PROGRAMME
WHY DESAFÍA LONDON?
London sits at the heart of the climate tech cluster known as the ‘Golden Triangle’. The programme is designed to immerse attendees into the ecosystem of London, Cambridge and Oxford, taking full advantage of all that is to offer.
In addition, the cohort will uniquely benefit from the unrivalled depth of experience, research excellence and global reach of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).
- 16% of Europe's total climate tech investment since 2016
- #1 in Europe for climate tech startups, 416
- $28B combined value of climate tech startups
- #2 city globally for the number of Cleantech rounds raised by start-ups.
- Average early-stage funding, 1.7x global average ($486k)
- 46,000 tech companies
- Europe's start-up capital and ranked fourth globally for VC investment in 2021
LONDON
- 3rd most successful university innovation ecosystem in the world
- #1 for graduate founders raising £10M+
- #2 in UK for climate tech startups
- Europe's most successful technology cluster
- Most unicorns (£1bn+) companies per capita in the world
- UK's leading climate tech ecosystem, 135 companies with over $500m invested in last 10 years
CAMBRIDGE
- #1 European university for alumni unicorn founders
- #3 global university for tech founders
- #4 global science hub
- fast growing energy, AI and engineering cluster
- Over $1 billion invested in high-tech energy infrastructure, including the Diamond Synchrotron, JET tokamak and new technology pioneered by First Light Fusion
- $4.8 billion raised by 288 new companies in the last 7 years.
OXFORD
THE PROGRAMME
The Desafìa London Immersion Programme supports Spanish companies in the clean and climate tech sectors, helping them to scale faster by accelerating their internationalisation process.
The programme will take advantage of the clean and climate tech cluster of the ‘Golden Triangle’ and will offer a gateway to key ecosystem players within London, Cambridge and Oxford.
Visiting these three key cities, the participants will be immersed within each ecosystem, benefitting from valuable knowledge and connections.
Programme Highlights
4 days in Cambridge and 6 days in London
Sessions to be conducted in UK top climate-tech ecosystem venues like:
The University of Cambrige Entopia Building, a remarkable example of sustainable retrofit, has achieved several certifications, including BREEAM “Outstanding”, the Passivhaus ‘EnerPHit’ standard, and WELL “Gold” certification.
London Sustainable Ventures headquarters, the iconic County Hall, previously unused for nearly 40 years, is a thriving hub where more than 100 climate tech pioneers converge, collaborate, and drive positive environmental impact.
Executive training by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership in topics such as Negotiation, Storytelling, Sustainability Strategy, Investment and Exit Strategy, the UK Net Zero Market, Dragon’s Den style feedback from UK stakeholders, and others
Welcome dinner with mentors at tradition Kings College in Cambridge
Internationalization sessions with London & Partners, UK Department of Business Trade and ICEX London
Three hours of 1-1 mentoring with local experts
Day visit to Oxford
Site visits (i.e Mini Cooper plant in Oxford, Sustainable Ventures eco-building in London)
Participate in networking events with the Climate Tech community in Cambridge and Oxford
Workshop and ask the expert sessions with renowned UK consultants. See previous cohorts examples:
KPMG - Corporate Tax, VAT & Customs, Global Mobility Services Deal Advisory and Lega-
Xynteo - Meaningful industry/ corporate collaborations- fireside side chart
Rapid Innovation Group - product market fit workshop
Demo Day Event to pitch your solutions to investors, VCs, corporates and wider UK audience.
Spare time to conduct your own agenda of work meetings
Testimonials
"Definitely I recommend Desafia for any start-up in Spain"
— Ian Bogado, Founder & CEO Uali
“A great platform to get to know the UK a market and how to enter as a new company.”
—Joel Tortolero, Chief International Expansion Officer, Citibox
"The learning and knowledge that we have gathered through this programme is going to make a huge impact in our start-up from here onwards. It will enable us to reach further, faster, and in a more elaborate way".
— Miguelangel Ocando, Founder & CEO, H2Vector
Welcome dinner with mentors at traditional Kings College in Cambridge
Entopia Building, home to the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership
James Cole from University of Cambridge welcoming Cohort 2 at Entopia Building
HRH King Charles III, the then Prince Charles opened Entopia Building, the University of Cambridge's Sustainability Hub
Miogas CEO, Lucia Suarez on DemoDay at Huckletree London
Cohort 2 at Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in the UK workshop
Cohort 1 at UK ClimateTech Deepdive session in London
Trinity College, University of Cambridge
Ask the Expert speed dating activity at West Cambridge
Dine at the world renowned Trinity College, University of Cambridge
Internationalization Session with London & Partners and DBT
Huckletree, Oxford Circus, London. Co-working space.
Cohort 2 stepping out from the boat who tooks them from Westminster to Canary Wharf
Cohort 2 after workshop at KPMG headquarters in London
West Hub, University of Cambridge
Networking activity with the Cambridge Climate Tech community
Site visit to Oxford's Mini Cooper Plant
Session at University of Oxford Said Business School
Juan Roldan from Wattson, at Oxford networking activity
Sustainable Ventures sustainable materials showcase (venue for the London leg of the programme)
Networking at Cambridge Union
"Improve your storytelling skills" session with Viola Jardon from CISL
Cohort 1 at University of Cambridge West Hub
Sustainable Ventures
Sammy Fry from Tech Nation presenting the UK Climate tech overview
WHO
Spanish growth or scaling phase SME’s that:
- are incorporated or head quartered in Spain.
- are offering products/services that are exclusively manufactured and/or branded in Spain.
- offer a product/service related to technologies in the clean or climate tech space (specific themes apply) - learn more.
- ideally have previous international experience
- have C-level officers or founders who are fluent in English and able to travel to the UK to fully attend the programme
WHEN
Spanish companies/startups that:
- Desafía London Spring 2023 Programme
- May 13th until May 24th
- Application deadline: 15th March
- Kick-Off Meeting Madrid: April
WHAT
- The Desafía London Immersion Programme is made possible through the generous support of our founding partners.
- The Programme is free.
- Participants only have to cover travel, accommodation and living expenses whilst attending the programme.
CONTACT US
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