Colbea offers free one-to-one advice for startups delivered by experts and tailored to your needs. Businesses can benefit from up to 3 hours of live advice sessions, with the potential to extend these for businesses with high-growth potential.  
 
To apply, please review the following eligibility and assessment critera, then complete the application form below. 
 

Eligiblity Critera 

Applicants must be a resident of Colchester or Chelmsford. 
 
Potential to attract private investment 
 
Potential to employ at least 1 full-time equivalent person within the next 3 years (excluding the founder/owner) 
 
Have a viable business plan which includes a clearly defined and validated potential market 
 
Have a considered approach to become financial self-sufficient within 1-3 years 
 
Be able to commence operations/trading activity within 6 months 

Assessment Critera 

Applications for support will be assessed and selected for free support based on their potential to fulfil one or more of the assessment criteria.  
 
Competitive advantage 
 
Market size, growth rate and barriers to entry 
 
Channels to market 
 
Sales cycles and longevity 
 
Funding and investment needs 
 
Experience, expertise and ambition of founders and management team 
 
Intellectual asset ownership and protection 
 
Technology readiness level and proximity to revenues 
 
Market segment and export potential 
 
Business model and scalability 
 
Key milestones 
 
Profit margins and overall viability of commencing operations/trading activity within 6 months 

Apply for Free Support 

Complete the form below to apply for free business 1-1 advice and mentoring for your business.  
Your application will be assessed by the Colbea team and we will be in touch with the outcome shortly after. 
 
We may retain your details in order to provide you with advice, mentoring or training in relation to a business or potential business that you run or intend to run. As this is a funded service we may be required to provide some of the information you provide to our funders for reporting purposes. They may also use this to contact you. 
 
You may at any time ask for a copy of the personal data we hold on you and we will respond in less than 28 days. You have the right to ask us to amend or delete any of your personal data by contacting us using the details below. By submitting the above form, you are confirming consent for Colbea to process and retain your personal details under these stated conditions. You may change them at any time by emailing enquiries@colbea.co.uk