Facebook’s first in-house incubator launches in London

Facebook is on track to run three incubator courses in London throughout 2018. The three courses include one for community-focused businesses, one for Facebook page admins and one for Facebook and Instagram creators. This week, the social network giant is running its first incubator course in London for community-focused businesses using technology. Participating startups include Goodgym, a social initiative that combines working out and volunteering in the community and Olio, which encourages householders to sell on excess food they won’t eat. Facebook will spend the next 12 weeks being mentored at the company’s UK HQ.

LDN_LAB is a dedicated incubator space with offices in London. The program includes startups that are using technology to build platforms and products that connect people, build communities and bring people closer together. Your whole company should be dedicated to forming new communities that couldn’t exist before and uniting people around a certain topic, passion or cause.

Facebook’s LDN_LAB will be a fantastic addition to London’s world-class tech ecosystem – particularly with its focus on tech for community benefit. The capital is alive with exciting tech startups and entrepreneurs and this initiative will help them to transform their ideas into the next big thing,” The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said during the incubator’s official opening :“

The seven technology startups joining Facebook’s inaugural LDN_LAB incubator are:

• Teacherly (Derby): A platform for teachers to create and share lesson plans. The startup claims to offer a faster, easier and smarter way for teachers to plan and deliver teaching and seeks to help reduce the burden of planning by building a community of teachers who can share materials and lesson plans.
• OLIO (London and Bristol). This startup connects neighbours with each other and with local shops so surplus food can be shared, and not thrown away.
• Goodgym (London) A non-profit digital platform that connects runners with volunteering tasks in their communities.
• Sharecare (fLondon) Connects and mobilises a community of local volunteers to provide elderly people with help for everyday tasks.
• Mush (London) An app for new mums in the UK. The startup connects mums through a local social network.
• Rabble (London) Getting more people into fitness by disguising exercise as games.
• Tabl (London) An independent food community and marketplace, allowing people to buy directly from craft producers, attend inspiring food events and experiences and find unique recipes created by the community.

“Over the next 3 months we’ll launch in 10 new locations,” said Ivo Gormley, Founder and CEO of Goodgym in a statement. “Being part of LDN_LAB will supercharge these launches and help thousands more runners make a difference to communities across the UK.”

ThAs part of the program, each participant receives mentoring from senior Facebook executives and bespoke tuition on a varied range of topics including software, product development, data science and marketing.