Akcela has been recognised in the Future 50 — a programme that identifies and supports Norfolk and Suffolk's most innovative and fast-growing businesses.
What the Future 50 is
The Future 50 is a business growth programme run by New Anglia LEP and Nwes, highlighting 50 businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk that are showing exceptional growth or innovation. The programme has been running for over a decade and has supported hundreds of businesses across the region.
Companies are selected based on growth trajectory, innovation, and strategic significance to the regional economy. Being listed isn't just a badge — it provides access to peer networks, mentoring from business leaders, and visibility with policymakers, investors, and potential partners across the region.
Previous Future 50 cohorts have included some of Norfolk and Suffolk's most recognisable businesses. Being selected alongside them positions Akcela within the region's growth story and signals that the incubator model is gaining serious traction.
What this means for Akcela
For Akcela, the listing recognises the growth of the incubator since its launch in September 2021. In less than a year at the time of selection, we had established Norwich's only city-centre startup incubator, welcomed our first cohort of portfolio companies, secured partnerships with key ecosystem players, and delivered the first round of the Future Tech Programme.
That pace of growth reflects the level of unmet demand in the region. Before Akcela, Norwich didn't have a dedicated, equity-based incubation programme for tech-enabled founders. The fact that the incubator filled up quickly and attracted recognition this fast shows how much the region needed it.
What this means for the ecosystem
For the wider ecosystem, the Future 50 listing puts the incubator model on the radar of business leaders, policymakers, and potential partners. The more people who understand what a startup incubator does — and the value it creates — the stronger the support infrastructure becomes for Norfolk's founders.
It also creates connections with other growth businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. Those connections create opportunities for portfolio companies — potential customers, partners, and collaborators who might not otherwise cross paths with an early-stage startup.
The impact so far
Every company in the Akcela portfolio is a Norfolk or Suffolk business. The jobs they create, the investment they attract, and the customers they serve all contribute to the regional economy. An incubator doesn't just support individual companies — it strengthens the ecosystem that produces them.
Across the programme, the numbers tell the story: 79 businesses supported, over £2.2 million raised in investment by portfolio companies, more than £435,000 in grant funding secured, and an estimated 10x return on the public investment that funds the Future Tech Programme.
What comes next
Being part of the Future 50 community is a milestone, not a destination. The work continues — supporting the next cohort of founders, expanding the portfolio, and building the infrastructure that Norwich's startup ecosystem needs to produce companies that compete nationally and internationally.
If you're building a tech-enabled company in Norfolk, apply to the incubation programme or get in touch. You can also learn about the Future Tech Programme or read about the Norwich startup community.
