De Montfort University

The Crucible is De Montfort University's flagship business incubator, based at the DMU Innovation Centre in Leicester city centre. It is a free year-long programme for DMU third-year students, graduates and alumni, running from September to June with weekly masterclasses, workshops and one-to-one mentoring across finance, intellectual property, branding, marketing and sales. Members get a private co-working desk, use of maker spaces and prototyping equipment, and up to £1,000 of in-kind support including a free website and a budget for costs such as business registration and marketing. It is funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund, so it is free and DMU takes no equity, though it is not a source of cash investment. It has helped launch more than 100 graduate businesses over the past decade, and suits founders from early idea through to first trading. Separately, the DMU Innovation Centre on Oxford Street offers free membership, co-working and business surgeries to local founders and the wider public.

Why this programme