KQ Labs 9th cohort
The Francis Crick Institute and Medicines Discovery Catapult(MDC) have today opened applications for the ninth cohort of KQ Labs, a national accelerator for data-driven health start-ups.
Delivered by the Francis Crick Institute, with ongoing support from MDC and Cancer Research Horizons, KQ Labs is an annual five-month programme for early-stage companies building science-backed, scalable solutions in AI-driven drug discovery, digital health, and precision medicine.
Up to ten high-potential companies will receive weekly workshops, expert mentoring, office hours with leading pharmaceutical companies and investment funds, alongside support with fundraising strategy, helping them de-risk their ideas and build investment-ready businesses.
Since launching in 2018, the first 70 startups supported by the KQ Labs core programme have collectively raised over £230 million in investment. In 2025, MDC joined as a strategic partner, bringing national reach and expert translational support to validate ideas and strengthen commercial readiness, supporting the eighth cohort of ten companies.
The strength of this cohort was on display at the KQ Labs Demo Day on Tuesday 30th June 2026, where innovations were presented to a diverse audience of investors, industry and ecosystem leaders. With two companies securing sponsorship from Cancer Research Horizons and three closing funding rounds during the programme, KQ Labs continues to demonstrate its role as a critical launchpad for UK data-driven health innovation.
The deadline for applications to the ninth cohort is midnight on Wednesday, 12th August. For further information and to apply, please visit https://www.crick.ac.uk/research/applying-our-research/entrepreneurship/kq-labs/applying-to-kq-labs