Our process, minus the jargon
At Digital Science, we invest in and acquire interesting projects. We actively work to support spinouts and start-ups coming from the research world, and help businesses of all sizes reach their full potential.
We are a risk tolerant investor with scientific relevance. Not sure what that means? Don’t worry – hopefully this page will help you better understand.
Want to talk to us about an investment?
What do you mean by “risk tolerant”?
By “risk tolerant”, what we mean is we’ll consider projects and business ideas of all sorts and levels of maturation wherever we see potential. We’re willing to mentor and work closely with our other solutions to ensure not only their product’s success, but theirs too.
How early is “early stage”? And why does that matter?
From researchers with a bit of running code to companies already up and running and profitable, we’re open to ideas of all sorts and levels of development.
What we’ve discovered is that oftentimes ideas are trapped in a thesis or in post doctoral work that could spin out and develop into a successful service for the community if given the chance. We work on a number of levels, not just through investment, but by helping to shift the culture that keeps ideas siloed, and by giving those ideas and entrepreneurs the support and business capacity they need to take it to the next level.
What sets you apart from the other incubators, seed funds and angels out there?
We specialize in tools for the scientific research community that enable open, collaborative, inclusive research, because that’s what we know (and where many of us came from). Others may be able to provide you the same financial backing, but when it comes to the scientific context to scale your product and get it in front of users, our network is unparalleled.
As well as financial support, we also work closely with our investments in providing them with access and guidance from our core team of developers, UI and UX designers, product managers, marketing and outreach to advance their product and its reach.
Being a part of the Digital Science family also gives you the opportunity to link with our other solutions (where that makes sense). We are big fans of interoperability here at Digital Science, and continually keep our eye out for additions to our business which may fit with other existing investments, with the goal of making for a more seamless work experience for the end-user (the researcher).
Do you have a set funding structure, or is there room for negotiation?
We decide these on a case-by-case basis, as not every funding model fits for every company, and it’s much more important to us that we help build and support the innovation ecosystem these companies exist in. We encourage you to get in touch, then we can chat about what’s best suited for you or your company then.
Does it matter where my business is based?
Not at all – we work with companies based all over the globe. Science is global – and so are we.
What if my idea isn’t quite fully developed yet?
That’s OK – it’s still worth having a conversation. If you’re not ready for full investment, you may be a candidate for our Catalyst Grant programme, which is designed to spur on ideas, and help carry them from their initial stages to a working prototype and beyond.
OK, I’m sold. How do I get the conversation started?
Drop us a line and tell us a little more about your idea or business. In order for us to best understand your business and market, we encourage applicants to submit a pitch deck, if possible.