The UK has a strong ecosystem for early stage AI founders, supported by a mix of government backed, university linked, corporate, and private accelerators. These programmes help startups refine their technology, gain commercial traction, access expert mentors, and in some cases secure early investment. Below is a selection of ten of the most established AI focused accelerators operating across the UK.

List of AI accelerators in the UK to look at

• Google for Startups Accelerator: AI

• Entrepreneur First

• Techstars London

• Antler London

• AI Seed

• Deep Science Ventures

• Deeptech Labs Cambridge

• Creative Destruction Lab Oxford

• Conception X

• Edinburgh AI Accelerator

Google for Startups Accelerator: AI (UK)

Google’s AI First accelerator is a 12-week hybrid program (online and in-person) for AI-driven startups from Seed to Series A. It is an equity-free accelerator that connects startups with Google’s experts, products, and technology to scale their businesses in AI . Participants receive mentorship, technical training (including up to $350k in cloud credits), and early access to new AI tools, culminating in workshops and 1:1 support to tackle each startup’s top technical challenges . This program, run out of Google’s London Campus, reflects Google’s commitment to empower promising UK AI startups without taking equity.

Location: London (hybrid program)

Website:startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/ai-first

Focus: Applied AI and generative AI startups (across any industry)

Support Model: 12-week mentorship program, equity-free (offers resources like cloud credits and coaching, no funding taken)

Entrepreneur First (London)

Entrepreneur First (EF) is a talent-focused accelerator that helps individuals form teams and launch deep tech startups, often with a strong AI focus . EF’s London program brings together engineers, researchers, and domain experts before they even have a company, and supports them in finding co-founders and refining a business idea. EF provides a stipend and pre-seed investment (£80k is common) to teams that form, in return for equity . Many of EF’s portfolio companies are AI-first ventures, as EF prioritizes “frontier” technology founders . Its model has a strong reputation globally, often likened to a “talent investor,” and has produced notable AI startups.

Location: London (with programs globally; London is the flagship)

Website:joinef.com

Focus: Frontier technology and AI-first startups across sectors (depends on founders’ ideas)

Support Model: 3–6 month program; provides funding (~£80k) for equity, plus intensive mentorship and networking

Techstars London

Techstars is a renowned global accelerator network, and its London program has increasingly centered on AI-driven businesses. The London accelerator runs a 3-month, mentorship-driven program for early-stage startups, investing around $120k in each company for equity (typically 6–9%). In 2025, Techstars London’s cohort was “focused on AI,” featuring founders applying AI in legal, insurance, payments, health, climate, and education . Participating startups relocate to London for the program, where they receive hands-on support from a network of mentors and alumni. Techstars London culminates in a Demo Day, giving AI startups exposure to a broad investor audience . With Techstars’ strong backing and network, it’s one of the top launchpads for AI startups in the UK.

Location: London

Website:techstars.com/accelerators/london

Focus: General tech startups, but with recent cohorts emphasizing applied AI across industries

Support Model: 3-month accelerator; provides funding (~$120k for equity) plus mentorship, curriculum, and investor demo day

Antler (London)

Antler is a global early-stage VC and accelerator that runs an intensive London residency program to build startups from scratch. Over an 8-week program, individuals pitch ideas, form teams, and develop prototypes – Antler then invests in the most promising teams. In Spring 2025, Antler’s London cohort saw 90+ founders form teams, with 14 AI-driven startups ultimately securing investment (over £1.5M deployed) . These new companies span various sectors (consumer apps, B2B software, fintech, etc.) but share AI at their core . Antler’s model addresses early fundraising friction by rapidly funding teams at inception, so founders can focus on building . This has made London a hub for Antler’s AI innovation, reflecting its confidence in the UK’s AI ecosystem .

