Coutts and NatWest launch accelerator programme for gaming and social media entrepreneurs

Coutts, the private bank, and NatWest have launched a programme to help entrepreneurs in the Interactive Entertainment (IE) space build and develop their businesses.

Starting in June 2022, the six-month accelerator is aimed at ambitious e-sports, gaming, social media and streaming entrepreneurs across the UK who have recently started a business or are thinking about forming a company.

The programme aims to empower entrepreneurs by providing fully-funded access to a range of tools and opportunities including one-to-one coaching with experts in the field, a network of like-minded peers and invitations to face-to-face and virtual events on how to build and grow their businesses.

Paul Franks, interactive entertainment lead, Coutts, said: “Interactive Entertainment is one of the fastest-growing industries in the UK, with the global gaming market on track to surpass $300bn by 2026.

“By helping entrepreneurs form a business and a strategy behind something that is normally considered a hobby, we’re striving to change the misconception that being in interactive entertainment isn’t a ‘real career’. At Coutts, our aim is to be the go-to bank for those in IE, using our team of experts to help them thrive.”

The programme will be delivered in partnership with the NatWest Accelerator which is formally endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute.

Applications are open online via the Coutts website, and candidates do not need to be existing Coutts or NatWest customers to be eligible. Applications close on 13th May 2022.