Programmes
In recent years, we have taken many steps to improve the quality of later life. Our third Venture Builder and our partnership with UKRI to recruit and deliver the Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards have both been highly succesful. Read on to find out how we’ve been impactful in this mission so far:
Venture Builder
Our third Venture Builder programme was focused on adding five quality years to later life. Over 600 people applied to take part in our programme and we carefully selected 46 burgeoning entrepreneurs to become Zinc Mission 3 Founders. Consisting of a variety of professional backgrounds including robotics engineers, former CCG leaders, doctors, designers, management consultants and more, the cohort was filled with interesting and talented individuals.
Over the course of the programme and in the last year, these founders have now created 12 companies. Here are a few of their stories:
Catalyst Awards
These Awards offer up to £62,500 (fEC) (£50k UKRI + the remainder host institution contribution) & Zinc’s programme of support to help you translate your research into workable products and services that help people live longer, healthier lives.
Later Life Fellows
The Fellows are key members of our Zinc community and leaders in their respective fields who are actively engaged with our later life mission. They assist the Zinc team in driving our various programmes in the Venture Builder and Catalyst Awards; plus they provide support to our Founders and Awardees throughout their journeys to building impactful, ambitious and successful businesses or innovating in the healthy ageing sector. Here are a select few from our expansive community:
Adrian Alexa
Independent Technology Advisor
Adrian Alexa
Independent Technology Advisor
Belinda Coker
Portfolio GP, Advisory Consultant
Belinda Coker
Portfolio GP, Advisory Consultant
Eric Kihlstrom
UK Ambassador, Aging2.0
Eric Kihlstrom
UK Ambassador, Aging2.0
Lynne Corner
Director, VOICE, UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing
Lynne Corner
Director, VOICE, UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing
Professor Jeremy Myerson
Helen Hamlyn Chair of Design
Professor Jeremy Myerson
Helen Hamlyn Chair of Design
Our Portfolio Companies
“David and I founded Bia Care to help the millions of women in the UK who struggle to access excellent menopause care. We met at Zinc, which helped us lay the foundation for Bia Care by exposing us to an ecosystem of people and organisations that were integral in bringing our early vision to life.”
