Key Features
Innovate UK is funding up to £150,000 for a pilot Innovate UK Venture Builder Programme to support new deep-tech spin-outs and to help them in raising their first significant investment. This is the Expression of Interest stage of the competition.
Programme: Innovate UK
Award: Share of up to £150,000
Opens: 22nd Apr 2026
Closes: 31st Oct 2026
Innovate UK are investing up to £3.75 million from the Innovate UK Venture Builder pilot programme. This is a two stage competition.
The aim of this competition is to close the gap between validated customer discovery and investment readiness by supporting spinouts to become investor-ready companies and secure their first investment. Projects must focus on one or more of the following Strategy technology sectors:
To be eligible for this EOI competition, spinouts must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise created within the last 24 months. Applications must focus on one of the three specified UK Government Industrial Sector technology sectors and be led by an applicant that has already completed the ICURe Exploit programme. Signed supporting statements from either your Technology Transfer Office or ICURe Delivery Partner or equivalent programme provider must be provided.
In stage two of this competition, spinouts must have a grant funding request of up to £150,000 with projects starting by 1st October 2026 and ending by 30th June 2027.
Any funded organisation needs to carry out their project work in the UK and intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK.
Lead: To lead a spinout, you must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise in the last 24 months or must be formally incorporated by 20th August 2026. Spinouts that have previously received an ICURe Ecplout follow-on fund grant can not be funded. If you are already an established spinout, that has received more than £100,000 of investor funding, including Convertible Loan Notes, University or TTO investment are also not eligible in this competition.
Subcontractors:
Subcontractors are allowed to be used in this competition and can be used from anywhere in the UK. Subcontractor’s costs must not be greater than 70% of the total project costs. Should overseas subcontractors be used, you must state why UK subcontractors could not be used in your application.
Number of applications:
Spinouts can only make one application to this competition.
Previous applications:
Previous applications cannot be used in this competition.
The following spinouts cannot be funded:
Stage two of this competition, a minimum of £3.75 million has been allocated to support spinouts and help them raise their first significant investment.
For the full stage competition, total project costs will be eligible for up to 100% funding subject to MFA subsidy rules.
Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.
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