Launch Business Incubator
Got an idea for a new business? Time to engage your startup with our Launch Business Incubator.
Launch supports students and alumni who want to start a business or social enterprise!
- Do you have an interesting idea to start a new business or social enterprise?
- Are you looking to sell products or services online or promote yourself as a freelancer?
Every year we recruit cohorts of budding entrepreneurs and take them on a journey of support to help students and alumni to start-up and run their own businesses.
Pick the right programme for you:
Launch Face to Face cohorts
- Prepare to Launch - helps you to research, plan and explore your idea through a bootcamp delivered over two half day supported workshops.
- Launch Phase 2 - join a community of founders being guided from idea to implementation in a structured and supportive environment.
Complete the Expression of Interest webform before the deadline as this will help assign you to the correct programme for your business stage.
Cant attend on-campus workshops?
- Launch Digital a blend of online pre-recorded modules and live online sessions Perfect if you are looking to develop your commercial awareness and entrepreneurial mindset. You can join Launch Digital at any time of the year.
Prepare to Launch (In-Person)
We are currently planning to deliver workshops on the following dates:
- Workshop 1 - Wednesday 18 February 2026, 13:00-16:00
- Workshop 2 - Wednesday 25 February 2026, 13:00-16:00
The deadline for applications will be 13th February 12pm.
Workshop 1 will cover
- Business basics company structures, HMRC and FAQs
- Market research primary, secondary and competitor analysis
- Business modelling using a Canvas to create your own business model.
Workshop 2 will cover
- Writing a business plan create your own blueprint for success.
- Creating a minimum viable product devise a test to validate your idea.
- Start-up fundamentals and next steps next steps plan and support
Launch Phase 2 (In-Person)
Launch Phase 2 will run weekly each Wednesday and delivered on-campus at Launch (Room 337), Maxwell Building:
- Wednesday 4 March 2026 - Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Workshops will run from 13:00-16:00.
The deadline for applications will be 27th February 12pm.
If youve already researched and planned your idea (independently or via one of our Prepare to Launch cohorts), our phase 2 program helps you to get launched with workshops in Sales, Marketing, Pitching, Networking, Intellectual Property, Funding, Finance, Action Planning and live pitching for funding in front of a panel of Dragons!
- Benefit from 1on1 mentorship and guidance from 窪蹋勛圖厙 Business School experts
- Practical workshops with tangible outcomes Research, Model and Validate
- Promote yourself, build your network, exchange ideas and Collaborate
- Define your buyer profile, target market segments and USP
- Access to Launch shared office space
If you are an international student, please be aware that you must have the relevant permissions to start a business within the UK under the conditions of your visa. Generally, Tier 4 Student Visa does not allow you to start a business in the UK.
The Launch team are unable to advise on Visa permissions for international students and graduates so please check out the Immigration and Visas page, and stay updated on the visa options available via the website.
Launch Digital (Online)
Launch Digital offers a flexible series of 20 pre-recorded modules and resources at your own pace at a time that suits you where you will learn to research, plan and explore your idea for a business or social enterprise. Topics range from identifying a problem to solve, personal branding, building a team and leadership amongst many others.
Dr. Vikas Shah MBE DL, Naomi Timperley FRSA and Sarah Knight FLPI cover everything from starting up to scaling up through 20 pre-recorded modules with links and resources via Teams.
Launch Digital is open year-round where you can join at your convenience.
After submitting the application form, Launch will onboard you onto the platform where you will be invited to the monthly live online Q&A sessions and sign-posting to further events and services.
Start up your business
Business support and funding
Launch incubatees have access to grants and the opportunity to pitch for vital start-up funding for essentials such as software, insurances, licences, basic equipment, training or attendance at trade fairs.
Your business community
As part of this programme, you will have a team of experts that will help you get your idea off the ground. Our Incubation Manager will design a personalised training pathway and will work with you at every stage of your start-up journey providing vital opportunities for networking, mentorship and accessing funding. You will also be assigned a business mentor and have access to regular subject specific drop-ins provided by 窪蹋勛圖厙 Business School.
Celebrating your success
We want to showcase all the hard work you will be doing through our Showcase Events where you can present your business to our partners such as Santander, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the GC Business Growth Hub. We will also arrange for opportunities to pitch for funding in business competitions, such as the Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards.
Oliver Buxton, a previous Acoustical and Audio Engineering 盎tudent 畝nd band manager, launched his business Delux Music Collective眩o support musicians and offer them fairer treatment. Oliver has been involved with the Manchester music scene for畝 number of砰ears and currently manages six artists.
The idea for the business came after Oliver had noticed that musicians were being treated poorly by promoters.浹e said: It became very apparent from working with bands that a lot of promoters don't treat artists correctly. We've seen so many people drop out of the industry because of it, and that's what I want to prevent.
The business皋rganises畝ll aspects of live music from booking venues, marketing materials, booking artists, photographers and videographers.
Oliver said, I joined Launch because I had no idea about anything to do with business but I knew everything I needed to know about music. I thought if we're going to grow, and we're going to grow properly, then I'm going to need some help and Launch was just the perfect opportunity to springboard my ideas.
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