The Start Up Institute

We are excited to be one of the partners of the inaugural programme of www.startupinstitute.com.
With its origins in the Techstars programmes in the US, where there are operations in Boston, New York and Chicago, the team has arrived in Europe, with programmes in Berlin and now London, where the first cohort is due to start on 6 October.
Startup Institute is looking to help people currently working in larger corporates to make the move into the start up scene.  In an eight week programme, students start to develop the skills, mindset and network to succeed at a start up.  As well as technical instruction, the students get an introduction to the cultural attributes required as they move from employment where they might be one of 10,000 to joining a four person team trying to build a high potential start up.
There are four tracks to the programme, aimed at students with specific skill sets and experience:

• Product Design and Developments
• Technical Marketing
• Sales and Account Management
• Web Development

Much of the teaching is conducted by Start up founders and employees, who can provide real world experience of the start up world, so this is not an academic exercise, rather an immersion in and exposure to the exciting, stressful world of the start up.  Students also get the opportunity to work in a start up, completing projects relevant to the particular track.
We are hoping that our portfolio companies will get involved in teaching and mentoring students on the programme, and use the exposure to the students asa prolonged interview during which they can identify potential new recruits who can bring the valuable experience they have gained in the larger corporate world and apply those skills in a high growth start up.
We hope this is a win-win.  Episode 1 gets to support a programme that gets more smart people into the UK start up scene, the students get to build a network within – and an understanding of – the start up scene, while our companies can find new recruits in return for supporting the programme.
So follow them on twitter @startupInst, get in touch with the team if you have any potential students for this or any future