**Read our experience on successfully joining the Natwest Accelerator Scheme **
We are very happy to announce that WeGetDesign.com have been selected to join the NatWest Bank Entrepreneur accelerator scheme. We are only a few days into the accelerator and we have already learned so much. In only our first three days, we covered:
- The importance of mindset
- How to perfect our pitch
- Key components of our business
- Build, measure and learn
- Focus on our vision
- Smart goals
- Detailed planning of our next 90 to 180 days
- Customer acquisition
- Business metrics and correctly measuring them
On top of this, we get access to the wider Natwest network. Enabling a large range of contacts that generally would not be accessible to us. The large corporate partners include:
- Hiscox Business Insurance
- Deloitte Propel
- Equifax
- Pinsent Masons International Law Firm
- FreeAgent Software for Free :)
- Dell
- And many more
The best way to describe the experience is to combine:
Dragons Den + Apprentice + University
The accelerator is a lot like going back to school, with experienced coaches (teachers) in the Cardiff Hub, directing our opinions, thought processes and even making us stand up and present our offering in front of many other businesses and investors.
It is hard and embarrassing, but you soon realise, what you are really weak in and what can be improved.
The fellow entrepreneurs in the scheme are already exceptionally good at what they do and it really creates a standard that you want to achieve for your own business.
From ethical businesses, that provide personal hygiene products nationally via the post, to Alpacr, a social media app for backpackers. All the fellow entrepreneurs within the scheme, are of a very high standard. But I also get the sense that all these businesses, will get even better, due to the numerous benefits within the accelerator.
For example, businesses that graduated within the scheme, like Flawsome Drinks, have a really good focus on food wastage and have already saved over 7.5 million fruits from going to waste. And their drinks are really tasty too. It was kind of them to leave some behind :)
Also as we are in the tech industry, it is worth talking about the technology businesses that have come from the scheme, like Amplyfi, whom are currently rocking the machine learning industry and are now at 40+ employees and with investment funding in the millions. I had the pleasure of meeting Chris, the CEO of Amplyfi at a City of London advisory group. And he had nothing but good things to say about the scheme.
Or Lynq, whom are using the latest blockchain technology to turn traditional banking payments on its head. Sina the CEO, blew my mind in what was possible. In a touch of a button via their app, they turned my HSBC debit card into a Natwest one. Cannot wait till his product is launched publicly.
Cardiff, maybe one of Europe’s smallest capital cities. But with the help and support of Natwest, this small welsh capital has exceptional businesses within their fold.
We are more than happy to be part of the Natwest Accelerator, and we hope to pass on the benefits via our business to our clients. And hopefully we will have just a fraction of the success of our previous counterparts.
We also have to thank Andrew, Ceri and Siwan from Natwest, whom have been very welcoming and without their hard work, I am sure that our experience of the Cardiff Hub would not be as motivating.
Interested in taking your business forward, apply here to join the next in-take and hopefully we will see you there.