The Startup Accelerator

You've been thinking about it long enough. Time to build it.

Back in 2010 two people quit their corporate jobs with no safety net and started something from scratch. That became Escape the City.

The Startup Accelerator launched four years later. Since then hundreds of people have used it to go from thinking about a business to actually building one. Some built companies you've heard of. Some found their direction. Some found their people. All of them moved forward.

Cohort 13 is the most updated version of the programme we've ever run.

The world has shifted significantly since we last ran it and so have the tools available to anyone who wants to build something. What used to take months or even years: finding your idea, understanding your customer, building your first version and getting it out into the world. It can now happen in a fraction of the time. That changes what's possible in 8 weeks.

But the thing that's always made this programme different hasn't changed at all.

This isn't just about building a startup. It's about figuring out what you actually want, confronting the fears that have been keeping you stuck, and doing something real about it alongside a group of people who get exactly what you're going through.

WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT

1. Build, test, learn

We teach you how to build, test and adjust your idea quickly using the approach the world's best early stage founders use. Find your customer before you build the product. Launch rough and learn fast. Don't waste time, money or energy building something nobody wants.

2. The Escape Toolkit and Mindset

The biggest barriers to building something aren't technical. They never were. Every session combines practical startup skills with the mindset work that actually gets you unstuck. We help you work through what's stopped you so far, equip you with the tools to make real progress, and build the habits that sustain you long after the programme ends.

3. Accountability and Community

Starting something alone is hard. The Startup Accelerator is built around a small close-knit cohort of people at similar stages. You'll have buddy accountability, honest peer feedback, and facilitation that pushes you forward rather than just teaches at you. The relationships you build here tend to last well beyond the eight weeks.

WHAT THIS PROGRAMME ACTUALLY IS

Eight Tuesday evenings plus a dedicated build week. Fully remote so it works around your life wherever you are. A cohort small enough that everyone knows each other's name and story.

The curriculum runs from idea generation and customer development through to building your first version, getting it in front of real people, and making your first sale. Guest speakers who've actually done it. Buddy pairs who hold you to account between sessions. And a practical toolkit you'll use for the rest of your career, not just for this business.

The mindset work runs through every session. Because the biggest thing standing between you and building something isn't knowledge or skills. It's fear. We take that seriously.

WHAT YOU'LL HAVE AT THE END

A launched MVP, rough, real, and in the world. Real customer feedback from people who've actually seen or used your thing. Your first sales conversations and a real shot at your first paying customer.

A clear picture of what the next 12 months looks like. A group of people who've built alongside you and will keep showing up after the programme ends. And the confidence to keep going.

THIS IS FOR YOU IF

You have an idea you haven't been able to make real yet, or you know you want to build something but haven't landed on the right one yet. You're employed, busy, building this in the gaps of a full life. You're done thinking about it and ready to actually do something. You want structure, honest challenge, real support, and a reason to ship.

THIS PROBABLY ISN'T FOR YOU IF

You're looking for a lecture series. You want someone to build it for you. You're not willing to do uncomfortable things like talk to strangers, ask for money, and show rough work to real people before it's ready.

HOW IT WORKS

• 8 x Tuesday evening sessions, 2.5 hours each
• 1 dedicated build week with no session, just building
• Pre-programme onboarding session to get set up and meet your cohort
• Buddy accountability pairs throughout
• Real guest speakers with honest stories
• Payment plans available

THE DETAILS

£1,750 early bird / £2,000 standard

You won't be asked to pay until you've been through the application process and offered a place.

Fully remote. Tuesday evenings. Summer 2026.

Places are limited to keep the cohort genuinely close-knit.

We don't take equity in your business. We charge an upfront fee for the programme, which lets us invest in building a curriculum that helps you build a business in a way that makes sense for you, rather than putting you under pressure to grow at an unsustainable rate. Here’s a rough breakdown of where your money goes:

WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY

"More valuable than my MBA. What you get out of the course could never be replicated in a normal classroom environment." Dom

"It is no exaggeration to say the Startup Accelerator has changed my perspective on pretty much everything. I'm now seeing a lot more possibilities rather than problems." Suzi

"This programme was exactly what I needed. For years I've had ideas in my head but get caught up in the details or the fear. At Escape I was forced to get something out on paper." Lauren

"I would have spent more in mistakes and unnecessary startup expenses than the cost of the course." Andrew

"The Startup Accelerator has given me the content, courage and a community to follow my dream." Josh

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Three questions. Two minutes. We'll be in touch with full details and next steps.

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