Dell launches £10m search for tech startups

Vendor claims its hunt will drive innovation and growth within the technology industry

Dell has begun its UK search for up-and-coming tech startups and is offering £10m in credit financing to give businesses incentives to come forward.

As part of its Global Entrepreneurship Week, Dell unveiled a UK Centre for Entrepreneurs (CfE) – an extension of its US initiative – and announced the establishment of a Global Advisory Board which is charged with rolling out worldwide initiatives in entrepreneurship.

Some £10m in credit financing is available to UK-based companies from its Financial Services division, which will also offer a range of other initiatives to help the firms grow.

The launch of the UK branch of the CfE will see the newly private vendor open up its resources to startups looking to grow and innovate new technology.

On top of this, it will give two startups the chance to be resident firms at its Bracknell base. The companies will be whittled down through a competition process which begins next month and the two winners will get free office space at Dell's Berkshire base for a year.

The vendor said commitment to innovation was a key focus.

"For Dell, supporting entrepreneurs is not just a business strategy, but a corporate philosophy," its entrepreneur-in-residence Ingrid Vanderveldt said.

"Since launching in the US a year ago, the Dell CfE has been a true testament to the collaborative win-win of startups and corporations partnering for growth... We are excited to be taking big steps forward in expanding this footprint globally."