the full range of space-based technologies, from the design of new spacecraft thrusters to software algorithms for space debris detection. Their European team is based in offices across the UK and Luxembourg and has strong links to their international offices based in Canada and across Asia. 

Learn more at http://www.marks-clerk.com

Working with startups, scaleups and global enterprises alike, TECHNIA UK enables organisations to streamline product development, improve collaboration and bring smarter products to market faster through virtual twin technologies, systems engineering and data-driven innovation. The company also actively supports the UK’s growing space ecosystem through partnerships and innovation programmes focused on next-generation space technologies and scalable engineering solutions. 

Learn more at http://www.technia.com

Harper Macleod is a full-service law firm trusted by high-growth businesses to deliver expert legal support from startup through to scale and exit. With extensive experience advising innovative companies across technology, engineering and emerging sectors, they provide commercially focused guidance on corporate transactions, investment and fundraising, commercial contracts and dispute resolution. 

Combining deep sector knowledge with practical legal expertise, Harper Macleod supports organisations at every stage of their journey, from early-stage ventures to established enterprises operating in national and international markets. 

Learn more at https://www.harpermacleod.co.uk/

Seeds of Scale: Funding 

Enabling funding has been one of the major objectives of the UK Space Agency Accelerator since 2021, and the Accelerator is proud to have contributed to a surge in startup funding over that time. Through the support of our Enablement team, delivery partners, investment experts and ecosystem, our alumni have collectively raised £102.2 million in funding over the last four years, including £70.1 million in equity investment. 

Over the last five years, every £1 invested in delivery of the Accelerator has been associated with £29 of funding raised by participating businesses.

We develop a culture of execution in our programmes with deep 1:1 support to focus on building the business, not just the pitch. While pitching is important, investors know that the seeds of scale lie in the fundamental drivers behind the business. So we challenge founders to focus on milestones and momentum alongside storytelling.  

The pre-seed and seed fundraising landscape in space is still a challenge, with many more pre-seed investors needed and credible deal-flow to match. Looking to the future, we are confident that the foundations we are laying with diverse cohorts of early-stage founders will continue to bear fruit over the next few years, with many of our initial alumni now raising sizeable seed rounds and a few progressing to Series A. There is a strong pipeline of high-potential founders entering the ecosystem from our programmes. 

• Equity investment raised - £70.1 million 
• Grants and other funding - £32.1 million 
• 61 separate investment rounds

As well as our own Enablement process, we offer founders 1:1 support from exited founders, fund managers, and angel syndicate leads as part of our core offer. Thanks to our Investment Experts and Constellation members for everything you do! 

Investment Experts 

Kristina Pereckaite: Founder and Managing Director of South East Angels, an award-winning angel investor network that has deployed over £4M into startups since 2021. With more than a decade of experience supporting early-stage ventures, Kristina brings expertise in fundraising, deal negotiation and investor relations, helping founders navigate the realities of raising capital from both the founder and investor perspective. 

Morgan Killick: Investment readiness expert and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of business experience. Following the successful exit of his IT services company, Morgan has advised startups and scaleups across multiple sectors, supporting ventures that have collectively raised more than £20M in funding while mentoring founders on growth, fundraising and commercial strategy. 

Rebecca Robinson: Rebecca Robinson specialises in investment readiness, founder storytelling and startup growth strategy. With extensive experience across incubators, accelerators and innovation programmes, Rebecca supports founders in refining their pitch, strengthening investor communications and building the evidence and confidence needed to secure funding. 

Marla Shapiro: Marla Shapiro is the Founder and CEO of HERmesa, an angel syndicate investing in women-founded startups across the UK. Drawing on a background spanning investment banking, technology and operational leadership, Marla supports early-stage founders through investment, strategic guidance and ecosystem building within the innovation and venture capital landscape.

David Levine: David Levine is a serial technology entrepreneur and Principal at Manchester Angels, supporting early-stage startups and scaleups through fundraising, commercial growth and strategic development. As the former CEO of AI-driven design platform DigitalBridge, David has extensive experience building and scaling technology ventures while advising founders across accelerator and innovation programmes.

Constellation Members 

Mark Roberts: Serial entrepreneur, angel investor and board adviser with extensive experience scaling high-growth, tech-enabled businesses. As Co-Founder of Beer Hawk and the launch lead for PerfectDraft UK, he has built and scaled ventures generating significant international growth, while also supporting startups through angel investment, mentoring and strategic advisory roles across the innovation ecosystem. 

