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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there any age restrictions?
- Are there any age restrictions?
- Do I need a business plan?
- Can I apply if I am not from the UK?
- If I have already incorporated my company, can I still apply?
- Is my start-up too early (or late)?
- Who are the mentors?
- Will you sign a Non Disclosure Agreement?
- How is our programme different from Angel Investors and Venture Capital?
- e4f sounds like a great idea, but why would I move to Birmingham?
- Do you provide any funding?
- What types of businesses do you accept?
Question: Are there any age restrictions?
Answer:
Question: Are there any age restrictions?
Answer:
Question: Do I need a business plan?
Answer:
No. We will make our decisions based upon your application and your pitch to the panel.
Question: Can I apply if I am not from the UK?
Answer:
Yes. The programme is open to entrepreneurial teams within and outside of Europe, as long as you and your team can work in the UK legally. If you need working visas you will have to sort that out yourself. You will be required to re-locate to Birmingham for the duration of your incubation (12-months)
Question: If I have already incorporated my company, can I still apply?
Answer:
We recommend that you do not incorporate if you have not already done so. That said please do apply even if you have already formed a company.
Question: Is my start-up too early (or late)?
Answer:
No, we will consider any start-up. The programme is about supporting ideas and businesses. If we think we can have a meaningful impact we will consider your application.
Question: Who are the mentors?
Answer:
Mentors can come from a variety of backgrounds. These can include serial entrepreneurs, founders, technology experts, and professionals such as lawyers, marketing specialists, accountants and venture capitalists.
Question: Will you sign a Non Disclosure Agreement?
Answer:
We do not normally sign NDAs, with the exception of those who already have a pending or granted patent. The reason for this is that we think early stage startups should be getting as much feedback as possible, and that the real challenge lies in execution, not the initial idea which is likely to change anyway.
We’ve written a blog post on this topic – search for NDAs in our blog archive for more information.
Question: How is our programme different from Angel Investors and Venture Capital?
Answer:
Our primary motivation is to help entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. Some angel investors will invest at early stages, but they are sadly a minority and often their guidance does not have the same kind of structure and intensity as an incubator. Through the programme we will help you to create the foundation from which you can raise finance from angel investors and venture capitalists.
Question: e4f sounds like a great idea, but why would I move to Birmingham?
Answer:
For early stage companies, we believe that on the balance of probability you will progress further and faster by taking part in the e4f intensive incubator programme than if you did not.
We are committed to helping early stage digital businesses, and in itself this ambitious approach demonstrates how important we believe technology businesses are to the future of the West Midlands.
Question: Do you provide any funding?
Answer:
Unfortunately ee don’t provide any funding directly, but will work with you to access the finance your business requires. This funding can be via grants, loans, angel investment or venture capital.
Question: What types of businesses do you accept?
Answer:
We accept businesses/ideas in the following sectors:
ICT, Digital Media, Green/Clean Technology, Medical Technology, BioTechnology.
Check out our current list of startups for examples of the type of businesses we accept. We don’t accept web agencies, digital agencies, marketing services, IT support companies or anyone doing something that’s not new, innovative or different.
