Discovery Park, Kent’s science and innovation hub, has launched the sixth edition of its Discovery Spark accelerator programme, welcoming 11 start-ups to its campus in Sandwich.
The business growth programme has already supported 50 companies and 76 founders, with alumni securing £5.5m in UKRI funding since launching in 2023. For Cohort 6.0, the startups were selected based on the need for their innovation, the uniqueness of their solution and the strength of their team. Spark is designed to provide opportunities for companies to grow a network of peers, mentors and expert advisors, as part of a friendly and collaborative cohort.
Throughout March and April, the Cohort 6.0 founders will be attending specialist-led sessions focused on investor readiness, covering essential business topics from tax and finance to storytelling and branding. The programme culminates with a competitive pitch day on 30 April to a panel of active investors.
Cohort 6.0 includes three local companies from Kent, all based at Discovery Park. Green innovator Hydro Flow Energy is harnessing the natural rise and fall of the tide to deliver predictable and grid-stable power. Protein startup MilaK is developing next-generation bioactive milk proteins through precision fermentation, providing animal-free products for nutrition. Energy technology expert Colliding Materials is developing scalable, low-cost graphene composite technology for flow battery and fuel cell manufacturers.