Hazel Savage: Serial founder, angel investor and technology leader specialising in AI, audio and music technology. Formerly the CEO and Co-Founder of Musiio, acquired by SoundCloud in 2022, she has held leadership roles across major global technology and music companies and actively supports emerging startups through investment, mentoring and ecosystem development initiatives. 

John Young: An international sales and business development leader with nearly 25 years of experience across aerospace, defence and technology sectors. Currently serving as Director of Sales - International at Slingshot Aerospace, he brings deep expertise in strategic growth, market expansion and long-term commercial development, supporting organisations navigating complex and competitive technology markets. 

Ian Jones: A serial entrepreneur, engineer and investor specialising in space communications, AI and advanced signal processing. Founder of Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd, he transformed the iconic site into a leading commercial deep communications provider serving organisations including NASA, ESA and SpaceX. Currently Founder of Veritron Ltd and Ibbynet Ltd, Ian brings extensive experience across space technology, telecoms, investment and innovation strategy.

Case Studies

Shield Space – Daniel Molland & Graeme Ritchie  

Shield Space demonstrates how early-stage ventures in complex, capital-intensive sectors can successfully navigate first-time fundraising through a combination of strategic positioning, investor readiness, and strong ecosystem support.  

At entry, the company was at a validated idea stage, led by founders with deep defense and operational expertise. However, they faced the challenge of structuring and delivering a first institutional raise while both founders were still in full-time roles. Key uncertainties included pricing a pre-seed round, defining IP strategy, managing governance expectations, and building early investor confidence in a highly technical, dual-use proposition.  

Through the Accelerator, Shield Space refined its investment narrative, translating complex orbital and defense concepts into a clear, commercially credible story for non-technical investors.   

The results were significant. Shield Space successfully closed a £1.95M pre-seed round - 216% of its original £900k target - with strong backing from established funds. The company is also currently in discussions with several German VCs regarding an additional £2M raise to accelerate expansion into Germany. This positions Shield Space with both the capital and credibility required to accelerate technical development and market engagement.  

“The UK Space Agency Accelerator helped turbo-charge our preparation going into our pre-seed round, and Ashleigh and the team were an encouraging, friendly presence to turn to as we navigated the challenges of our first institutional raise.”

Aurora Avionics – Oren Smith-Carpenter 

At the start of the programme, Aurora Avionics had strong technical foundations but was still in the early stages of refining its commercial direction and scaling approach. The team was focused on shaping their growth strategy, particularly around team expansion and how to structure business development in a way that matched the pace and expectations of the space industry ecosystem. 

Through the Accelerator, Oren Smith-Carpenter benefited from access to a highly relevant network of founders and operators across both upstream and downstream sectors, which helped broaden his understanding of the wider market and where Aurora Avionics fits within it. This exposure also supported clearer thinking around early-stage scaling decisions, particularly in relation to hiring and prioritisation. 

Alongside this strategic and operational development, Aurora Avionics also made significant progress on the investment side. Since joining the programme, the company has secured a total of £823,322 in funding, reflecting growing investor confidence in its trajectory and technology. This momentum has also been reinforced through recent press coverage highlighting the company’s expansion activity and continued growth, including the development of a new operational hub. 

“Joining the UK Space Accelerator gave me access to a really exciting network of like-minded entrepreneurs where I could bounce ideas off people and better understand what’s going on across the industry, from downstream applications through to upstream hardware. It really helped with some of the initial planning around how I’d grow the team, and strengthened my general business development skills.”

Seeds of Scale: Mindset

Delivery Team

Entrepreneurial mindset and leadership capability are the biggest unseen barriers to scaling a business. In the early stages, lack of focus, fear of failure, procrastination and perfectionism can end a business faster than any market force.  

As a business grows, most founders hit a glass ceiling where their risk appetite, communication or leadership capability doesn’t keep up with their company needs, so growth slows while they learn hard lessons.  

In the UK Space Agency Accelerator, Mindset is one of our core areas of unique impact. We set founders up with the seeds of scale by actively working on their growth mindset from day 1. Our trained Enablers work deep with founding teams to understand if the barriers they are facing are external or are self-imposed, and help them to tackle the root causes rather than the symptoms.  

By doing this, we are building resilient founders who can keep going for longer, make better decisions, handle uncertainty and try again if their first idea fails. This is not just about scaling businesses in space, but scaling diverse entrepreneurial capability. 

Before exploring examples of how mindset work translates into success, meet the team behind this transformation.

