Fuel by Next Big Thing Accelerator
Fuel helps founders across stages and sectors turn Growth Goals into continuous test-and-learn progress using NBT's growth methodology, refined over more than a decade of supporting 2,000+ startups.
Trusted by Leading Organizations
Since 2015, thousands of startups, enterprises, accelerators, VCs, government institutions, and universities worldwide have trusted NBT to deliver growth, innovation, and ecosystem programs.
How Fuel Works
Fuel runs as a three-stage growth loop.
Choose where to focus, decide what to test, then execute and learn. Evidence from each sprint updates your backlog and shapes what happens next.
Start When You Are Ready
Applications are reviewed year-round. If accepted, you agree your start date and initial deadlines with NBT, then begin without waiting for a cohort.
Growth Paths
Create and Prioritise Where to Focus
Map your potential growth opportunities by matching each offering with a specific target audience and target market.
Growth Backlog
Set the Sprint Goal and Plan What to Test
Start with your prioritised Growth Path and the time, people and budget available for the next sprint.
Growth Sprints
Execute, Measure and Learn
Execute the tests and tasks in your Sprint Backlog. Track what happens and capture evidence from the market.
The Loop Continues
Complete One Sprint. Keep Growing.
After completing one full Growth Sprint and review, you become Fuel alumni. As alumni, you can run further sprints, request support for active challenges and access selected Fuel sessions, events, perks and ecosystem opportunities.
Prioritise the Path. Build the Backlog. Run the Sprint. Learn and Repeat.
Support Throughout Fuel
Fuel support is connected to your active Growth Path, Sprint Backlog, challenges and decisions.
Sprint Planning and Review Sessions
Set the Sprint Goal, prioritise the Sprint Backlog, review evidence and decide what should happen next.
Challenge-Based Office Hours
Get focused input on a specific question, hypothesis, test, tactic, blocker or backlog item connected to your active Growth Path.
Fuel Sessions and Events
Join selected Fuel sessions and events focused on practical growth topics, founder learning and peer exchange.
Selected Ecosystem Opportunities
Access selected ecosystem events, partner perks, tools and other opportunities available to Fuel startups.
What Founders Do. What Fuel Provides.
Fuel is founder-led. Your team owns the execution while Fuel provides the method, sprint structure and focused support around your active work.
Founders
- Create and prioritise Growth Paths
- Commit realistic time, people and resources
- Execute the Sprint Backlog
- Track progress and capture market evidence
- Bring specific questions and challenges to office hours
Fuel
- Provides the Growth Path, Growth Backlog and Growth Sprint method
- Facilitates Sprint Planning and Review Sessions
- Provides Challenge-Based Office Hours
- Brings relevant expertise into active challenges
- Provides access to selected Fuel sessions and ecosystem opportunities
Trusted by Those Building the Next Big Things
What founders and ecosystem partners say about working with NBT.
"The Fuel Program enabled me to adopt a holistic growth mindset. It connected every step of the funnel and showed how to apply growth frameworks in real scenarios."
Kadić, I.
60 Seconds App
"Fuel helped us practice the fundamentals of growth marketing across every part of the funnel. The team's clarity and structured approach made it easy to apply and measure impact."
Sobo, D.
Ultra Education CIC
"Helped us establish the fundamentals of growth before jumping into tactics. Clarity from day one."
Szydlowski, F.
Embargo App
"Simplifies growth into understandable, actionable steps — and gives time back to the business."
Eades, R.
Flairbox
"Experienced, innovative, and always on top of best practices."
Sunar, A.
Fora
"A strong ecosystem partner, delivering tailored growth sessions and mentoring founders love."
Bethnal Green Ventures Team
BGV
"Professional, enthusiastic, and consistently beyond expectations — a true long-term partner."
London & Partners Team
London & Partners
Our Startup Program Experience
Alongside our own programs, NBT has contributed to accelerator and startup programs through program delivery, mentorship, workshops, market expertise and other forms of support.
