ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

“InnovationRCA is an inspirational organisation

delivering impressive results across a range of functions”

McKinsey & Co ., Review of InnovationRCA, 2017

ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMESThese programmes are based on InnovationRCA’s 14 years’ experience developing and supporting entrepreneurs, building a portfolio of successful businesses spanning diverse industries; from high-tech and patent-based businesses to creative brands. With an outstanding start-up five-year survival rate of 87%, InnovationRCA was assessed by McKinsey & Co. (2017) as ‘world class’ when benchmarked against other incubators internationally. In July 2019 InnovationRCA won the ‘Accelerator of the Year 2019’ award given by the UK Business Angels Association.

Our programmes are designed to guide entrepreneurs and organisations interested in developing sustaining entrepreneurship cultures and in forging the complexities of design-led innovation into growth businesses.

WHO IS IT FOR? The Entrepreneurship Development Programmes are aimed at individuals who wish to build successful start-ups or who wish to stimulate, support and develop entrepreneurial cultures and economies. Typical participant profiles include innovators, entrepreneurs, managers or heads of innovation, as well as those at public regional development organisations or at institutions promoting and supporting entrepreneurship in any form.

OUTCOMESParticipants learn to develop ideas into innovative businesses. They do so by learning to innovate more quickly in response to market or business challenges using design-thinking methodologies.

InnovationRCA start-up ROLI’s reimagined piano exported to over 40 countries

The programmes teach participants the ability to assess market fit and evaluate business models. They also increase participant skills in leadership, user-centred ideation, design-led problem solving, market feasibility and marketing techniques, as well as start-up financing and business model development.

APPROACHThe Royal College of Art (RCA) operates as an ideas factory. It teaches unconstrained thinking so that full vent can be given to creative ideas. This approach is at the heart of design-led innovation which is widely recognised as a valuable British export and facet of cultural life. Design-led innovation casts a unique perspective on business opportunities by bridging technology and creativity in equal proportion. It underpins InnovationRCA’s Entrepreneurship Development programmes.

The programmes consist of two separate modules of varying duration. The modules can be combined together and adapted to the specific requirements of each client.

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DESIGN-LED INNOVATIONThis intensive five-day programme introduces participants to design-led innovation through ideation, to user-centred design approaches, and to defining new products and services by challenging existing assumptions. Participants will interrogate and explore the commercial opportunities for successful implementation, market entry and differentiated solutions.

The programme is designed to widen horizons and stimulate team work, problem solving and leadership skills, whilst focusing intently on the customer.

DESIGN-LED ACCELERATIONThis acceleration invites participants to fully understand their chosen market’s drivers and dynamics, to develop and road test their business propositions, products and strategy, and to become investment-ready. It is designed to equip entrepreneurs, and others involved in entrepreneurial environments with techniques that can drive an increase in opportunities within their organisations and regions.

A typical acceleration programme is three months long to enable entrepreneurs to validate their market and customer proposition, to hone their offer and to advance business discussions with new partners or customers to begin their breakthrough.

The programme includes masterclasses and workshops, live case studies from successful entrepreneurs, and practical one-to-one mentoring and immersion alongside InnovationRCA start-ups. Participants also benefit from InnovationRCA’s established and extensive networks, that impart insider knowledge and create opportunities.

The programme can include in situ pre-acceleration training at client locations, followed by residential acceleration at InnovationRCA’s start-up hub in London, or at appropriate external venues. Investor readiness coaching can lead to investor presentations (Demo Days) before AngelClubRCA investors, with venture capital funders also invited.

InnovationRCA start-up Concrete Canvas; better ways of using concrete

“The whole team at the incubator had a hugely influential and important impact on the project” S.Dzisiewski-Smith, Co-Founder, BuffaloGrid

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe format and content of these programmes can be adapted to incorporate the needs of the client. In addition, the programmes are designed to accommodate a combination of distance learning and face-face training. The programmes can accommodate 20 — 45 delegates who will be grouped into 5 — 12 teams.

Immersive technology and InnovationRCA start-up Gravity Sketch, an immersive design tool

For further information contact:InnovationRCA

E: innovation@rca.ac.ukT: +44 (0) 207 590 4174A: InnovationRCA, Clore Innovation Centre, Dyson Building, Royal College of Art Hester Rd, Battersea SW11 4AS

www.rca.ac.uk/innovation

twitter.com/innovationrca

linkedin.com/company/innovationrca

INNOVATIONRCA IN NUMBERS

“A central resource for commercial acumen”McKinsey & Co. Review of InnovationRCA, 2017

InnovationRCA developed and validated its programmes working with its own start-ups and spinouts.

March 2019