Ashleigh Dinter – Entrepreneurial Programme Lead 

Ashleigh is an investment expert who is driven by the idea of having a meaningful impact at the right catalytic moment, supporting entrepreneurs to build something that truly matters. 

As Programme Lead for our Explore and Fusion programmes, she has led the biggest number of startups through their growth journey. Here are her reflections on her work with our founders: 

What’s one belief entrepreneurs often start with that you try to change, and why does it matter? 

A common belief is “I need to have everything figured out before I start.”  

I try to shift that to “I figure things out by starting.” It matters because waiting for clarity usually leads to inaction, and inaction kills momentum. The founders who make progress are the ones willing to take imperfect steps and refine as they go.  

What’s a common misconception entrepreneurs have that you work hard to reframe?

 That building a business is about having a great idea.  

In reality, it’s about understanding people, your customers, their problems, and what actually matters to them. I spend a lot of time reframing success away from the idea itself and towards learning, validation, and building something people genuinely need.  

What habits or ways of thinking do you try to instil in every founder you work with?

 I focus on a few key things: consistency over intensity, action over overthinking, and reflection alongside execution.  

I encourage founders to regularly step back and ask, “What did I learn?” not just “What did I do?” I also try to build the habit of staying close to their customers and using that insight to guide decisions, rather than relying on assumptions.

Catherine Jones - Entrepreneurial Programme Lead 

Catherine is an exited founder who has supported founders globally, helping them strengthen entrepreneurial mindset, commercial performance, build scalable systems, and navigate complex growth challenges. 

Her Programme Leadership of our Leo, Geo and Shuttle programmes is based on deep insights into how to move from early commercial success to scalable business and leadership, with a focus on the more advanced companies in our portfolio. 

What’s one belief entrepreneurs often start with that you try to change, and why does it matter?

I often have to challenge the idea that “if I believe in my product, the market will too”. There’s often a gap between founders’ conviction that they are “right” and real demand.  

By helping founders to test and validate their assumptions with real customers, I enable them to uncover insights that are often missed early on. These realisations are often critical for building a truly scalable business based on market demand, not founder passion. 

What’s a common misconception entrepreneurs have that you work hard to reframe?

I often see founders assume momentum (especially investment) should come quickly if the idea is strong. In reality, building a business takes time, resilience, and steady, intentional effort.  

I help reframe expectations so that they focus on consistent progress over quick wins. With a more realistic view, they can build the mindset and habits needed to handle challenges and keep moving forward.  

What habits or ways of thinking do you try to instil in every founder you work with? 

I work on a few core habits in every founder I enable: collaboration and communication because you can’t build a business on your own, a growth mindset to learn from challenges, and a bias towards action so they keep moving forward. These thinking patterns help founders build strong businesses; make faster, better decisions; and stay adaptable as things inevitably change.

Case Studies

TreeStock (Data Dynamics) – Gregory Meyers  

At the start of the programme, the Treestock team had strong technical validation but no paying customers, and faced significant barriers linked to satellite data costs and long EO development cycles. Progress was constrained by a “build first, sell later” mindset and limited clarity around how to structure investment readiness.  

Through the Accelerator, TreeStock shifted towards a commercially grounded approach, adopting a “sell while building” strategy using paid drone surveys to generate early revenue and validate demand while the satellite-enabled solution continues to develop in parallel.  

This change in mindset proved pivotal. The team secured their first paid work, progressed additional survey opportunities, and advanced investor conversations, including acceptance to pitch to Sheffield Angels. They also secured a £70k UK Space Agency-funded climate programme grant and joined multiple accelerator pathways including BridgeAI and Fusion.  

“There were many things I was simply unaware of - decisions I didn’t even realise I needed to make. Gaining the knowledge and insight into how this space works has completely changed that. It’s given me the clarity to make informed decisions, from how to structure a raise to understanding what’s expected, as well as the relationships and networks needed to make it happen.”

Geospatial Ventures – Manpreet Bhatia  

At the start of the programme, Mona and co-founder Paul were building an early-stage venture with strong technical potential, but limited commercial experience and no entrepreneurial background. While the business had secured early R&D support and its first ESA contract, the team faced challenges around developing a clear sales strategy, refining their investor proposition, and building the commercial and leadership capabilities needed to scale. 

Through the Accelerator, the founders worked closely with the team to strengthen both their commercial approach and leadership confidence. Support focused on refining their pitch and investor readiness, expanding their network, and developing a more structured sales strategy to bring their technology to market effectively. 

