Mishcon de Reya is supporting the Accelerate Cambridge programme, one of the Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge Business School’s (CJBS) flagship initiatives to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme is designed to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into successful businesses. It provides a structured environment where participants can learn from seasoned professionals and acquire the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of starting and managing a business.
Accelerate Cambridge offers coaching, mentorship, entrepreneurship education, resources and guidance to entrepreneurs at various stages of their business journey. It focuses on helping individuals transition from the conceptual phase of an idea or PhD project to establishing a business entity and commercialising their idea. The programme covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of setting up a business entity to more complex issues such as understanding term sheets.
The sessions are targeted towards early-stage entrepreneurs, educating participants on strategy and structural considerations when establishing a legal entity for a new business and managing relationships between founding teams.
Becki Quick (Managing Associate), and Chris Keen (Partner) play a key role on the Accelerate Cambridge programme. Becki has been involved for the past four years, attending sessions both in person and online. She provides insights into the key requirements for setting up a business, addressing everything from the necessity of a separate entity to managing relationships with partners.
Becki commented: "I enjoy visiting CJBS. The ventures are so engaged, they never ask the same question twice, the ideas can be so varied in the room, and I really enjoy talking through their concepts. When you are on the deal cycle it can be really nice to spend time with these incredibly talented and focused individuals, it's also personally really satisfying to feel like you are giving back a little to the Cambridge innovation economy and its early-stage ventures".
Chris has been educating and mentoring participants on the Accelerate programme for six years. His teaching is focused on raising investment and the terms and structures involved in early-stage venture capital transactions. Reflecting on his involvement, Chris said: "I love visiting the Judge and meeting the ventures and other mentors on the Accelerate and Pre-Accelerate programmes. The range of different businesses being built by entrepreneurs from all different backgrounds and walks of life is a perfect summation of what makes Cambridge such a special place to be taking bold steps and starting new things. No two of my days at CJBS are the same."