Location: London

Website:antler.co/uk

Focus: Any sector, with a strong emphasis on AI and emerging tech solutions (depends on founders’ ideas; many incorporate AI)

Support Model: ~2-month founder residency; Antler invests ~£100k in each selected startup for equity (total ~£1.5M across cohort) , plus provides co-founder matching, mentorship, and follow-on support

AI Seed

AI Seed is a specialist accelerator-investor dedicated exclusively to early-stage AI startups. Founded in 2017 in London, AI Seed runs a program combining capital and support for startups pushing boundaries in AI – from automation and predictive analytics to deep learning innovations .

Startups accepted into AI Seed’s cohort receive funding (typically pre-seed/seed investment) as well as mentorship, workspace, and introductions to a network of AI experts and investors . The program usually runs for 3–6 months and culminates in a demo day to help startups secure further funding . AI Seed’s mentorship-first model and exclusive AI focus have made it a top European AI accelerator, often cited among the leading AI investors in Europe .

Location: London, UK

Website:aiseed.co

Focus: Artificial intelligence startups (general AI and machine learning applications across industries)

Support Model: ~3–6 month accelerator; provides seed funding (for equity), mentorship, office space, and investor network access .

Deep Science Ventures (DSV)

Deep Science Ventures is a venture-builder and accelerator that tackles global challenges by combining science and AI. Based in London, DSV takes a thematic approach: it starts with hard problems in sectors like climate, health, agriculture, and energy, and then incubates new companies (often AI-driven) to solve them .

DSV works closely with scientists and technical founders from the idea stage, providing a stipend and heavy support to develop a viable product and business. The program typically runs ~12 months of venture building . DSV can provide pre-seed funding (varies by venture) and usually forms a founding team around the technology, taking co-founder equity .

With backing from organizations like Imperial College and others, DSV has a strong reputation in deep tech and AI for its novel model of “creating” startups that fuse cutting-edge science with AI solutions.

Location: London (with global projects)

Website:deepscienceventures.com

Focus: Deep science and deep tech innovations, often integrating AI – sectors include healthcare, climate/energy, agritech, etc.

Support Model: Venture studio/accelerator (~12 months); DSV co-founds and invests in ventures (investment terms vary), not equity-free , and provides intensive hands-on support, lab resources, and mentor networks.

Deeptech Labs (Cambridge)

Deeptech Labs is a Cambridge-based accelerator and seed fund focused on “deep tech” startups, including many at the frontier of AI and machine learning. Backed by Cambridge University, ARM, and other investors, Deeptech Labs runs a cohort twice a year, embedding startups in a powerful network of experienced entrepreneurs and researchers . Each cohort is a 10-week program in Cambridge, during which Deeptech Labs invests £100k–£350k in each startup and provides intense mentorship and expert-led sessions .

The program ends with a Demo Day to connect companies with top investors. Deeptech Labs specifically targets seed-stage companies with an established new technology and early team, often spinning out of research – areas span AI/ML, quantum computing, advanced hardware, etc. .

It is a major catalyst for AI and deeptech startups in the UK, bridging the gap between seed and Series A with its funding and network.

Location: Cambridge, England

Website:dtl.vc

Focus: Deep tech startups (AI/ML, data science, semiconductors, robotics, etc. – any science/engineering-heavy venture)

Support Model: 10-week accelerator, runs 2 cohorts/year; invests £100k–£350k per startup for equity , provides mentoring by 50+ industry and academic experts, and office space in Cambridge.

Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) – Oxford

Creative Destruction Lab is a global not-for-profit accelerator for science-based ventures, and CDL-Oxford (at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School) is its UK branch. CDL-Oxford runs a nine-month program centered on objectives-based mentorship: founders receive guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors in a series of full-day sessions every 8 weeks .

One of Oxford’s key streams is Artificial Intelligence, which was the focus when CDL launched in Europe . (CDL-Oxford now hosts five streams including AI, fintech, climate, health, and space .) The program does not invest capital directly nor take equity; instead, it provides invaluable mentorship and business development support – including MBA student interns who help startups on projects .

CDL’s track record is strong: globally, CDL alumni have created over £16.6B in equity value, and Oxford’s cohorts alone have generated £1.3B+ in equity value across 200+ founders . This makes CDL-Oxford a top choice for AI and deeptech startups looking for guidance to scale massively without giving up equity.