This support helped the company transition from an R&D-focused venture into a commercially growing business. Following the programme, the team secured their first commercial contracts, initiated additional ESA contracts, and began generating consistent revenue through both consultancy services and their hardware and software solution designed to help companies monitor and understand ground movement in specific locations. 

The company has continued to build momentum year on year, securing cornerstone clients, joining multiple business Accelerator programmes, winning several competitions, and beginning international expansion efforts. By 2025, the business had achieved $800k in revenue, marking a significant milestone in its commercial growth journey.

“This progression has really shifted how we think about long-term scale. We’re moving from the trial phase into commercial delivery, starting with smaller projects.  But by working with organisations operating at a much larger scale, we’ve built real confidence that these relationships will grow and that we’ll move on to delivering much larger projects over time.”

Seeds of Scale: Ecosystem

Delivery Team

As well as delivering in-programme impact, the UK Space Agency Accelerator will leave a permanent legacy by building a thriving, inclusive space startup ecosystem across the UK. We do this by connecting partners and external stakeholders with founder cohorts at a time and in a way that maximises impact for everybody. This enables long-term relationships to be formed, many of which have contributed to successful commercial collaborations. 

The wider space ecosystem, including UK Space Agency initiatives, is critical to the success of our founders. We work closely with the UK Space Cluster Network to ensure that growth support is joined up, with clear pathways for connection across the UK.  

The mark of any world-class Accelerator goes beyond quality of programming and mentors. It can be measured in the doors that the team can open and the soft power they are able to bring to bear.  

Building soft power takes time and the long-term support of the UK Space Agency has made that possible. Many short-term funded programmes simply cannot achieve this. The UK Space Agency Accelerator has made remarkable progress in this area: our first demo day in 2024 attracted 12 investors, while our most recent in February 2026 drew over 120 sign-ups - a 100% increase in just two years.

To further enhance our ecosystem strength, we are delighted to introduce our recently-appointed Ecosystem Development Manager!

Derek Polowyj – Ecosystem Developer Manager 

Derek has spent the past five years working closely with early-stage Deeptech companies and helping them move forward through well-judged introductions. His main focus on the UK Space Agency Accelerator is supporting founders on current programmes and within the alumni community, connecting them with investors and partners across the UK. 

A big part of his role is understanding where founders are in their journey and spotting when the right introduction can help them take the next step. 

What does a truly effective ecosystem look like for entrepreneurs, and how do you help build that in practice?

For me, a truly effective ecosystem is one where our entrepreneurs are at the centre; not the investors, not the institutions. It’s led by founders who are committed to their businesses and the community for the long term, and supported by people who give before they get. 

You build that in practice by showing up consistently and helping others succeed without expecting anything in return. Over time, that trust compounds and the ecosystem becomes something that sustains itself. 

What difference does a strong ecosystem make to an entrepreneur’s success?

A strong ecosystem shortens the learning curve. Instead of figuring everything out from scratch, founders can draw on shared experience and practical support. That can help them avoid common mistakes and make better decisions earlier on. Being surrounded by others who are building, experimenting and growing makes it easier to stay focused and keep going when things are uncertain. 

What does it feel like when an ecosystem is really working for an entrepreneur?

A working ecosystem should instil confidence in its participants. You’re still doing the hard work, but you’re doing it with better information and a clearer sense of direction. Instead of pushing against everything. It feels like there’s a bit of momentum behind you, and a sense that you’re not doing it alone. 

What’s your approach to shaping an ecosystem that isn’t just large, but genuinely useful?

For me, it’s not just assuming what founders might need, but actually listening to their problems and then being deliberate about who gets brought into the ecosystem. Not every connection is valuable, so it is about quality and relevance rather than volume. A large network can still be hard to navigate or not that helpful in practice. What matters is whether the right people can find each other at the right time, and whether those connections actually lead to something useful. 

Hear from our alumni on how our ecosystem contributed to their growth!

Case Studies

TakeRoot Bio x Natural Synergies – Kirk Siderman-Wolter  

At the start of the programme, the team was navigating a merger between two entities, with strong technical foundations and grant success but limited commercial traction. They faced challenges around prioritisation, IP and governance complexity, and progressing toward a clear pilot pathway. 

Through the Accelerator, the venture strengthened its position within both the space and terrestrial ecosystems. By refining its market positioning and improving its investment narrative, the team was able to move from broad, exploratory engagement to more targeted, high-value interactions. The programme also provided the credibility needed to engage with stakeholders who would typically be out of reach at this stage. 

