Funding of up to £75,000 and bespoke business support for women founders or co-founders with UK registered businesses at the late stage start-up phase to further their ambitious growth plans.
This competition opens on 26 November 2025 and closes at 11am on 4 February 2026.
Who it is for
This competition is open to single applicants.
To lead a project you must
- be a woman founder or co-founder within a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- be a resident in the UK
- be leading a late stage start-up
- be preparing to scale and raise significant investment in the next 12 to 24 months
- engage in a minimum of 10 hours of training and development support
- commit to a minimum of four hours of role modelling activity to inspire future generations of women innovators
Late stage start-ups should have
- developed a prototype or minimum viable product
- received early customer interest or revenue
- started testing how the business will work
- started forming a team beyond the founding group
Your project must
- have a grant funding request of up to £75,000
- last for 12 months
- start on 1 July 2026
- end on 30 June 2027
Support you can get
This competition aims to support women who lead late stage start-ups working across advanced manufacturing, digital and technologies, and life sciences.
Successful applicants will receive
- up to £75,000 to accelerate their innovation
- 12 months of bespoke business support
- access to training, networks and promotional opportunities
- the chance to act as a role model for future women innovators
Total project costs will be eligible for up to 100% funding, subject to MFA subsidy rules.
Support organisers
Contact
Innovate UK
Phone
0300 321 4357
Next Steps
on the Innovation Funding Service website
Published
27 November 2025
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