Corporate report

Accelerating Impact

Updated 4 July 2025

Accelerating Impact

How the UK Space Agency Accelerator is building the future by investing in the now.

“The UK Space Agency is committed to supporting early-stage space businesses to scale and grow, this strengthens UK’s position in the global space sector. The UK Space Agency Accelerator has demonstrated clear impact in helping space startups raise private investment, create jobs and form new partnerships through its programmes.”

-Craig Brown, Director of Investment. UK Space Agency.

1. Contents

Our Mission……………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

The UK Space Agency Accelerator…………………………………………………………….. 1

Space is a vital frontier…………………………………………………………………………… 2

The Accelerator (Structure Overview)…………………………………………………………. 3

Accelerating Impact……………………………………………………………………………… 4

Human First……………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

From Input to Output…………………………………………………………………………….. 7

The Flywheel Effect………………………………………………………………………………. 8

Ecosystem Impact……………………………………………………………………………….. 9

What’s Next?…………………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Supporting Partners……………………………………………………………………………. 11

2. Our Mission

The UK Space Agency Accelerator is an inclusive, world-class programme to accelerate the development and growth of dynamic space startups across the UK.

Driven to achieve the UK Space Agency’s value proposition:

Catalyse investment, by deploying our funding and resources to multiply the value of non-Government contracts and private capital secured by UK space organisations to maximise the space sector’s long-term growth.

Deliver missions and capabilities, independently and with others, that use space science, technology and applications to meet national needs and help humanity to understand our universe.

Champion space, by encouraging other sectors to use space to deliver better services, tackle the climate emergency, inspire STEM education and lifelong learning, and advocate for sustainable space activities.

3. The UK Space Agency Accelerator

The UK Space Agency Accelerator provides business knowledge and mentorship to enable innovative entrepreneurs to make tangible and ambitious progress towards commercialisation.

UK Space Agency: The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency sponsored by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology. Its mission is to support the Government to boost UK prosperity, understand the Universe and protect our planet and outer space.

Entrepreneurial Spark: Entrepreneurial Spark is a global leader in venture acceleration and ecosystem development. Our human-centred approach goes beyond business strategy, combining mindset development and network access to equip founders with everything they need to create impact.

Exotopic: Exotopic is a Technology Development House, providing business expertise and engineering services to rapidly commercialise exciting science and technology. We do this through a mixture of consulting, specialist facilities and a mentality that puts impact before profit.

4. Space is a vital frontier.

Creating and growing a business is tough enough in the traditional business sectors. The size of the Space opportunity outweighs the current capability and commercial vehicles to take advantage of it effectively.

For these reasons, the UK Space Agency has invested in the Accelerator alongside its other national and ESA innovation programmes, to create a nationwide ecosystem that supports and promotes UK prosperity.

To help achieve this, the Accelerator focuses on supporting early stage businesses to commercialise their products and services sooner and give them the tools and experience they need to drive their own growth.

UK Space Agency partnered with Entrepreneurial Spark and Exotopic to deliver its Accelerator from 2023 who brought their unique approach to help participants of the programme think differently about their innate capabilities and to develop more of an entrepreneurial mindset in their business.

• 160 entrepreneurs supported.
• 52% ethnic minority participation.
• All regions of the UK included.
• £15m funding raised.
• 11 cohorts delivered.

5. The Accelerator (Structure Overview)

6. EXPLORE

An 11-week accelerator sprint designed for early-stage businesses. Intrepid entrepreneurs can make rapid progress on their businesses through cutting-edge business growth tools and 1:1 support from entrepreneurial growth experts.

7. LEO

The ideal programme for entrepreneurs who have a proof of concept in place and are ready to build a high-growth, scalable space company. Across the six-month programme, entrepreneurs access in-depth workshops and 1:1 sessions with growth experts to identify a route to market.

8. GEO

A bespoke six-month accelerator dedicated to driving established businesses to scale. Through an intensive programme of workshops and 1:1’s with commercialisation experts, participants work to achieve their individual goals from raising finance to recruitment.

