Network News: From Accelerator to Un-accelerator
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Upcoming meals with 9others
Wednesday 29th January 2025 — London — details and signup here.
Wednesday 19th February 2025 — London — details and signup here.
Accelerator OG
Paul Sturrock has spent his whole career in startups and helping founders, and a fair bit of that has been working with Katie! Katie, but also Matthew, has known and worked with Paul here & there for at least 10 years (eek!) and Paul has been to a number of the Summer and Winter Parties with 9others as well as the most recent dinner in October this year.
Something’s not quite right…
…but not with the ‘working with Katie’ bit!
What happened was that after co-founding FastForward (London's first pre-accelerator) Paul noticed something wasn't quite right with the traditional accelerator model…
“Most accelerators assume everyone needs funding and push founders into a 13-week race for investment, but what if you want to build a viable business that serves your own definition of success?"
Paul Sturrock
That ‘forced’ timeline doesn’t always suit the startup’s timeline and not all the startups that go into a traditional accelerator should do so.
It was this insight that led Paul to create ClimbWorks, the world's first ‘Un-accelerator’.
ClimbWorks is designed to help founders:
Focus on building sustainable businesses first, not chasing investment.
Keep 100% ownership if that’s what’s right for them — no equity is taken by Paul or ClimbWorks.
Create something that provides personal freedom and satisfaction.
Get ongoing support without arbitrary end dates.
Move at their own pace, not someone else’s timeline.
A New Model for Business Building
After successfully developing and refining the program over 9 months with an Alpha cohort, ClimbWorks is now opening applications for its January 2025 launch.
The program combines:
Practical courses & frameworks that can be applied directly to your business.
Regular group coaching sessions to tackle common challenges.
One-to-one expert guidance when you need it.
A supportive community of thoughtful founders.
Over to Paul again…
“Building an original business is a craft best developed alongside others, what interests me is helping people make a living doing what they like to do, are good at, and care about”
Paul Sturrock
Launch Special Offer
And there’s a special offer Paul wanted us to share — those who join the launch cohort will benefit from:
50% off the regular ‘Community Plan’ pricing — for life.
The chance to shape the program’s future.
A supportive community of thoughtful founders.
Get started, get in touch
If you’re curious to find out more you can:
Read more on the ClimbWorks website here.
Join the waitlist to secure the 50% lifetime discount by signing up here.
Book a call with Paul to learn if ClimbWorks is right for you here.
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn here.
Follow him on Substack here and on BlueSky here.
ClimbWorks’ 2025 launch cohort is filling up fast so get stuck in.
As Paul puts it, “This is for founders who want to build their business for their purpose, at their own pace, their way.”
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Upcoming meals with 9others
Wednesday 29th January 2025 — London — details and signup here.
Wednesday 19th February 2025 — London — details and signup here.