FAQ
Click through to learn more about the following areas of Unrest.
Unrest
-
Unrest is Europe's only dedicated pre-seed and seed sector-agnostic impact accelerator. We work with founders to launch the next generation of purposeful global consumer brands.
Across 16 weeks, founders will be able to attend workshops, schedule one-to-ones, develop their brand with award winning Uncommon Creative Studio and benefit from the expertise of best-in-class partners in impact, fundraising, branding and business development.
-
Unrest was founded to accelerate the next generation of start-ups changing the world for the better. Rebels by nature, we’re building a tribe of like-minded change makers and only work with start-ups built for positive social or environmental impact.
We’re always looking for ways we can champion diversity of thought, background, and geography to support more businesses that better reflect the makeup of our communities. At Unrest we support founders ready to re-imagine what profitable companies can do for the planet and people.
-
The London programme piloted in 2021, with the expansion to South Yorkshire in 2022. During this time, we have run 6 cohorts and have supported 47 companies through our programme.
-
We only succeed when our cohort does. So we don’t take a cash fee. Instead, we take a small amount of equity in exchange for participation on our programme - this ties our long-term success with that of our cohort companies.
-
No, Unrest supports founders working in any B2C (or at least B2B2C) business sector and addressing at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
-
We don't currently invest directly in our cohort companies. We do however provide extensive support throughout the programme to help founders raise from our investor network and other external investors such as angels and VCs.
We are also in the process of building a fund which will invest in our cohorts - watch this space!
Programme
-
The programme is spread over 16 weeks, including a 1-2 week break. It covers the key areas of: fundraising, community, branding & marketing, and impact. Founders will be able to attend 40+ hours of workshops and talks, access to 30+ hours of one-to-one support, be part of an impact community, develop their brand with award-winning Uncommon Creative Studio, and access exclusive opportunities with our session speakers.
-
The programme is modelled with flexibility in mind to create an inclusive environment for all founders. It allows founders to focus on the areas most relevant to developing their business. The majority of the content is available online and sessions are recorded and available to view on demand. A small number of sessions, which are crucial to your programme experience, are mandatory. See commitment required for more information on this.
-
During the programme you will receive an assigned Unrest team member for a one-to-one weekly session. They will work with you to discuss and help overcome issues you are facing, keep you accountable for week-on-week progress and signpost you to how to make the most of the programme. In addition, you can book sessions with our session speakers if you are particularly interested in one of the topics, and with our EIRs (alumni acting as mentors). You will also have access to 6 hours of executive coaching.
-
The vast majority of sessions are not mandatory. It’s entirely up to you how you make the most of the programme.
However, there are 8 sessions for which attendance is mandatory. These are: Welcome Event, at least 4 pitching round tables, a session on your personal drive behind your business (“Personal Why”), a Demo Day rehearsal and Demo Day itself.
-
During the programme you can benefit from expert support to build a world class brand, to raise your next funding round, to refine your startup’s positive impact and become part of an impact-focused B2C founder community. Additionally, you can benefit from an office space in central London or in Sheffield.
Equity
-
In exchange for participating on the programme, we ask for 2% equity in your business, if your business hasn’t been valued more than £1.65 million by an external valuation or investment round. If your business has been valued over £1.65 million, we ask for £33k worth of equity (taking 2% of a £3m business, for example, is not founder friendly, and not aligned to our ethos!)
Founder Support
-
Although we don’t provide direct matchmaking between founders and resources, we support and help develop recruiting strategies, and we tap into our network to spread the word for opportunities.
-
We fully understand the struggles of being a founder. This is why we have matchboxes (intimate peer forums) and executive coaching to support founders’ mental wellbeing. Also, the weekly one-to-one sessions are an opportunity for you to discuss with us your mental wellbeing - we are committed to supporting our founders pastorally. We have frequent wellness events where you can join a supportive community very aware of the struggles faced by founders.
-
After the programme ends, you’ll have access to our lifetime alumni community. As a member, you’ll receive invitations to our social and educational events, where you can meet key players in the ecosystem and build life-long professional relationships.
Unrest alumni have access to:
Service Discounts - from our award-winning delivery partners
Our SaaS deals platform - with over 200+ offers from Notion, Amazon, Airtable, Stripe and many more.
Monthly events and continued light-touch support from the Unrest team
Selection/Application
-
After submitting the online application, one of our Unrest team members will review it and be in touch with you within a short while. The next step is an invitation to an interview and, if successful, a further invitation to Discovery Day, a day where you will have the chance to meet the Unrest team, other candidates and alumni.
After Discovery Day the final selection is communicated in advance of the programme beginning.
-
Being an impact B2C accelerator, we look at the purpose of the business, the founder’s/founders’ passion and ambition, coachability, resilience, productivity, and ability to nurture interpersonal relationships.
-
While we want to support as many impact founders as we can, we have limited resources and so must be extremely selective on who joins our cohorts. We typically offer only 15 spots per cohort. This sets our acceptance rate at about 10%.
-
The majority of startups that apply are at pre-seed and seed stage, and have launched an MVP in the six months prior to the programme or are planning to launch within 6 months of application. We may also accept founders at the concept stage when impressed by their mission and passion and if they are ready to launch an MVP within 6 months of application. Similarly, we have also accepted companies at late Seed / early Series A where we believe we can have a transformational impact on either their branding or impact journey.
-
Based on our experience, founders who benefit the most are those who challenge themselves, take on constructive feedback, as well as those who engage with the community and are committed to learning from us and from each other.
Alumni
-
To date, our cohort companies have raised over £7m from angels and institutional investors.
-
94% of our alumni are still operating, with our oldest cohort now being 2 years old.
Partners/Network
-
Fundraising is of course a critical part of the start-up journey. We guide you through the full fundraising process, starting with the fundamentals you need to have in place before you engage with potential investors. This includes your pitch deck, data room and legals. We also help you build a structured fundraising strategy, enabling you to identify and approach the right targets, communicate compelling messages, and manage investor relationships.
We run weekly pitching roundtables and Dragons’ Den style sessions with guest investors. You will have the opportunity to refine your pitch and public speaking skills, and direct feedback from active B2C/ impact investors. While we don’t offer an investor brokerage service, we are happy to introduce you to investors we think are suitable to support your venture. At graduation, we give you access to our black book of investor contacts.
-
We partner with Europe’s leading brand and creative agency, Uncommon - 4x winner of Campaign’s Creative Agency of the Year, and an impressive client roster of top brands such as British Airways, ITV and ASOS. Uncommon have also launched their own successful ventures such as Halo Coffee.
You will work on a 1-2-1 basis with Uncommon to refine your brand strategy and build a world-class brand book. The brand book includes market research, design assets and copy writing.
Research-driven, design-led branding typically costs tens of thousands of pounds. We offer a unique opportunity for pre-seed and seed stage companies to build brands that inspire trust with customers and investors, working with the UK’s most celebrated and renowned creative agency.
-
We have an extensive network of investors and mentors across many different B2C sectors. Throughout the programme, there are several opportunities to engage with those relevant for you.