Innovate UK Venture Builder Programme (Expression of Interest)

Innovate UK Venture Builder Programme (Expression of Interest) is sponsored by Innovate UK. This pilot programme supports new deep-tech spin-outs and helps them in raising their first significant investment. It's currently at the Expression of Interest stage.

Innovate UK Venture Builder Pilot Expression of Interest - Innovate UK Business Connect Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Innovate UK Venture Builder Pilot Expression of Interest Innovate UK Venture Builder Pilot Expression of Interest Up to £150,000 per SME to support new deep-tech spin-outs in Frontier AI, Engineering Biology, or Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, and to help them in raising their first significant investment.

This is the Expression of Interest stage of the competition.

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For stage two of this competition, your spin-out must have a grant funding request of up to £150,000: your total project costs will be eligible for up to 100% funding subject to MFA subsidy rules. Biotechnology , Manufacturing , Materials , Robotics & AI Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £3. 75 million from the Innovate UK Venture Builder pilot programme.

This is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received. This expression of interest (EoI) competition focuses on three UK Government Industrial Strategy technology sectors : Advanced Materials and Manufacturing . Your project must focus on one or more of these sectors.

The Venture Builder programme will support newly spun out companies with early characteristics of high-growth potential. The application must be from a spin-out that holds intellectual property (ideas, information, knowledge) generated by a UK university, Public Sector Research Establishment or Research Institute.

Your spin-out must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) created in the last 24 months (if you are not an SME you must be formally incorporated by 20 August 2026), and must be led by an applicant who has completed the ICURe Exploit programme , or an equivalent market and customer validation equivalent programme, in the last 24 months.

(However, we cannot fund spin-outs that have previously received an ICURe Exploit follow-on fund grant.) The aim of this competition is to close the gap between validated customer discovery and investment readiness by supporting spin-outs to become investor‑ready companies and secure their first investment. This expression of interest (EoI) application is the first stage in a two stage application process.

Grant funding will not be awarded at this EoI stage, but only companies who are successful at this stage can apply to stage two. If you are successful in stage two you will receive: 9 months of Venture Builder programme support up to £150,000 grant funding Funding must be used to create clear proof points for investors or remove specific barriers that would prevent you from securing your first investment. This is not a research grant.

It is not intended to fund further technology development, and it is not a general operating subsidy. You must have a successful application in this competition before you can be invited to apply to the second stage of the competition. The deadline for the first EoI stage is 22 May 2026.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); For this EoI competition, your spin-out must: be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) created in the last 24 months (if you are not an SME you must be formally incorporated by 20 August 2026) be led by an applicant who has completed the ICURe Exploit programme, or an equivalent market and customer validation equivalent programme, in the last 24 months have a signed supporting statement either from your Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or ICURe Delivery Partner or an equivalent programme provider have already undergone rigorous market and customer validation be defined as having the Intellectual Property created and exploited from UK Universities, Public Sector Research Establishments or Research Institutes focus on at least one of the three specified UK Government Industrial Strategy technology sectors not have received more than £100,000 in investor funding, including any Convertible Loan Notes, University or TTO investment be able to fulfil the eligibility criteria for stage two if successful See the Background and Further Information sections on the Innovation Funding Service for more detail on the scope of activities under the technology sectors, market traction evidence requirements and qualifying as an ICURe equivalent programme.

We cannot fund spin-outs that have previously received an ICURe Exploit follow-on fund grant. A spin-out can only make one application to this competition. const el = $refs['accordion2']; const top = el.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); For stage two of this competition, your spin-out must: have a grant funding request of up to £150,000 If you are successful at stage two of the competition, you must work with your university or Technology Transfer Office, to complete all the necessary arrangements. We call this step ‘company hygiene’ that ensures you are ready to start the Venture Builder programme in October, 2026.

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top + window. pageYOffset - 80; // adjust offset window. scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); The aim of this competition is to close the gap between validated customer discovery and investment readiness by supporting spin-outs to become investor‑ready companies and secure their first investment.

The Venture Builder Programme will support newly spun out companies with early characteristics of high-growth potential.

This could include companies: being driven by disruptive innovation requiring significant investment backing developing specialised technology, and aiming for rapid scalability have a grant funding request of up to £150,000 when applying for stage two of this competition use the funding specifically for activities that help grow the business into an investable proposition include spend that either creates a proof point that an investor can assess, or removes a specific barrier that would prevent you from raising your first round provide evidence of good market traction from at least one potential customer, partner or industrial collaborator have Intellectual Property that is created and exploited from UK universities, Public Sector Research Establishments or Research Institutes Your project must focus on one or more of the following Industrial Strategy technology sectors: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing const el = $refs['accordion4']; const top = el.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); Support and further information If you need more information about how to apply or you want to submit your application in Welsh, email support@iuk. ukri. org or call 0300 321 4357.

Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). If you are unsure about whether your technology is in scope, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Artificial Intelligence , Engineering Biology , Materials or Manufacturing teams for advice.

Qualifying as an ICURe Programme equivalent programme have an equivalent programme to ICURe that have supported your research-based project or spin-out be able to evidence a value proposition and development of a business model that has been achieved by a formal market and customer validation journey with associated skills and learning Innovate UK's application and funding process If you need more information about how to apply, please read our funding support pages.

For additional support, reach out to our team of innovation experts who are ready to help you navigate the application process and maximise your chances of success. [url] => /how-we-help/innovation-funding-and-support/ Accessibility and Inclusion Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone.

This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us. This opportunity is part of ICURe. The Innovate UK ICURe Programme gives researchers the chance to turn ground-breaking research into investment-ready spin-out companies and license agreements.

We provide funding and personalised support to test the commercial potential of an idea – while enabling researchers take their first steps into the world of business. Connect with Innovate UK Business Connect