The Alzheimer's Society Accelerator Programme invests in the products and services that will have the biggest impact on the lives of people affected by dementia. The programme is a 12-month partnership with investment of GBP 100,000 (approx. EUR 117,000) and Accelerator partners work closely with an “innovation buddy” from the Innovation Team at Alzheimer’s Society. The Society received almost 50 applications from a variety of start-ups, established organisations with new products, community groups and individuals from across the UK. Six of these were shortlisted and ultimately two were chosen for investment:
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How Do I? - a mobile video support tool for people affected by dementia and their families.
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Jelly Drops - hydrating sweets to overcome the challenges faced for people with dementia experiencing dehydration.
Through the first six months it has become clear that the value of the programme is the ability to link continuing product development to people affected by dementia, facilitating further testing with potential users. Additionally, association with the Alzheimer’s Society brand, and promotion through events including the Alzheimer’s Society Annual Conference, have been crucial in building an audience for both products.
Continuous improvement is a key aspect of the Accelerator Programme. Development for the next round includes a change to the investment structure for new ideas, with a portion of the investment to be delivered as in-kind business support, with a focus on ensuring the teams delivering the products and services of the future are able to rely on bespoke support to ensure they can cope with the challenges of bringing a new product to market. This brings the Accelerator Programme in line with other similar schemes across the private sector. Work is also underway to ensure the Accelerator Programme is as sustainable as possible. The intention is to negotiate an even stronger return on investments made, to ensure the Society is well positioned to keep boosting the best ideas to market in the future.
