Springboard launches London accelerator

Springboard  has launched its first London programme, due to start 5 March 2012 and end 13 weeks later.

The startup accelerator that looks to cultivate companies principally working on web-based technologies, will now be running two programmes a year, one in London the other Cambridge.

While Springboard was born, revived and refined in Cambridge and is now part of the TechStars Network, it will continue there with a new class next year - space at ideaSpace is already booked - the accelerator's director, Jon Bradford, says there's no better place in Europe to launch a web business right now than London.

In a short statement on the Springboard web site, Bradford said: "Maybe I am biased, but I personally believe that London, TechCity and/or Silicon Roundabout is probably the most stimulating location in Europe to start and grow a web business.

"And I am not alone, in the last two weeks I have spoken with two great American startups – Twilio and SendGrid – who are looking to set up their first overseas office here in London." Big news there too.

Bradford had told Cabume that a second location for Springboard was being considered back in April this year and that he was actually approached about setting up Springboard in London within one hour of launching the Cambridge event at SVc2UK 2010.

The Cambridge programme had set a target of 100 entrants, but eventually took over 230 applications for 10 team spots.

The London format is likely to follow the Y-Combinator inspired model used in Cambridge, 10 teams working over an intensive 13 week period, with mentorship from some of the top entrepreneurs, investors and others from the startup ecosystem.

Teams of up to three people receive £5,000 per founder in exchange for a six per cent equity stake and will face an investors day at the end of the programme, 11 May 2012.

Details of exactly where it will take place have not been revealed though people wanting to participate can apply through here: www.f6s.com/springboardlondonapply