Innovate UK Investor Partnerships

Innovate UK Investor Partnerships is sponsored by Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation). This program aims to stimulate research and development in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while accelerating equity investment into those companies.

Investor Partnerships - Innovate UK Business Connect Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Boosting high-potential growth-focused SMEs through aligning grant funding for R&D development with investment from Innovate UK’s approved credible Investor Partners.

Accelerating investment into high-potential innovative UK companies with the ambition to become industry giants Accessing private capital is challenging and the investment landscape can be unfamiliar and overwhelming. Investors often seek scalability and defensible intellectual property, which can be difficult for some businesses to demonstrate at early stages.

Founders may excel in technology development, but can sometimes lack the business acumen and understanding of investors’ funding criteria. On the other hand, it can be difficult for investors to align their investment criteria with innovative R&D projects. Changing business models during periods of growth can be disruptive and impact longer-term valuations.

It can also be challenging to find innovative R&D projects that complement or counterbalance others within their investment portfolio.

Innovate UK’s Investor Partnerships exists to fix a fundamental problem for highly-innovative high-potential micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK – access to funding to de-risk the development of emerging technology and access to capital to accelerate the business operations towards company growth and scale at the same time.

Past programmes and impact Investor partnerships - Unlocking private capital for UK high-potential SMEs since 2017.

Grant funding to 417 UK SMEs Aligned equity investment from 105 investor partners Further follow-on private investment A powerful public-private collaboration Non-dilutive capital to de-risk technology development Grant funding for Research and Development projects is provided by Innovate UK, where the innovation is aligned with Innovate UK’s strategic priority areas, such as the UK Industrial Strategy, and has the potential for out-sized impact on the economy and society.

Private capital focuses on business growth and commercialisation Aligned equity investment that is at least 1-2x the amount of grant funding (subject to proximity to market entry). Investment can come from a single investor or a syndicate but must be led by an Innovate UK approved Investor Partner (see the directory of Investor Partners below).

Expertise and connections Investors bring more than capital, highly experienced in growing ventures and getting products to markets, investors bring business skills and networks that are just as important for progress as adequate capital.

Empowering founders with the right investment connections Innovate UK has and continues to partner with a diverse group of credible Investor Partners, including venture capital funds, corporate investors, business angel groups, and social impact investors. Innovate UK’s Investor Partners represent a wide variety of focus, be that sector focus, founding team and business stage.

Geographically, the pool of investors draws from UK domestic capital as well as international capital and investment portfolios may be regional, national or international (incl. UK).

Each Investor Partner in the Investor Partners directory, provides information on their main area of interest and how you should make contact and has demonstrated that they have the credibility, capability, capacity and appetite to invest in innovative, technology-led businesses that align with Innovate UK’s strategic priority areas, such as the UK Industrial Strategy sectors.

These investors are committed to supporting innovative companies and providing the financing they need to grow and scale.

Please note the decision to apply to co-invest alongside Innovate UK is the Investor Partner’s decision – obtaining buy-in from a relevant Investor Partner in your businesses (as opposed to others) is for you to achieve and we recommend to start with building a relationship and really think about how your business differentiates itself in the market – remember, investors see thousands of pitches but will invest in only a handful of outstanding opportunities.

Who Innovate UK co-invests with To qualify for an R&D grant under Investor Partnerships, your business must have an established relationship with and obtain aligned equity investment led by one of Innovate UK’s approved Investor Partners. Innovate UK’s Investor Partners have been confirmed as credible investors with the risk-appetite, and the capacity and capability to invest in innovation in Innovate UK’s strategic priority areas.

Explore this directory to see the Investor Partners' focus and how you should make contact. Please note not every investor may respond to your approach. Explore the directory of Investor Partners Invest in innovation capital connect forum Innovate UK’s Invest in Innovation: Capital Connect Forum set the stage for a powerful gathering of industry leaders, investors and changemakers from across the UK’s investment ecosystem.

The event brought together a dynamic mix of stakeholders committed to driving innovation with impact. Investment Ecosystems Lead Investment Ecosystems Lead Investment Ecosystems Lead Investment Ecosystems Lead Invested in growth, we connect investors to innovators, industry and government, by demystifying the UK Innovation landscape and shaping the future economy.

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Helping the UK to lead the world in the development, scaling and deployment of climate technology – through our strong innovation ecosystem, an inspired and motivated capital stack, and proven financial returns. Helping businesses in England convert their creative potential into creative growth.

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