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Welcome to Venture Lab

Delivering innovation and startup activities that inspire, enhance self-belief and empower individuals to achieve their ambitions and make real-world impact.
Explore Ideas and Launch New Ventures
Students at an awards ceremony holding up their certificates and trophies

 

Unleash Your Entrepreneurial Potential

 

  • Innovate

    Generate more ‘lightbulb moments’ and enhance your ability to achieve meaningful impact with our range of internationally recognised innovation programmes.

    Students sitting around a table working together
  • Start Up

    Access one-to-one coaching session, workshops, funding opportunities and more to help you realise your startup ambitions.

    Two students holding up their innovative bank card

Innovate

Generate more ‘lightbulb moments’ and enhance your ability to achieve meaningful impact with our range of internationally recognised innovation programmes.

Students sitting around a table working together

Start Up

Access one-to-one coaching session, workshops, funding opportunities and more to help you realise your startup ambitions.

Two students holding up their innovative bank card
  • Scale Up

    Expert support and global connections to accelerate the growth of your startup.

    Durham Venture School cohort in Times Square, New York
  • Our Approach

    The work we do is made possible by our supporters. Join us on our mission to inspire the next generation of innovative leaders and entrepreneurs emerging from Durham University.

    A panel discussing alumni topics

Scale Up

Expert support and global connections to accelerate the growth of your startup.

Durham Venture School cohort in Times Square, New York

Our Approach

The work we do is made possible by our supporters. Join us on our mission to inspire the next generation of innovative leaders and entrepreneurs emerging from Durham University.

A panel discussing alumni topics

Success Stories

With the support of Venture Lab, Durham University students and graduates are creating innovative and ambitious startups that positively impact the world. They are tackling issues ranging from food poverty to environmental sustainability. 

Over £30.2m investment raised
213 jobs created

Meet some of our inspirational founders below:

Support Our Mission

  • Donate

    We rely on the generosity of our community to deliver our initiatives including prize, scholarship and programme funding.

  • Volunteer

    Whether as a mentor, a speaker at an event, or a guest speaker during our accelerator or summer school programmes, there are many opportunities to make a difference with your time and expertise.

  • Join our Alumni Entrepreneurs Network

    A welcoming community of aspiring, current, and former entrepreneurs to foster connections among our graduates.

  • Alumni Angel Investor Network

    Enabling students and graduates to pitch ideas for early-stage investment.

Read our brochure
Hazan Venture Lab - purpose-built space for entrepreneurship with many people in attendance networking

The Hazan Venture Lab is our first purpose-built space for entrepreneurship, made possible through a generous £500,000 donation by alumnus Jonathan Hazan.  

Group of students standing outside building wearing matching Venture Lab hoodies

The 2024 cohort of Venture Lab Summer Accelerator (VLSA), which helps aspirational entrepreneurs progress their startup ideas.

Alumni gathering and networking

The Alumni Entrepreneurs Network is one of Durham’s most active alumni groups, hosting regular events that bring together aspiring, current and former entrepreneurs, investors and sector leaders to support founders.

Natasha Boulding speaking in the Hazan Venture Lab

Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO and Co-Founder of Low Carbon Materials, Durham University spinout and Earthshot Prize 2022 Finalist, speaking to a group in the Hazan Venture Lab.

University student
It is an honour to work with the students and see first-hand the impact of my donation, which is providing opportunities they would not otherwise have had. I look forward to seeing Venture Lab continue to develop and inspire further generations to create transformational businesses.

Jonathan Hazan
Alumnus and donor
vl

Meet the Team

The Venture Lab has a dedicated team helping student entrepreneurs turn ideas into real ventures. Through workshops, coaching, resources and industry connections, we support every stage of the startup journey, from first spark to launch and beyond.

Meet the team and advisory board

Venture Lab

Venture Lab is managed by Careers & Enterprise

Hazan Venture Lab

Ground Floor

Mathematical Sciences & Computer Science Building

Upper Mountjoy

Durham

DH1 3LE

Telephone: 0191 334 4428