Location: Oxford (Saïd Business School)

Website:creativedestructionlab.com/locations/oxford

Focus: Science and technology ventures with high scalability. Oxford streams include AI, fintech, climate, health (biotech), and space . The AI Stream connects AI-focused startups with domain experts.

Support Model: 9-month mentorship program (no funding from program, equity-free); startups set objectives each session with mentors. Provides network of entrepreneurs, angels, scientists, and MBA support; no direct financial investment by CDL .

Conception X

Conception X is a unique venture program for PhD students across the UK, turning research ideas (often in AI or deeptech) into viable startups. It’s essentially an early-stage accelerator designed to fit around a doctoral schedule . The program runs for 9 months and is grant-based and equity-free – meaning PhD founders do not give up equity to participate .

Conception X provides entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and networking to help academic researchers commercialize their innovations. It has built Europe’s largest community of “deep tech” entrepreneurial researchers . Many Conception X teams work on cutting-edge AI, machine learning, and data science applications (as well as other tech domains like biotech or quantum).

By bridging academia with the startup ecosystem, Conception X has gained a strong reputation for producing fundable AI startups straight out of university labs . Alumni have gone on to raise significant investment or join other accelerators.

Location: Based in London, but open UK-wide (participation is often remote+occasional events)

Website:conceptionx.org

Focus: PhD-led deeptech and AI startups (spinning out from research in AI, engineering, life sciences, etc.)

Support Model: 9-month part-time program; provides training, exposure and grant funding (stipends) with no equity taken . It’s essentially an incubator to prepare founders for raising capital or entering bigger accelerators.

University of Edinburgh AI Accelerator

The Edinburgh AI Accelerator is a six-month program for AI-driven companies run by the University of Edinburgh’s Bayes Centre (with support from Scottish Enterprise and others). It aims to help early-stage or scaling AI startups become “world-leading businesses” by providing expert-led workshops, mentoring, investor networking, and free office space in Edinburgh .

Notably, this accelerator is equity-free: participants retain their equity and even receive a small stipend while on the program . The cohort typically consists of around a dozen startups using AI to tackle broad challenges (recently healthtech, sustainable fashion, cybersecurity, etc. were highlighted) . The program connects founders with the rich AI research ecosystem at University of Edinburgh – ranked #1 in the UK for computer science research .

It culminates in a demo day and continued support. Now several years running (as of 2025 they welcomed their 9th cohort), the Edinburgh AI Accelerator has become a top public-backed program for AI startups, especially those that can benefit from academia-industry collaboration.

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh)

Website:bayes-centre.ed.ac.uk/entrepreneurship/ai-accelerator

Focus: Artificial intelligence startups addressing any sector (prior cohorts include health, climate, finance, etc.) . Targeted to companies with AI at core of product.

Support Model: 6-month accelerator, equity-free (provides a stipend, mentorship, investor introductions, and office space) . No investment taken; helps companies become investment-ready.

Innovate UK’s BridgeAI – FutureScope AI Accelerator

BridgeAI is a UK government (Innovate UK) initiative to drive AI adoption in high-growth sectors, delivered by Digital Catapult and partners. As part of BridgeAI, Digital Catapult launched the FutureScope High Growth AI Accelerator in 2023 – a program designed to spur AI and ML innovation in four vital sectors: construction, transport, agriculture (agrifood), and creative industries .

The accelerator welcomed 9 AI startups in its first cohort, each developing solutions to industry challenges in those sectors . It emphasizes responsible and ethical AI, and provides participants with technical mentorship, access to computing resources, and connections to corporate partners.

The program is backed by heavyweights like Google Cloud, AWS, NVIDIA, and the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (for guidance on data ethics) . BridgeAI’s accelerator builds on Digital Catapult’s prior Machine Intelligence Garage, and is equity-free (government funded). It offers some funding or credits support and focuses on driving real-world AI deployment in traditional industries that can benefit from AI .

