The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons King’s College Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at King’s College, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why King’s College students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

King's College London's local incubators, such as those in partnership with Pioneer Group focusing on biotech and medtech, offer valuable mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. These programs connect startups with experienced business mentors and industry experts, often referred to as Experts in Residence. Local mentors provide one-to-one support, guiding entrepreneurs through challenges, helping with business planning, and offering insights based on their own experiences. This local expertise is crucial for navigating the specific ecosystem and accessing relevant networks, including potential investors and partners. The mentorship aims to build not only technical business skills but also essential leadership qualities, empowering entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and increase their chances of success.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

King's College London offers various funding opportunities for student startups through its Entrepreneurship Institute and associated programs. The King's Start-up Accelerator is a flagship 12-month program providing structured support, mentoring, workshops, office space, and access to the King's Investor Network. While specific seed funding amounts aren't always explicitly stated as guaranteed for all participants, the program facilitates connections with investors and offers workshops on funding options and grant applications. Additionally, King's has partnered with Pioneer Group to launch new incubators specifically for biotech and medtech startups, which also include access to investment from Pioneer Group's venture capital funds. There is also the K+ Start Up Scholarship, providing £500-£1000 for students who completed the K+ program.

By choosing EWOR, King’s College students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

King's College London's local incubators, like those run by the Entrepreneurship Institute, cultivate a strong community to help students build connections and collaborate. This is achieved through various initiatives including dedicated programs like the King's Start-up Accelerator and the new SPARK incubator. These programs provide a supportive environment where student founders can connect with fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and industry experts. The community aspect is central, with fellow founders offering accountability, challenges, network connections, and support. Events, workshops, and networking opportunities further facilitate interaction and collaboration among students, staff, and alumni. The incubators aim to create a valuable network that helps ventures grow and founders develop.

While local incubators at King’s College may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

King's College London is developing new biotech and medtech incubator facilities across two sites on the South Bank of London in partnership with Pioneer Group. These facilities will provide wet and dry laboratories, office and co-working spaces, and access to equipment to support early-stage companies and spin-outs. The structure is designed to offer flexible space, mentoring, support programmes, and access to venture capital and expert networks. While information specifically detailing the in-person, remote, or hybrid nature of all King's incubators is not explicitly stated, the development of physical laboratory and office spaces suggests a significant in-person component, particularly for biotech and medtech ventures requiring lab access. However, King's does offer some programmes with online or blended modalities, which could potentially influence the delivery of certain aspects of their entrepreneurship support. The impact on student participation would likely vary; in-person facilities are crucial for ventures needing physical resources, while hybrid or remote options could enhance accessibility for students with other commitments or those not based in London.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. King’s College students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

King's College London's Entrepreneurship Institute offers significant educational support through its incubators and programs. They aim to foster an entrepreneurial mindset in students, staff, and alumni. This support includes workshops on topics like Idea Validation, lean methodology, growth marketing, communications, sales, branding, startup finance, workflow, and negotiation. The institute also provides dedicated courses and learning modules designed to develop entrepreneurial skills. Their flagship program, the King's Start-up Accelerator, is a 12-month program offering mentoring, workshops, and access to networks. Additionally, they have programs like the King's Spinout Accelerator for research-based ventures and the King's MedTech Accelerator. The Yunus Social Business Centre at King's College also facilitates social entrepreneurship through workshops and training.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While King’s College's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers King’s College students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash