VCs, angels and Innovate UK all opened fresh calls over the past month. If you run a software start‑up or scale‑up, this guide points you to the funds, grants and key dates that matter.
Innovate UK “Growth Catalyst” Pilot - Link
Type: Non-dilutive grant (£25,000–£50,000)
Who it’s for: Micro & small pre-seed companies (<50 staff) that have NOT received an Innovate UK grant before
Sectors: Advanced connectivity, AI, engineering biology, quantum, semiconductors
Region: UK-wide (remote delivery, no regional quota)
Key dates: Opens 7 Jul 2025, deadline 6 Aug 2025 11:00, decisions expected Oct 2025
Apply: iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/growth-catalyst-for-early-stage-startups-july-2025
Quick tip: The suitability checker quiz can flag fit issues in <5 minutes before you draft a full bid.
Innovate UK Innovation Loans – Round 22 - Link
Type: Low-interest loan (£100k–£5 m; 3.7% during R&D; 7.4% during repayment)
Who it’s for: Late-stage R&D SMEs needing >£100k to push a product to market; must show repayment capacity
Sectors: Net Zero, Health & Well-being, Next-Gen Digital Tech
Region: UK-wide; credit committee by Dec 2025; first draw-down by Jan 2026
Key dates: Opens 10 Jul 2025; deadline 27 Aug 2025 11:00; applicant briefing 17 Jul 2025
Apply: iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/innovate-uk-innovation-loans-round-22
Tip: Pre-register for one of three “deep-dive” workshops (23 & 30 Jul, 4 Aug) to polish the financial model
BridgeAI Innovation Vouchers (Hartree Centre) - link
Type: Voucher grant up to £15,000 for expert data-science or AI support
Who: SMEs in agriculture, construction, creative, transport or any firm exploring AI proof-of-concept
Region: UK-wide; delivered remotely or on-site at STFC in Cheshire
Key dates: Opens 1 Jul 2025; closes 17 Aug 2025 23:59; projects must finish by Mar 2026
Apply: stfc.ukri.org/bridgeai-innovation-vouchers
Eligibility nugget: 100% funded (no match) but only technical services—hardware purchases are ineligible
Green Economy Energy-Efficiency Grant (Greater Manchester) - link
Type: 50%-match grant up to £5,000 for kit (heat pumps, LED, motors)
Who: GM-based SMEs with ≤250 staff and ≤€50 m turnover
Region: Greater Manchester priority; first-come, first-served until budget exhausted
Key dates: Launched 4 Jul 2025; rolling approvals weekly; install deadline 31 Mar 2026
Apply: greeneconomy.co.uk/business-support/decarbonise/grants
Tip: CO₂-saving estimate (kg CO₂e/year) is mandatory—ask the supplier for figures before submitting.
Fresh Venture Capital & Angel Vehicles
New Fund (Launch Date) | Type & Size | Ticket / Stage | Sector Focus | How to Engage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cambridge Innovation Capital “Opportunity Fund” (26 Jun 2025) | £100 m growth-equity VC | £3 m–£10 m Series B+ | DeepTech, Life Sciences | Intro via CIC.vc |
Nighthawk × Arena Venture Lending Platform (8 Jul 2025) | £30 m secured venture debt (scales to £60 m) | £1 m–£10 m loans | Tech-intensive SMEs | Contact Nighthawk Advisors LLP; first $5 m deployed to ad-tech & personalised-nutrition firms |
Arāya Super Angel Fund second close (1 Jul 2025) | £20 m fund; British Business Investments £5 m LP | £150k–£450k Pre-seed/Seed | B2B SaaS, FinTech, Health, Future-of-Work | Warm intro via arayaventures.com; targeting 60 startups over 4 yrs |
Angel Academe Female Founder EIS Fund (18 Jun 2025) | £1.2 m target EIS; min £10k investor check | £150k avg; Seed | Female-led Tech & SaaS | |
Liverpool City Region (LCR) Seed Fund (18 Jun 2025) | £10 m public-private seed pot | £250k–£1 m | Digital & Creative, Advanced Mfg, Health & Life Sci | Apply via growthplatform.org/ lcr-seed-fund; rolling submissions |
Regional Highlights: Greater Manchester & North West
Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Roadshow - link
The £660 m NPIF II will run a Hartlepool roadshow on 8 Jul 2025 to brief founders on new debt (to £2 m) and equity (to £5 m) options, including GM coverage.
➡ Sign up: investinhartlepool.co.uk/events
GM Business Growth Hub – Innovation Support Snapshot
Innovation Grants Delivered Since Jul 2023: £2 m across 185 companies
New “Energy-Efficiency SME Grant” added July 2025 (see above) - link
ASCEND Scale-Up Programme continues (cohort launched Sep 2024; next intake early 2026) - link
Green Economy Energy Grants
As noted, GM SMEs can slash overheads—average past recipients save £10k/year on bills and cut 8 t CO₂e - link
Liverpool City Region Seed Fund
Positioned 50 minutes from central Manchester, the £10 m LCR vehicle welcomes GM or relocating SaaS ventures if economic impact lands in the city-region - link
National Policy & Ecosystem Updates Shaping 2025 Funding
Update | What it Means for B2B Founders |
|---|---|
British Business Bank “Emerging Female Investor Office Hours” launched 1 Jul 2025 | Easier to pitch new female GPs or syndicates; could widen angel cheque writers for seed rounds. |
BVCA report: £190 bn private-capital “dry powder” ready to deploy (1 Jul 2025) | Signals LP appetite; founders should expect more sector-specialist funds spinning up. |
Innovation Loans Round 22 cap lifted to £5 m & 100% cost coverage | Scale-ups can finance expensive go-to-market plans without equity dilution. |
Democratises Hartree Centre HPC access, great for data-heavy SaaS (e.g., training LLMs). |
Application Tips & FAQ
1. Stack Grants + Equity Strategically
Pairing a Growth Catalyst grant (£50k) with an Innovation Loan can de-risk tech validation while keeping equity dry for GTM expansion.
2. Show Repayment Path for Loans
Credit reviewers on Round 22 now expect a liquidity ratio ≥1.1× and robust monthly cash-flow. Forecast conservatively—and evidence signed LOIs, not “pipeline” wish-lists. - link
3. Demonstrate AI Readiness
Even non-AI calls now ask for digital-maturity narratives. Lean on BridgeAI vouchers to pilot an MVP use-case you can reference in future funding bids.
4. Region-Specific Bonus Points
GM and LCR funds stress local job creation. Include postcode-level hiring plans; cite links to local universities or innovation hubs (DiSH, MediaCity Immersive Lab) for credibility.
5. SEIS/EIS Compliance Checklist
For angel-backable rounds, secure HMRC Advance Assurance before road-shows. The 2025 HS393 rules let you carry back SEIS relief one year. - link
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