9. TRAJECTORY

A regional showcase of the vibrant and diverse space start-up ecosystem. Trajectory amplifies opportunities for entrepreneurs who are a part of the UK Space Agency Accelerator Community by connecting them to the wider ecosystem, customers, suppliers and investors.

10. ACCELER8

An exciting midway celebration for the Leo and Geo programmes where members of the cohort practice pitching to a panel of experts and investors, attend workshops and have an opportunity to build connections with funders.

11. ORBIT SERIES

Online, educational content that supports all programmes in the UK Space Agency Accelerator. Consisting of short videos to live sessions, the Orbit series covers invaluable topics from business leadership and mindset to technology and customer acquisition.

12. Accelerating Impact

13. How the UK Space Agency Accelerator is Building the Future by Investing in the Now.

13.1 THE POWER OF INPUT

Before there was output—investment raised, jobs created, or revenue earned—there was input. Thoughtful, human-centred input. This is the story of how the UK Space Agency, supported by Entrepreneurial Spark and Exotopic, delivered a unique accelerator model and turned UK Space Agency’s vision into reality: catalysing space investment, building mission capabilities, and championing space.

14. Human First

15. The Core of Transformation

The culture we created at the heart of the Accelerator was people-first. Before building a business, you build the entrepreneur. This people first philosophy shaped the accelerator model.

16. Human

Putting founders at the heart of everything. Founders are not just participants. They’re the starting point. E-Spark’s approach prioritised their mindset, identity, and leadership journey.

• 88% gained confidence in growing their teams and attracting talent.

• Participants averaged nearly one new job per business immediately and doubled this within a year post-Accelerator.

“Participation gave me a clear hiring plan, making recruitment strategic, not reactive.”

17. Mindset

Cultivating resilience, adaptability, and entrepreneurial confidence. Companies found clarity and gained confidence, enabling them to pivot toward more impactful business models.

• 94% of companies reported improved entrepreneurial mindset.

“I have felt a huge technical, social, and mindset improvement.”

“The Accelerator significantly shaped my business - and me as an entrepreneur.”

18. Impact

Driving measurable social, economic, and personal outcomes. Founders experienced significant personal growth in entrepreneurial confidence and clarity, enabling them to make strategic decisions they previously found challenging. In turn these more effective and timely decisions lead to better commercial outcomes.

“From the start to the end, every week has been filled with vital knowledge and guidance…the one-to-ones with world-class mentors shaped our vital skills.”

“The programme allowed me to closely examine my business and identify areas for improvement - it significantly shaped me as an entrepreneur.”

“First off, you’re talking directly with the UK Space Agency and other partners. Then you have these two great enabling teams in Entrepreneurial Spark, The next topic, business capability and space and innovation capability coming together and they really kind of put their arm around you and help you find opportunities, new ways to think about things.”

-Flow Collinwood, Pan Galactic. Leo Programme

“For me, I’m a much more confident founder than I was just through the sheer fact of learning and networking and understanding what’s possible. And now I understand this is what I need to do, this is what will help me grow the business and this is how the UK space industry will help me.”

-Harris Karim, Dilify. Leo Programme

18.1 About Kavya

I am an entrepreneur and decision scientist with a background in neuropsychoeconomics and behavioural science. My startup, KinKinetics, focuses on providing a customised psychological and emotional decision support system for individuals. Using neuropsychoeconomic principles and machine learning, we aim to simulate the comforting presence of one’s “kin” to alleviate loneliness and enhance decision-making in moments when physical togetherness isn’t possible.

18.2 How the Accelerator enabled Kavya

The Accelerator enabled me by providing mentorship that gave me a clear path forward, helping me assess the next steps towards bringing my idea to fruition. The programme allowed me to dedicate focused time to work on my business, away from the day-to-day stresses of university work and managing a baby. It also upskilled me, enabling me to understand how to act and think like an entrepreneur. The team worked closely with me on developing my growth and entrepreneurial mindset, overcoming my mindset blockers, and significantly supported my entrepreneurial wellbeing, ensuring that my journey to success would remain sustainable alongside all my other commitments.

