When looking for the right funding for your business, it can be difficult to know where to look. Our monthly funding round-up is here to help, from government loans to Innovation grant funding, we’re here to simplify the process for you.
Accelerators
Venture Forward
Venture Forward is an eight-week accelerator programme delivered by GC Angels, designed to improve fundraising readiness for underrepresented founders. Running from October to December 2025, it includes workshops, investor engagement, and tailored support. Selected businesses may also be eligible for equity investment of up to £150,000. Applications close on 31 August 2025.
Who should apply: Underrepresented founders who are seeking equity investment.
Government loans
Start Up Loans
Government-backed Start-Up Loans offer between £500 and £25,000 at a fixed interest rate, alongside 12 months of free mentoring and access to business support resources. These loans are designed for entrepreneurs who have been trading for less than three years and need affordable finance to get their business off the ground. Applications are open on a rolling basis.
Who should apply: Founders starting a new business or been trading less than 3 years.
Equity investment
GC Angels
GC Angels provides early-stage equity investment and co-investment alongside private angel investors. With a focus on high-growth potential businesses, particularly in the digital, creative and technology sectors, GC Angels is one of the most active pre-seed investors in the North West. Applications are open year-round.
Who should apply: Entrepreneurs based in the North.
Local funds
GM Advance
GM Advance is a £10 million fund launched by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to support growth in the advanced manufacturing and materials sector. The fund is open to companies ranging from new start-ups to small and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to help innovative businesses in these industries scale and succeed.
Who should apply: Companies in the advanced manufacturing and materials sector. You must also be based in Greater Manchester or have tangible plans to relocate or expand operations into the region.
If you’re unsure which funding route is right for your business, our Access to Finance team can help you explore your options and provide tailored support. Get in touch now.
Innovation grant funding opportunities
Upcoming Innovation grant funding focuses on opportunities for electric vehicle manufacture, as well as opportunities to collaborate internationally. There are also opportunities in the defence sector, manufacturing and for businesses working with AI.
Google’s AI Futures Fund
The AI Futures Fund is an initiative from Google to collaborate with and support founders building next-gen AI products with Gemini models. They work closely with ambitious startups across all stages to quickly enable groundbreaking 0-to-1 products and features, providing early access to Google's advanced AI models, expertise, and potential funding to bring audacious AI ideas to life.
Who should apply: Founders building next-gen AI products with Gemini models.
Innovation for Machinery (I4M)
I4M gives SME businesses in West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester access to the expertise of four universities and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). I4M provides support at no charge to accelerate the development of the next generation of machinery and create new jobs and growth in this sector.
Who should apply: Founders delivering advancements in machinery for manufacturing, show clear benefit technically and demonstrate innovation at an industrially relevant scale. You must also be located in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.
Innovation government competitions (closing September)
Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) Open Call for Innovation
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) uses the Open Call for Innovation to find ideas that address challenges across both Defence and Security landscapes. The Open Call for Innovation allows innovative ideas to be proposed to Defence and Security stakeholders, even where a specific requirement has not been stipulated. It is a broad mechanism to allow innovators to present disruptive ideas which may otherwise be overlooked.
Deadline: Tuesday 23 September 2025, 12pm
Who should apply: Projects that address challenges across both Defence and Security landscapes.
Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) Open Call for Innovation
Innovation grant funding opportunities (closing October)
DRIVE35 innovation fund
Projects will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry. This funding programme consists of 3 competition strands to support R&D projects in the UK automotive sector: Collaborate, Demonstrate and Mobilise.
Deadline: Wednesday 1 October 2025 11:00am
Who should apply: UK registered businesses that design, develop and manufacture strategically important zero emission vehicle technologies.
DRIVE35 Collaborate
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £40 million for late stage collaborative research and development projects.
Deadline: Wednesday 1 October 2025 11:00am
Who should apply: R&D projects that design, develop and manufacture strategically important technologies in the automotive sector. The Collaborate strand of the competition focuses on projects that design, develop and enable manufacture of technologies which target post project commercialisation. Find out more about eligibility here.
DRIVE35 Demonstrate
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £40 million for late stage demonstration research and development projects. Projects will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry.
Deadline: Wednesday 1 October 2025 11:00am
Who should apply: R&D projects that design, develop and manufacture strategically important technologies in the automotive sector. The Demonstrate strand of the competition focuses on projects ready to develop a product or process demonstrator, to show increased capability and commercial exploitation opportunity as a result of the project. Find out more about eligibility here.
Canada-UK Semiconductors
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of at least £1 million for collaboration with Canadian SMEs on joint Semiconductors projects.
Deadline: Wednesday 15 October 2025 11:00am
Who should apply: Projects focused on developing innovative products, processes, or technology-based services in Semiconductors. Find out more about eligibility here.
Innovation grant funding opportunities (closing November)
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, business and non-academic
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million for ambitious research and innovation projects in any sector, and tailored support to develop careers for future leaders. This funding is from UKRI.
Deadline: Wednesday 5 November 2025 11:00am
Who should apply: Ambitious research and innovation projects in any sector. Find out more about eligibility here.
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, business and non-academic
Applying for grant funding can be daunting; from finding the right fund to preparing an application, support is available to you.
If you’re an Innovation business, reach out to your Specialist today, to find out more about how we can help you reach your innovation and business goals in 2025.
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