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Start and grow a business

Get your fledgling business idea off the ground with workshops, expert advice, practical support and networking opportunities.

BaseKX is UCL’s hub for early-stage startups and entrepreneurs in the heart of King’s Cross. It’s a place to connect with like-minded peers and access the support a young company needs. That includes coworking space, a busy schedule of events and a team of successful entrepreneurial advisors.

There are different ways we can help you kick-start your venture. 

Take a course or workshop

Test your business idea and learn what's involved in setting up a business or social enterprise with our Explore and Build courses.

Doctoral students can attend our workshop on how to create a business or social enterprise

Network

Make useful business connections, learn from experienced entrepreneurs and get support from peers at our regular networking events.

You can also meet other like-minded students through some of UCL's student societies.

Meet with an entrepreneurship advisor

Work out your next steps by meeting with an experienced entrepreneurship advisor.

Our advisors are entrepreneurs in their own right. They can advise you on the issues you’re facing, challenge you to grow, and connect you to the people, resources and opportunities that’ll keep you moving in the right direction.

All current UCL students can request a meeting, as well as recent graduates (within 3 years of completing their studies).

How to request a meeting

To request a meeting, fill in the form on our online portal. (You'll need your UCL login.) After you’ve submitted the form, an advisor will get in touch to arrange a meeting.

Apply to join the Hatchery incubator

If you have a promising venture and need some support to help your business take off, you could apply to the Hatchery incubator programme.

As part of the Hatchery you'll get 24 months of tailored support and dedicated office space for free.

Apply for a grant to register your business

If you're a current UCL student, or graduated from UCL within the last 12 months, you can apply for a £300 grant to register your new business.

Apply for an Innovator Founder visa

If you want to stay in the UK after your studies to start a business, we can help you get endorsed for an Innovator Founder visa.

If you don’t have a business idea yet

Find out about other ways to develop your entrepreneurial skills, including transferable skills that could make you more attractive to employers.

Meet our alumni

Many entrepreneurs have gone all the way from our training through our incubator and taken their startups into the world. Here are some of the biggest business successes.

Stasher is the world's first luggage storage network, connecting travellers to hotels and stores that can keep their luggage safe while they explore the city.

Livia’s specialises in creating sweet treats with nutritional twists, using recipes that are free-from gluten, wheat, eggs and dairy.

Double Dutch have developed mixers with flavours that pair perfectly with different spirits, winning numerous awards along the way.

Case studies

Margot and Alexia de Broglie, founders of Your Juno
Your Juno demystifies finances for women and non-binary people

Set up by a UCL alumna and her sister, the financial education app Your Juno already has over 65,000 users and has raised over £2.5 million in investment.


Jia Li
UCL startup helps create stronger sustainability links between China and the UK

Arcas & Callisto Consulting supports Chinese and UK businesses to collaborate on developing and embracing the latest sustainable building technologies.