TV accelerator program Indielab is back for a second year. The program focuses on independent TV production companies and works to promote a sustainable independent TV sector in London and the UK.

Indielab features a series of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, networking events and one-on-one mentoring sessions over a period of four months. The training will result in a detailed business model and investment toolkit and the program culminates in participants meeting with and pitching to individual investors and VC funds.

The 2017 program will see 15 small and start-up production companies working with, and learning from, more than 50 industry leaders including Raw TV founder Dimitri Doganis, Brown Eyed Boy’s Gary Rike and Lambent Productions’ Emma Wakefield.

Indielab is actively seeking applicants from companies across all genres and sectors, including those in children’s entertainment.

For the first time, the program is welcoming companies from outside of London to participate. To be eligible, the indies must have at least two broadcast credits in the last three years with less than US$6.2 million in revenue. The companies must be 80% independently owned. Companies backed or owned by broadcasters do not qualify.

Entries for the 2017 program will be open from December 1 until February 7. Production companies can apply through the Indielab website. Successful applicants will be announced in February 2017.

Indielab was founded in 2015 by senior TV executive Victoria Powell. Last year’s speakers included Kudos’ Diederick Santer, PACT’s John McVay, Lionsgate’s Marc Lorber, Leftbank Pictures’ Grace Wilson, Hat Trick’s Paul Cohen and Betty’s Liz Warner.

Following the inaugural program, Powell reports that the participating indies are expected to see more than US$6 million added to their revenue across the next 18 months. Additionally, 80% of participating indies are expected to enter into a first look or distribution deal within the next six months.