The CoFoundry
We’re levelling the playing field and backing ideas we believe can change the world.
Now more than ever, society needs good ideas.
But to start or scale a good idea, you need funding. And to get funding, you need an MVP. And to create an MVP, you need a team. And to get a team… you need funding.
We’re levelling the playing field.
We’re offering our time, our networks, and our skills to help entrepreneurs and businesses start and scale purpose-driven organisations for sustainable, long-term growth.
Our strategic design approach brings clarity and confidence to the entire process, and our skilled team sets you up for a bright future.
The CoFoundry
How we support start-ups and scale-ups
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A top-flight team, out of the box
Use a dedicated Nile design squad to uncover insight, design solutions, and shape and grow your idea.
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A strategic partner
This isn’t an accelerator. We focus exclusively on you, and we’re in it for the long haul.
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Experienced mentors
Nile is a team of designers and investors. We facilitate bespoke, expert mentoring and consultancy for you and your team.
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Access to our networks
We make introductions and forge connections between entrepreneurs and our investor, designer and associate networks.
In 2020, we helped our CoFoundry participants raise over £10m in funding, and create 71 new skilled jobs
Case Study
Handing people the power to make climate-positive change
Christian Arno wanted to help people make better choices for the planet. But it’s hard to make good choices when you don’t have all the information.
Find out how we helped PawprintCase Study
Bringing bereavement into the 21st century
We all struggle with bereavement. But probate — the legal process for putting our affairs in order — adds another layer of uncertainty.
Find out how we helped Exizent
The contribution of Nile can’t be overestimated. They took something that was really little more than pub chat and turned it into something that is a real and investable business with a top-tier team.Christian Arno, Founder and CEO, Pawprint
Christian Arno speaks about working with the Nile CoFoundry
Innovation for good
We’re unashamedly fussy about who we work with
As a B Corp we’re fiercely proud to be part of a global movement for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy.
Not only is it a recognition that Nile meets the highest social, environmental and transparency standards, it also makes us legally accountable to continually balance profit and purpose.
We are invested in building organisations which improve society, and embedding inclusivity and accessibility best-practices in both our research and design work.
Want to come aboard?
Here’s what we’re looking for
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A digital focus
We’re focusing on ideas and services delivered through digital channels at the moment.
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Aligned to our focus areas
We’re working on challenges in health, finance, and climate. We also consider initiatives that fit more broadly with our B Corp focus on building regenerative economies.
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Defensible, and aligned to future trends
We’re foresight practitioners, so we know how to read the future. We work with teams with defensible business models, aligned to possible or probably preferred futures.
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Sales skills
Even the best ideas need to be sold sometimes. We prioritise founding teams with the ability to unlock funding by selling their concept to VCs.
The process gave us and our investors the confidence to take on an industry sized problem.Nick Cousins, Founder & CEO, Exizent
Nick Cousins speaks about working with the Nile CoFoundry
Companies we’ve supported
Join the CoFoundry
Talk to us
Have you found a problem worth solving?
Get in touch with our client partner team to talk about how the Nile team might be able to help.
Data Driven Entrepreneurship
300 Start-ups. 5 Years. Let’s do this
Nile is the design innovation partner for the Edinburgh Innovations accelerator programme.
Find out how we’re laying the foundations of Scottish enterprise