The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons LSE Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at LSE, 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 LSE 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.

LSE's entrepreneurship hub, LSE Generate, offers a mentoring program connecting early-stage entrepreneurs with experienced professionals and alumni. This program provides advice, support, and an independent perspective. Mentors are matched based on industry, experience, stage, and location, facilitating valuable local connections. Local mentors offer crucial support by understanding the specific economic, political, and cultural context in which the early-stage business operates. This local knowledge helps entrepreneurs navigate their market effectively and provides relevant guidance. They can also assist in building local networks. The program includes one-to-one business clinics and a longer-term mentoring scheme with industry experts, many of whom are LSE alumni.

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.

LSE offers various funding opportunities for student startups through its entrepreneurship hub, LSE Generate. These include funding competitions and access to venture capital. For instance, the Generate Accelerator Programme (GAP) provides a £4,000 grant per team for promising early-stage startups with LSE affiliation. Additionally, the LSE Lean Launchpad offers grants of £2,000 for venture activities and awards prizes totaling £5,000. There is also the Sterling Road's London School of Economics Grant, providing £1,000 to selected teams. Furthermore, Houghton Street Ventures, a venture fund in partnership with LSE, invests in LSE alumni and student businesses at an early stage.

By choosing EWOR, LSE 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. 

LSE's local incubators, such as those run by LSE Generate, cultivate a vibrant community for students and alumni. This network facilitates connections through various programs, including mentorship, workshops, and events. The incubators prioritize LSE-affiliated entrepreneurs, fostering a collaborative environment where students can develop projects and microbusinesses alongside experienced individuals. Informal interactions are encouraged through dedicated spaces like community cafes, further enhancing networking opportunities and local collaboration. This community-led approach, blending academic support with practical resources, helps students build valuable connections and drive innovation.

While local incubators at LSE 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. 

LSE offers various programs related to entrepreneurship and innovation, including Master's degrees and shorter programs. While some programs, like the Executive MSc in Cities, have transitioned to a hybrid-flex model allowing both in-person and remote attendance to increase accessibility, the format of all local incubators isn't explicitly stated. Generally, university incubators often provide physical space, mentoring, networking, and workshops, sometimes with virtual options. The impact of the format on student participation depends on individual circumstances, with hybrid or remote options potentially increasing accessibility for those with travel constraints or other commitments. LSE emphasizes accessibility and provides support for students with disabilities, which could extend to incubator participation regardless of format.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. LSE 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.

LSE's local incubators, such as LSE Generate, offer comprehensive educational support for aspiring entrepreneurs. This includes workshops, courses, and learning modules designed to build entrepreneurial skills. LSE Generate provides an all-year-round program with events, funding opportunities, and courses to support students at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. They offer foundational business skills training through initiatives like their "Startup School" events and provide personalized coaching and peer support. Additionally, LSE offers online certificate courses in Social Entrepreneurship, covering topics from identifying social problems to developing business models and measuring impact. Programs like the LSE Lean Launchpad also provide entrepreneurship and commercialisation 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 LSE'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 LSE 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