Tees Valley Labs has relaunched, offering local start-ups and scale-ups structured support to develop and attract investment. The programme provides three distinct pathways: the Stable Incubator, the Forge Accelerator, and the newly introduced Pre-Flight workshops.
The Stable Incubator runs for six months, guiding early-stage businesses from formation through market traction. Since its launch, 20 companies have accessed over £500,000 in funding across two cohorts. The Forge Accelerator is a 12-week programme for companies ready to scale, with previous participants securing significant investment and international deals.
Pre-Flight is a series of two-day workshops aimed at refining value propositions, pitching skills, and market readiness. Sessions are scheduled across the Tees Valley, including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool between 16 and 30 September.
Tees Valley Labs is delivered by innovation consultancy Alt Labs on behalf of the Tees Valley mayor and combined authority. Funding comes through the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The initiative has supported over 30 businesses to date, distributing more than £1.5 million and promoting diversity in entrepreneurship, with three in ten participants in previous rounds being female.
The programme has been credited with helping companies secure clients, attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem. Tees Valley Labs continues to position the area as a hub for technology-driven business growth.
