Springboard is a mentorship-led accelerator program for startups, providing seed capital, office space and a “smart-community” with mentors and other entrepreneurs.

Springboard comes in the shape of an intensive 13 week programme based at the inspirational ideaSpace, part of Cambridge University’s state-of-the-art Hauser Forum. It’s the product of learning from other accelerator programs (specifically Y Combinator and TechStars in the US and the Difference Engine in the UK) and adapting them to fit an international environment.

Historically, over 50% of the starts up who enter these programmes have succeeded in raising capital in the next round of funding. Alongside this each founder is provided with £5,000 (up to a maximum of three founders per startup). The founders move to Cambridge for the 13 week programme where they receive intense mentoring and business support.

Springboard culminates in an Investor Day where the teams get to present to venture capitalists and angel investors.

Applications for the Spring 2011 intake are open now.