UK business accelerator Indielab calls for 2021 applications

IndieLab’s 2020 cohort

The Indielab Accelerator, which helps production companies to expand, is calling for applications to the 2021 edition of its growth programme.

The sixth edition of the scheme will build on the launch of the Indielab Connect platform by hosting a blend of virtual and physical masterclasses and seminars with UK and global speakers.

Indielab Accelerator provides 15 early and mid-stage production companies with a programme that enables them to hone their business vision and explores the growth opportunities specific to their businesses.

The programme, which includes masterclasses from leading industry experts and consultants, provides bespoke seminars and mentoring to each indie to enable growth for their businesses. In 2020, combined with its first ever virtual programme, Indielab helped facilitate first look deals for Afro Mic and Chatterbox along with investment deals for Yeti and both investment and first-look deals for Proper Content.

Wayne Garvie to keynote

The scheme has been re-formatted to deliver around the key issues for indies in 2021 and beyond, and now takes place via a mix of virtual and physical events. Wayne Garvie, president of Sony Pictures Television will make the keynote opening speech.

Victoria Powell, founder and CEO of Indielab, said: “Last year has forced us all to innovate and consider how we do things differently. Indies need to adapt and identify their unique opportunity in the domestic and global markets.

“Times of rapid change and crisis can be a huge challenge and threat to existing revenue, but for those thinking strategically they can also present new and lucrative opportunities. Indies on the 2021 programme will have the opportunity to sharpen their focus and accelerate their growth with our bespoke seminars, masterclasses and mentoring.

“For 2021 we are delivering our programme virtually and physically, and an upside to virtual delivery is that we can field leading industry speakers from around the world, location is no longer a hurdle.”

Indielab Accelerator is backed by long-time partners Channel 4 and the BBC, while Screen Scotland is also returning to the scheme this year. Returning sponsors include Sony Pictures Television, who will continue to provide The Sony Indielab Diversity Bursary Scheme.

Details of the scheme can be found here and below:

• Indielab is actively seeking applications from companies across all genres, including both scripted and non-scripted.
• To be eligible, indies must be founded and registered in the UK, with less than £6m in revenue in non-scripted. In order to support the burgeoning scripted sector as well as non-scripted, the cap on turnover has now been lifted to £10m if the company can demonstrate some scripted production.
• Participants must have had at least two or three broadcast credits within the last three years.
• Entries for the 2021 programme will be open from January 15th until with an early bird deadline of 5th February and final deadline of 12th March 2021. Production companies can apply via the Indielab website: www.weareindielab.co.uk. The successful applicants will be notified in March 2021 and invited to nominate two employees to take part in the programme, which will run from 26 April to Friday 25 June 2021.