Our latest guest blog comes from Jenny Fielding of BBC Worldwide, talking about the new BBCW Labs initiative – a comprehensive six month programme for emerging digital media companies in the UK, which aims to help selected start-ups gain traction and scale by working closely with them – read on for more information…

Two weeks ago I was delighted to announce the launch of BBC Worldwide Labs – a new initiative from BBC Worldwide, the international and commercial arm of the BBC. Over the years BBC Worldwide has collaborated with a number of international partners from startups, including most recently Spaceport and Viki.com, to content producers and service providers all of which have helped us to deliver high quality services and distribute our content on numerous platforms. BBC Worldwide Labs will help us to build on these relationships by enabling us to seek out and work with the most dynamic emerging digital media companies in the UK.

Following an event we held on June 22 to announce the launch of the application process at Google Campus, in the heart of East London’s technology cluster for 120 members of the digital community, we’ve been pleased to receive a number of impressive applications.

Launching at Campus

However, there is still time to apply. So if you haven’t done so below are the reasons you should. The six month initiative will offer the five chosen companies the unique opportunity to work with BBC Worldwide in our London-based offices. There will be access to specialists from across Worldwide who can offer sound business advice from technology, content, marketing, sales, advertising and legal perspectives and we’re planning a host of networking events too. Whilst we are not seeking to invest money in the companies, nor can we offer a guarantee of a partnership with BBC Worldwide at the end of the six months, we believe that by offering emerging companies our support and backing they will have greater opportunities to strike partnerships with other organisations. We encourage applications from as many Tech City companies as possible – so please get in touch!

If you’re interested in being considered for the initiative click here for more details and application form. The closing date for submissions is July 15. We will then select a shortlist of up to 18 who will be whittled down to five and announced on August 15.

Good luck!

Jenny Fielding heads up New Digital Ventures for BBC Worldwide as well as BBCW Labs. Previously, she was CEO of fourforty Inc, the company that developed Wenzani for Lonely Planet. Jenny has a long history in the tech industry, co-founding start-ups such as Switch-Mobile, a disruptive VoIP mobile software company, that was acquired in 2008. She has also been the COO of Wodan Capital, a VP at JP Morgan, and a lawyer at Wieden & Kennedy, where she started her career. She sits on the Board and advises several companies and organizations including Founder Labs, Texting.ly, and Astia. Jenny is based in Silicon Valley.

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