AWS Startup Accelerator Program
by AWS
ITU Seed Globalisation Program
by ITU Cekirdek
Grow London Global
by London & Partners
Founder Institute Launch Program
by Founder Institute
UK Market Entry Program
by Innogate
Tech for Good Programme
by Bethnal Green Ventures
Startupbootcamp IoT London Program
by Startupbootcamp
Bigbang UK Demo Day
by ITU ARI Teknokent & Innogate
UK Export Academy
by Department for Business and Trade
UK Investment Readiness Program
by Innogate
Virgin Startup Accelerator
by Virgin Startup
Pilot Corporate Accelerator
by Turk Telekom Ventures
Germany Market Immersion Week
by Innogate
ClimAccelerator Program
by Climate KIC
Global Growth Navigators
Founders, operators and specialists who mentor Fuel startups across growth, go-to-market and international expansion.
Ecosystem Partners
Fuel is supported by hundreds of ecosystem partners who provide selected perks and ecosystem opportunities to participating startups.
Inside the NBT Ecosystem
A glimpse into what's happening across our programs, partnerships, and growth community.
Launching the UK Market Entry Program
The flagship Innogate UK Market Entry Program launched, supporting startups through focused workshops, mentorship, and investor connections.
From Berlin to Beyond: Closing the Germany Market Immersion Week
We concluded the Innogate Germany Market Immersion Week with sessions on founder visibility, team building, and operational scaling.
Globalisation Readiness Bootcamp: Building Scalable Foundations
The Innogate Globalisation Readiness Bootcamp equips founders and executives with frameworks for international expansion
Redefining Growth Marketing in the Age of AI
During a keynote with Turkcell, NBT explored how AI is reshaping marketing, sales, and customer experience.
Inside UK Market Entry: From First Steps to Investor Readiness
We unpacked what global founders really need to succeed in the UK, from testing the waters and building local operations to winning investor trust and leveraging Innovate UK opportunities.
Mastering Investor Outreach & UK Market Expansion
Real founder stories on what works (and what doesn't), from navigating UK entry as an alumnus founder to crafting investor messages that actually get replies.
How Global Startups Build Local Advantage
Topics that matter: UK relocation and visa pathways for founders, and how CTOs evaluate international startups entering new markets. Real frameworks. Real conversations.
Accelerating UK Market Readiness for High-Growth Startups
As part of our UK Growth Sprint, NBT Growth Navigators delivered strategy-focused sessions to help startups navigate fundraising, IP, and operational readiness for UK expansion.
Building Global Foundations through UK Market Access
Through our UK Growth Sprint, we guided startups on the essentials of market entry from financial compliance to innovation incentives
Fueling International Expansion Through Market Immersion
Through Innogate Berlin, founders explored key considerations for entering European markets, from local fundraising and cultural adaptation to partnership models with global enterprises.
Germany Market Immersion: Accelerating Global Market Entry
NBT launched the Innogate Germany Market Immersion Week in Berlin, enabling startups to navigate procurement, partnership, and go-to-market processes within the German ecosystem.
Stay Connected with NBT
Follow conversations, perspectives and events from across our Agency, Accelerator, Academy and wider ecosystem.
Growth Spotlight
Our Growth Podcast
Conversations with founders, operators, specialists and ecosystem leaders about the decisions, challenges and lessons behind growth.
Explore Growth SpotlightThe Growth Backlog
Our Growth Publication
Practical perspectives, frameworks and lessons from NBT and our ecosystem to help you decide what belongs in your growth backlog.
Explore The Growth BacklogNBT Events
Events from NBT and Our Partners
Events helping founders, teams and ecosystems learn, connect and seek their Next Big Things.
Explore NBT EventsFrequently Asked Questions
For Startups
For Partners
Apply to Fuel
Stop ad-hoc growth. Run it as a system.