18.3 Key Learning during the accelerator

Prior to joining the accelerator, there were judgments, the constant shadow of imposter syndrome, and the ever-present fear of failure. Despite it all, breaking stereotypes and confronting challenges head-on has become my new normal after meeting with some amazing people from accelerator. I’ve learned to embrace resilience, no matter the situation. Balancing the roles of a wife, mother, student, and entrepreneur isn’t always easy, but it has taught me that perseverance and hard work are the keys to progress.

Post-accelerator, I’ve made significant strides in developing KinKinetics’ MVP, incorporating user feedback and refining our algorithm to include physiological and emotional components. I have also authored and presented research papers at prestigious international conferences, including the European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA) and International Aeronautical Conference (IAC). I got an invite from NASA to present my research at Human Research Programme . My work has been recognised for its scientific validity and potential applications in space exploration.

“I’m honoured to share my story to encourage other women in entrepreneurship and highlight the programme’s support beyond financial investment.“

19. From Input to Output

20. The Evidence of Impact

What happens when you invest in people? You unlock performance.

• 71% of businesses reported faster growth.
• Participants saw an average increase of 0.9 FTE during the programme, rising to 2 FTE one year later.
• 88% felt more confident growing their team.
• 15 companies generated their first revenue during the accelerator.
• Average annual revenue increased by £27K during the programme.
• Businesses leveraged the extensive access provided to industry primes to better understand the market and refined their go-to-market strategies and ensure stronger commercial readiness.

“I have a clear plan for hiring and how I will onboard new team members.”

“The Accelerator contributed directly to building a 40,000 pipeline for next year.”

20.1 About Messium

Messium protects crops from space so farmers can monitor and harvest crops in confidence. We tell you when, where and how much fertiliser to apply for best results, leading to optimised fertiliser use, maximised nitrogen uptake and minimised nitrous oxide emissions. Messium technology uses hyperspectral satellite constellations and proprietary machine learning models. These are built and tested using data collected from countless trials conducted across the world working with real farmers, local agronomists and government agencies every step of the way. In 2024 we successfully closed a £1.4M pre-seed private funding round and have so far been awarded £350K in grant funding. We joined the Geo programme in January 2024.

20.2 How the Accelerator helped Vishal

The programme has helped me to continue to work at pace and accelerate growth of my business. Having secured significant funding prior to joining the programme has helped me to continue momentum and scale operations at pace. It has also helped me to connect with networks I would not have done otherwise. If I have had a challenge or problem, I have been able to send this over to the enablement team who have utilised their networks for support or directly assisted themselves.

20.3 Breakthrough learning during the accelerator

Along the way, I have picked up valuable information, networks and contacts. The enablement sessions allow me the time to reflect on the way we operate and identify whether we are headed down the right path whether that’s with the leadership of the team, the partnerships we are building or our future strategy, it’s great to have additional insight and thoughtful, strategic questioning as this enables us to grow and develop our personal and company behaviours.

20.4 What’s next

We have an incredibly exciting future. Following our trials, we hope to be generating significant revenue from 2025 forward. We are an international business and would like to continue expanding our reach and offering. We now have significant opportunities in Australia as well as the UK and will continue to build momentum both nationally and internationally.

“This programme provides credibility, community, expert knowledge and advice that you can tap into. It also gives you the intangible momentum that sometimes you need to just keep on moving forward.”

 -Allen Jiang, Amelia Space Technologies. Leo Programme

• 76% confirmed a significant boost in R&D activity, with total R&D investment reaching 11.7M.
• 35% made their first-ever R&D investment due to accelerator support.
• £15M secured by participants (equivalent to 10 times the UK Space Agency’s initial investment). Companies are currently applying for another £77M in funding.
• 85% improved financial knowledge; awareness of VC, angel and crowdfunding sources rose by over 20%.

“The Accelerator reshaped our R&D strategy - now aligned closely with market needs.”

“The Accelerator experience is giving us the confidence to leverage UK public sector funding.”

