Springboard

A flexible, personalised mentoring programme for entrepreneurs ready to scale their start-up

What is Springboard?

Springboard offers a dynamic one-to-one mentoring experience designed to support entrepreneurs in scaling their start-up. By tapping into the real-world expertise of seasoned Entrepreneurs and Mentors, the programme connects you with a network of critical friends who stress-test your product and business model, helping to increase resilience and accelerate your path to success.

Who should apply for Springboard?

The programme is suited to those who have developed/developing a product/solution and are engaging with customers. The path from developing a product/solution to actually having a product that customers really want and will pay for is a difficult one fraught with challenges. Additionally, understanding your target customers and how to sell to them at scale is often a major stumbling block for many startups. Irrespective of where you are on this journey, we want to help guide you through this process, build value, win more customers and if appropriate help raise investment. The programme is free, sector agnostic and is open to entrepreneurs who are passionate, ambitious and coachable.

Why Springboard?

Springboard is unique in that it is a flexible process facilitating a specific tailored journey for your Company. Each Company’s experience will be different because no two companies have precisely the same needs to get them to the next stage of development. We have a dedicated team in house who are focused on helping your company overcome its current challenges, build value, avoid costly mistakes and rapidly progress to the next stage. A few key aspects of what sets Springboard apart from other support programmes:

Tailored Journey: Every company’s experience is unique, with personalised support to meet your specific needs.

Dedicated Team: Our in-house experts help you overcome challenges, build value, and avoid costly mistakes.

Comprehensive Mentorship: Access to mentors who have navigated similar business challenges, offering valuable advice in product development, sales, legal, or financial issues.

Supportive Environment: Benefit from shared experiences and support from other companies in a nurturing setting.

Focused & Time-Limited: Quickly identify and solve the key challenges hindering your growth, equipping you with the tools for success.

You get out what you put in: Springboard will not cost you a penny, but it isn’t free. We are passionate and committed to helping you succeed, and we expect the same dedication from you.

Springboard Statistics Speak Volumes

£ 0 M

in Investment

Graduates

Jobs supported

What to Expect

Apply – The programme is now live and accepting applications until 11 November 2024, support for this iteration of Springboard will run until end of March 2025 at the latest.

Call – Once the application has been submitted, the Springboard team will be in touch to understand a bit more about your business and the support you require.

Needs Evaluation – This decides whether Springboard is suitable or not for your company. Our in-house team will work with you to understand your business, evaluate where you are in your development journey and identify what key challenges you currently have that are preventing growth. This may take the form of an external panel of experts and stakeholders with specific sectoral expertise relevant to your company.

Tailored Plan and Kick Off Meeting – Having understood and agreed the key challenges in your business that need attention we will agree a plan, if you need specialist mentoring support, and what success will look like at the end of the programme.

Project Delivery – You will work closely with the Springboard Team and Mentors, to deliver your objectives.

Graduation – One thing every founder needs to be able to do is to pitch their business whether it be to investors or potential customers. At the end of your journey, you will have the opportunity to present your business to a group of tailored domain experts who can challenge your pitch and provide valuable feedback on how you can improve it.

Join Catalyst Community – We want to support you as you continue to grow.

Remember, it’s FREE – Under no circumstances discuss payment for services or positions with any Springboard related personnel for the duration of the programme.

Time Commitment – Commit appropriate time to work with your assigned mentors and Catalyst’s Entrepreneur In Residence as agreed with all parties (approx. 3 hrs per week over 12 weeks) and complete agreed tasks. Tasks will include, but are not limited to, items such as refinement of your business model / Go To Market strategy and the development of a 15-minute slide deck and presentation.