Location: Various (UK-wide program; sessions likely in London and partner regions, with hybrid delivery)

Website:digicatapult.org.uk/programmes/bridgeai

Focus: AI and ML startups in agrifood, construction, transport, and creative sectors, to increase AI adoption in these industries .

Support Model: Government-funded accelerator (part of Innovate UK’s BridgeAI); equity-free support including mentorship, industry pilot opportunities, cloud credits, and investor access. Runs as a cohort-based program (FutureScope) with sector-specific guidance .

Bethnal Green Ventures (BGV)

Bethnal Green Ventures is an early-stage “tech for good” accelerator based in London that has supported many startups leveraging AI for social or environmental impact. BGV looks for teams using technology to solve tough problems in areas like health, education, sustainability, civic engagement, and worker welfare .

The program runs for ~12 weeks and offers an investment of around £60,000 (recently increased from £20k) in exchange for equity (usually 6–7%) . During the accelerator, startups get workshops, 1:1 mentoring, connections to 100+ mentors, and peer support from the tech-for-good community . Not all BGV startups are AI companies, but many incorporate AI and data science to address issues (for example, alumni tackling mental health with AI, or climate solutions using machine learning).

BGV has a strong reputation (a certified B-Corp and backed by organizations like Nesta), and its focus on responsible technology aligns well with AI ethics and social good. After the program, BGV continues to support alumni with follow-on funding and a rich network of impact investors.

Location: London, UK (program often uses a hybrid of remote and in-person at BGV’s office)

Website:bethnalgreenventures.com

Focus: “Tech for Good” startups – sectors include Health, Education, Sustainability, Civic Tech (“democracy & society”), and WorkerTech . AI is used as an enabling technology in many of these.

Support Model: 3-month accelerator, cohort-based; provides ~£50k–£60k seed investment (equity), plus intensive learning curriculum and mentor network. Also offers 6 months of free co-working space and an alumni program for ongoing support .

Wayra UK

Wayra UK is the startup accelerator arm of Telefónica (O2) and is a prominent corporate-backed accelerator in London. Wayra runs a variety of programs, often in partnership with corporates or government, to support startups in sectors relevant to Telefónica and its partners – including telecommunications, 5G/IoT, cybersecurity, and increasingly AI solutions.

For example, Wayra partnered with GE Healthcare to accelerate AI-led healthtech startups (through the Edison™ Accelerator program) focusing on medical imaging and oncology AI tools. It also collaborated with the University of Edinburgh in the past to launch an AI & Blockchain Accelerator for scaling startups . Wayra typically provides an investment (around £25k–£50k) and co-working space, plus access to Telefónica’s network, potential pilots with enterprise clients, and coaching.

Programs can be 3–6 months depending on the cohort. Wayra’s strong backing offers AI startups a route to enterprise customers and further funding. Many AI startups (like translation platform Unbabel or retail AI firm Qudini) have gone through Wayra and then scaled up. Overall, Wayra UK combines funding with business development opportunities, making it a key accelerator for AI startups that target telecom, smart cities, health, and other industries where Telefónica and its partners have reach.

Location: London, UK (Wayra hub at Telefónica/O2)

Website:wayra.uk

Focus: Multi-sector tech with corporate alignment – Telecom and mobile services, 5G, IoT, digital health, cybersecurity, etc. Many programs emphasize AI solutions in these domains .

Support Model: 3–6 month accelerator programs (often run with a specific corporate partner); provides seed funding (usually equity or convertible), mentorship, workspace, and direct introductions for commercial pilots.

• Each program’s terms may vary with the partner (some are grant-based for pilot, others equity investments).

Each of the above accelerators is currently active and well-regarded, offering early-stage AI startups in the UK a combination of funding, mentorship, and access to networks. Whether backed by government, universities, or corporates, these programs are instrumental in turning the UK’s AI innovations into scalable businesses. The mix of equity-based and equity-free options means founders can choose the model that best fits their venture’s needs and stage.