21. The Flywheel Effect

22. Impact Compounding Over Time

Once momentum starts, it doesn’t stop.

With 72% of founders entering the Accelerator at a pre-revenue stage, this programme intervened precisely at the critical point where other accelerators would be unlikely to engage. By focusing on enhancing mindset and building robust foundations, the Accelerator positioned these early-stage businesses exceptionally well for future success. This strategic government-backed approach ensured that companies became investment-ready, paving the way for private-sector support, growth, and sustained innovation.

The Flywheel Effect

• Strengthened Entrepreneurial Mindset (Clarity, Confidence & Strategy direction).
• Effective Business Articulation & Pitching (Clear Messaging, Compelling Value Proposition).
• Secured Investment & Funding (Access to Resources, Financial Readiness).
• Team Growth & Talent Acquisition (Expanded Capacity, Operational Strengthening).
• Accelerated Innovation & R&D (Enhanced Capabilities, Improved Market Readiness).
• Commercial Success & Revenue Generation (Initial Revenue, New Customers, Additional Funding Opportunities).
• Enhanced Credibility & Expanded Networks (Reputation, Strategic Partnerships, Market Visibility).
• Sustained & Reinforced Entrepreneurial Confidence (Resilience & Continued Ambition for Further Growth).
• Founder Development (Coaching/ enablement, startup skills and network access).

“We joined with another startup. We now work under one umbrella.”

“The connections facilitated our proof-of-concept payload project with Airbus.”

23. Ecosystem Impact

24. Achieving the UK SPACE AGENCY ACCELERATOR Objectives

The Accelerator made measurable progress toward UK SPACE AGENCY’s goals:

Objective	Progress
Catalyse Investment	£15M raised, £77M in funding applications.
Deliver Capabilities	Significant boosts in market strategy, technical readiness—including advancements in technologies like reusable rockets that lower launch costs, and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing that extend asset lifespans and reduce space debris—and financial literacy, collectively strengthening mission capabilities.
Champion Space	Over 160 companies supported, 55% outside London/SE, with strong engagement across regions and underserved communities.

What’s Next?

• 27th May 2025: Explore and Leo Applications.
• 22nd June 2025: Leo Application Deadline.
• 29th June 2025: Explore Application Deadline.
• July to November 2025: Shuttle Rolling Applications.
• September to October 2025: Geo Applications.
• November 2025: Trajectory
• November 2025: Fusion Connect with Capital. The UK Space Agency Fusion programme is a high-intensity, investor-led programme equipping startups with expert coaching, technical investment-readiness support, and direct access to funders - culminating in demo day opportunities and backed by a UK-wide network.
• February 2026: Trajectory

25. Impact isn’t just about results. It’s about relationships.

The UK Space Agency partnered strategically with Entrepreneurial Spark and Exotopic, creating not just growth, but a vibrant, connected ecosystem. By transforming how entrepreneurs saw themselves and their opportunities, the Accelerator delivered lasting impacts beyond traditional metrics—building resilience, adaptability, and sustainable commercial success.

“The relationships between cohort members is really critical. So I’ve made some brilliant friendships and you help each other out because you’re all in the same boat. You’re learning as you go and so you share your lessons with each other.”

-Katie King, BioOrbit. Leo Programme

26. Supporting Partners

27. ALDEN

Trusted legal, policy and consultancy experts, Alden Legal are proudly unique in Europe for satellite, space and communications law and regulatory expertise.

28. DELOITTE

A leading global provider of professional services. Deloitte’s space practice brings together public, private, international and start-up space experts to solve business and social challenges.

29. FRAZER NASH CONSULTANCY

Frazer Nash Consultancy helps organisations deliver innovative systems, engineering and technology solutions to make life safe, secure, sustainable and affordable.

30. KNOW.SPACE

know.space is a specialist space economics consultancy with one single mission: to be the source of authoritative economic knowledge for the space sector.

31. SATELLITE FINANCE NETWORK (SFN)

Satellite Finance Network is a network of individuals and organisations operating within finance, government and space technology and applications.