This shift supported meaningful ecosystem outcomes. The venture established collaborations with organisations such as the University of Guelph, leveraging technical expertise and data resources to strengthen its controlled environment agriculture applications. It also expanded engagement across international networks and cross-sector partners, spanning food systems, industrial waste, and urban infrastructure, reinforcing the dual-use potential of the technology. 

Crucially, the programme helped the founder transition from a grant-led approach to a more commercially focused and ecosystem-driven strategy. 

“Before the Accelerator, many of our conversations involved explaining the concept and why it mattered. Being part of the UK Space Agency programme helped place the venture within a recognised space innovation ecosystem. That credibility opened doors to conversations with organisations we wouldn’t normally have engaged with so early. We’ve since connected with companies like GyroPlant, researchers at the University of Guelph working on controlled environment agriculture, and innovation networks such as EIT Food and IBioIC. The programme also helped bring focus to our development path. By working toward clearer milestones and collaboration opportunities, we’ve been able to accelerate progress and begin forming a genuine ecosystem around the project.”

GyroPlant – Oskar Schortz & Marcus Comaschi 

GyroPlant demonstrates how stronger ecosystem integration can unlock both commercial pathways and strategic clarity for early-stage ventures operating across dual markets. 

At programme entry, the company had achieved early validation including NASA purchasing units and active trials with US vertical farms. However, they faced challenges navigating space-sector pathways and engaging the right investors. Outreach lacked focus, and the founders were balancing multiple opportunities without a clear framework for prioritisation, compounded by operational complexity across time zones. 

Through the Accelerator, GyroPlant strengthened its position within both the space and terrestrial ecosystems. Targeted introductions and structured support helped the team to engage more effectively with key stakeholders across NASA-linked testing environments, vertical farming partners, and emerging space habitation programmes. This included building relationships aligned to long-term opportunities rather than pursuing broad, unfocused outreach. 

This shift translated into tangible ecosystem outcomes. GyroPlant progressed towards a formal collaboration with Ohio State University, a key Starlab partner, including a funded research pathway. At the same time, the company advanced investor discussions to due diligence stage with a UK family office and generated inbound interest from vertical farming partners across the US and UK. 

Crucially, the programme supported a more strategic approach to ecosystem engagement. The founders moved from a reactive, opportunity-led model to a disciplined dual-market strategy, leveraging terrestrial traction to support space applications while focusing only on partnerships and investors aligned with their long-term vision. 

“We feel far more connected to the space ecosystem than before. Building relationships with other founders and learning from each other has been incredibly valuable, not just for our company, but for the industry as a whole. We’ve also become much more focused. Instead of saying yes to everything, we now evaluate opportunities through the lens of how they support our business and long-term goals.”

The Future 

The UK Space Agency Accelerator continues to grow and evolve with each cohort. In 2026 we will deliver re-imagined Leo, Fusion and Geo programmes, launch new in-person ecosystem-building and investor connection events, and support high-potential founder delegations to international markets. 

Our mission will be to continue to drive growth in the UK space industry by creating backable, resilient founders and supporting them to sow the seeds of scale in their businesses.  

If you would like to hear more about our support, join our programmes or collaborate with us, then please sign up for our mailing list:

Register Your Interest at www.ukspaceaccelerator.co.uk/register-your-interest

To learn more about our work and the partners who help make it possible, visit our website or get in touch using the details below.  

• Website: www.ukspaceaccelerator.co.uk 
• Email: hello@ukspaceaccelerator.co.uk

Quotes from Our Alumni 

The most impactful parts of the programme for me were in personal development as a founder, support on organisational structure, and focusing the team on one core thing.

Your insight and network have been instrumental in accelerating our engagement with key stakeholders.

The biggest impact for me was on my own growth and new mindset, with incredible support from many amazing mentors.

The programme provided a strong framework for refining our business model, strengthening our value proposition, and improving our approach to market entry.

The programme helped us sharpen our strategic focus, validate key assumptions, and accelerate our readiness for investment and commercial partnerships.

During the Fusion programme, we significantly accelerated our growth and investment readiness.

Through activities and connections in the programme, we secured signed Letters of Intent exceeding £500,000 in commercial value.

The programme enabled us to accelerate our progress, expand our network, and position our company more strongly for both market adoption and future investment.

We feel ready to go out and get investment - I don’t think I could have said that before the programme!

I found the programme incredibly valuable. It helped us see things in a new light and build confidence for stronger delivery and investor outcomes. I will strongly recommend the program to my peers.

The support from the Enablers helped me refine my value proposition, customer approach, and TRL roadmap.

I like the idea that there are facilitators who seem to have a genuine interest in the success of our business.