British Design Fund has been selected as an official investment partner to deliver Innovate UK’s Investor Partnerships Programme.
The programme provides funding for highly innovative micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the research and development field who require equity funding to develop their technology in specific thematic areas. It was launched by Innovate UK to enable early-stage innovation-led businesses to raise non-dilutable grant funding, of up to £700k, for R&D projects alongside private co-investment.
British Design Fund joins a “pool” of investor partners working with Innovate UK to support SMEs, driving the growth of untapped innovative businesses and increasing investment in creative talent across the UK.
As a leading early-stage British manufacturing investor, British Design Fund backs product-focused start-up enterprises who are ready to scale-up and build thriving standout businesses. Alongside capital investment, BDF provides expert mentoring to support such companies to accelerate their growth plans. The Fund’s diverse portfolio boasts startup enterprises from across the UK, including innovators in the fields of prosthetics, healthtech, solar heating and energy efficiency, sustainable packaging and logistics, and agritech
Damon Bonser, CEO at the British Design Fund, comments: “We’re very excited to be partnering with Innovate UK on its highly successful programme. The British Design Fund is proud to champion the best of British design and ingenuity, being wholly committed to investing in ground-breaking, purpose-led, product businesses. We look forward to helping accelerate the growth journey of ambitious start-up teams coming through the programme.”
Applications for SME Round 8 are open until Wednesday 14 August 2024 to any UK-based, innovation-led SME with high growth ambitions. To be eligible, businesses must be early-stage and raising investment for an R&D project that meets the Innovate UK criteria of being a feasibility study, industrial research, or experimental development and fit within the specific thematic areas with available funding.
For more information visit https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search
