THE RAPID CHALLENGE

Hardware Start-ups

& Entrepreneurs

Join The RAPID Challenge journey to commercialise your innovation. Appications now open

Apply

Brought to you by

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Media Partner

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THE PROCESS

A Challenge designed for hardware start-ups & entrepreneurs

The following 3 stage process has been created with the ethos that all who pass the criteria receive value by taking part. Specifically designed to address the challenges met by those commercialising hardware projects.  

1

Workshop

Projects matching the entry criteria will be invited to attend a range of workshops. These sessions will include valuable advice and insight from our challenge partners to help you build and develop the business plan for your project. Following the workshop, applicants will be asked to submit a business plan via our online template in order to reach the interview stage.

2

Interview

The business plans will be reviewed by a judging panel consisting of industry experts representing The RAPID Challenge Partners. Five  successful submissions will be invited to the interview stage to present their project and business plans in more detail and answer questions from the judging panel.  The best 3 projects will proceed to the Finals event. 

3

Final

The final event will provide the best 3 projects with the opportunity to present their project to a wider audience of RAPID Challenge partners, affiliates, invited guests and investors where the winners of the prize package will be announced.

THE RAPID CHALLENGE

£75K Prize Package

A prize package specifically curated to benefit hardware startups. The prize package consists of: 

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  • £5K cash prize

  • An engineering service package from Prodrive

  • An R&D and grant application service package from TBAT Innovation

  • Manufacturing and design service package from RPD International

  • Go-to-market service package and entry to the Discover 21 Programme from Bridgehead Agency

  • Solid Edge CAD license for all applicants and an advanced CAD training course for the winner from OnePLM

  • Discounted listing fees on Crowdcube

  • Patent advice services from The IP Asset Partnership

  • Invitation to HSBC corporate events

KEY DATES

Applications open

Applications for 2021 The RAPID Challenge are open. Read more about the application criteria on the apply page. 

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Below is a summary of the key stages for the Challenge

4 OCT

01 JUN

30 JUL

7 SEP

17 NOV

Applications Open

Applications Close

Workshop

Virtual Event

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Interviews

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Final

Live Event, Hopefully!

Apply

FIND OUT MORE

Launch Event

Looking to find out more? If you missed the Launch Event for The RAPID Challenge, the video is available below.

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The event also featured presentations from Roland Emmans, Head of Technology Sector at HSBC, and serial entrepreneur Malcolm Burwell, Vincent Seddon Head of Business Development at TBAT Innovation and Lauren Bell, founder of Cosi Care & winner of last year’s RAPID Challenge.

Watch the Launch Event

STAY IN TOUCH

Investors & Supporters

Looking for credible investment opportunities or to engage with start-ups?  ​

Sign up to hear about Challenge updates and to receive invitations to events.

Thanks for submitting!