Product Builder Programme
Accelerating from idea to product faster
Product Builder Programme powered by Barclays Eagle Labs funded by UK Government
Our Product Builder Programme is designed to fit around the busy lives of idea-stage entrepreneurs. The programme is delivered online and will teach you how to validate your digital product idea and then develop, test and evolve it using customer feedback.
Product Builder helps entrepreneurs develop digital products.
It offers:
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A challenge-led approach that starts with identifying the problem and not the solution. Entrepreneurs who apply should have a clear idea of, and expertise in, the problem that they want to solve with their digital product
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The expertise to help you develop digital products, such as website applications, mobile applications and software as a service (SaaS).
Throughout the programme, you’ll work closely with product experts and meet likeminded founders who can share your journey.
Applications open
Friday 13 December, 2024
Applications close
Friday 10 January, 2025
How is the programme delivered?
The Product Builder Programme is a virtual, two-month accelerator that comprises of a mixture of live sessions and on-demand content you can engage with in your own time.
Successful applicants will gain access to:
- Weekly expert workshops with take-away tasks covering key product development principles
- One-to-one mentoring sessions with technical and innovation experts
- Pitch masterclasses and practice sessions
- Networking and support-sharing with over 100 like-minded founders.
At the end of the programme, the ten most promising digital products will be selected and the founders will be invited to attend a two-day, in-person bootcamp. Over those two days, the selected founders will get expert support across product build, business model, customer acquisition strategy and funding runway stages.
Why join?
With support from best-in-class speakers, mentors and course materials, our Product Builder Programme will help you accelerate your digital product from idea to build.
By the end of the programme, you’ll have rapidly prototyped your product idea, tested it with users, created your business model, and produced a pitch deck to take it to market.
If you’re selected to be part of the programme, the equity or intellectual property of your product remains with you throughout.
Who’s it for?
Our Product Builder Programme is for anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of validating and designing a digital product, such as web and mobile applications and SaaS solutions.
Whether you have an innovative idea, a service-based business ready to be digitised, or a challenge to solve, this programme will teach you the core technical and business skills that will take you to the next level.
You need to be:
- Based in the UK and intending to set up your business in the UK
- An individual, or a team of less than four people
- At early prototype stage, if you already have a digital product or service
- Yet to raise significant investment.
- If your business is more mature than this please see Product Growth.
You don’t need to have:
- Technical knowledge or past entrepreneurial experience
- A fully formed product idea – we’ll help you develop this on the programme
We welcome applications from people and teams of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. You could be a full-time student, or an experienced industry expert looking for a change.
Future founders with an idea
Whether you have industry or academic expertise and have identified a major challenge within your field, or have an innovative idea for a digital product that needs validation, this programme can guide you through the process of building and testing a minimum viable product (MVP).
Technical founders looking to become a CEO
If you’re a technical founder capable of building your own product, this programme will teach you how to talk to customers, market your product, develop a brand and acquire users to accelerate your product to the next level.
Businesses looking to digitise
If you're a service-based business owner with offline revenues, this is your opportunity to learn how to transform your business into a digital product and take it to the next level.
Testimonials
Hear what some of the founders from our season one cohort had to say about the programme at the Product Builder bootcamp.
Product Builder season one Bootcamp 2023:
About Plexal
Plexal is the innovation company solving society's challenges through collaboration with government, startups and industry. The business is closing the gap between organisations – small and large, local and global, private and public – and working towards a common goal: using science and technology to deliver national security and prosperity.
Our network extends across the UK and we have offices across London, Cheltenham and Manchester. We want to reflect this reach on the programme and hear from innovators around the country.
FAQs
What does the programme cost?
The programme is funded by UK government and free to take part.
Is there a limit to the number of startups/ideas accepted?
It is a competitive programme and there are 100 programme places.
When will sessions be delivered?
Live sessions will be delivered after work on a Monday 5:00-6:30pm. The remainder of the content will be on-demand for you to watch/read in your own time.
What is the time commitment?
Each week there will be a compulsory 1.5 hour live session Monday 5:00-6:30pm. The amount of time you spend to refine and test your product in your own time is at your discretion, however, it's important to note that participants who dedicate the most time are likely to achieve the best results.
If I already have an MVP can I apply?
To apply you should be an idea-stage founder without an MVP. If you have started to experiment with building your digital product, it should be very early stages with a small number of users.
My team / company is larger than 4 – can I still apply?
We recommend teams of less than 4 to indicate that this should be an early-stage idea and company.
My company has raised funding – can I still apply?
You should not have raised significant capital in relation to this particular product idea. If you have, you may be too advanced for the programme content.