UNiDAYS launches new student startup accelerator with Canopy Community and StudentVenture

UNiDAYS has launched a new national Student Startup Accelerator, partnering with Canopy Community and StudentVenture to help UK students and recent graduates turn early-stage ideas into investor-ready ventures over a focused six-week program.

The initiative builds on UNiDAYS’ global presence as a leading student verification platform. The company currently connects 2.8 million UK students — along with graduates and young professionals — to discounts, earning opportunities, and offers from more than 800 brands.

Applications are now open, and the first cohort is expected to include up to 100 participants.

Josh Rathour, Founder of UNiDAYS, says: “The next generation of entrepreneurs are determined, creative and ambitious. It’s hugely important that we give this talent the opportunity to thrive, which is why UNiDAYS is launching this new accelerator - to empower young people to play an active role in the UK’s growing startup ecosystem. There’s nothing more inspiring than seeing new ideas take shape, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the ventures being developed by students and graduates from across the UK.”

A six-week sprint leading to an April 2026 Pitch Day

Delivered by Canopy Community, the accelerator is described as an internationally recognised program that guides founders through the earliest stages of building a company. Over six weeks, participants will refine their core idea, gather insight from real customers, and develop the first version of their pitch decks and supporting materials.

The curriculum blends workshops with hands-on exercises, including pitch practice, investor-readiness sessions, and structured customer validation. The goal is to push students to test assumptions quickly, collect evidence from the market, and become comfortable presenting to external stakeholders.

The program culminates on Friday 17 April 2026 with a national Pitch Day. Ten finalists will be chosen to present their startups to a judging panel made up of investors and industry leaders. Entrepreneur and investor Simon Squibb will join the panel, helping spotlight the founders showing the strongest potential.

The selection funnel starts wide — open applications, narrowing to 100 participants — before ending with a competitive final round of ten live pitches.

Applications remain open until Sunday 4 January 2026.

A partnership focused on access and early validation

The accelerator brings together three organisations with complementary strengths in the student and early-stage startup ecosystem.

Canopy Community operates a global founder network and virtual incubation environment supporting entrepreneurs from idea stage through early investment. With hubs in London and Lisbon, it offers peer groups, mentorship, demo sessions, and programs aimed at validating concepts, building MVPs, and preparing founders for funding.

StudentVenture works directly with students, educators, and employers to expose young people to real-world opportunities and help them understand evolving industries. The accelerator aligns closely with its mission to support early talent.

Liam Jeffery at StudentVenture says: “Hosting this event is especially meaningful to me. Having started this journey building StudentVenture whilst at University, being able to reinvest back and give the next generation the medium to turn ideas into reality is super important to our mission, and is vital to both the future of young people and the UK's start-up ecosystem”.

Canopy Community’s role is centered on breaking down the structural barriers that often prevent first-time founders from progressing beyond the idea stage.

Stewart Noakes at Canopy Community adds: “Opening the door to entrepreneurship shouldn’t depend on your background, your network or your bank balance. Everyone deserves a world where there are zero barriers to starting something bold — and that begins with giving students the confidence to back themselves early. At Canopy Community we see, every day, how transformative it is when founders get the right validation, the right peers, and the right support at the moment their ideas first spark.

“This accelerator gives students across the UK the chance to shape their own path, build real customers, and create a future that reflects their ambition. I can’t wait to meet the founders who decide to start their journey now, not ‘one day’ — because their ideas genuinely have the power to shift what comes next.”