Women in Innovation Awards 2025-2026

The Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26, organized by Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation), is a prestigious funding competitors designed to empower ladies founders and co-founders throughout the UK. This program provides monetary help, bespoke enterprise mentoring, and visibility to women-led enterprises which might be able to scale their improvements in high-growth sectors.

Key Highlights

• Funding obtainable: Up to £75,000 grant per awardee
• Business help: 12 months of tailor-made mentoring and steerage
• Number of awards: Up to 60, topic to high quality of functions
• Competition timeline:
  • Opens: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
  • Closes: Wednesday, 4 February 2026 at 11:00am (UK time)
• Eligibility: Women founders or co-founders of UK-registered companies on the late-stage start-up part

Purpose of the Awards

The Women in Innovation Awards goal to:

• Support ladies entrepreneurs in scaling their companies.
• Encourage improvements aligned with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.
• Provide visibility and recognition to women-led enterprises in historically underrepresented sectors.
• Strengthen the ecosystem of feminine innovators by providing each monetary and non-financial help.

Eligible Sectors

Applicants should display that their innovation aligns with one of many following high-growth sectors:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Digital and Technologies
• Life Sciences

What Defines a Late-Stage Start-Up?

To qualify, candidates ought to display that their enterprise is past the concept stage and has begun validating its market potential. Indicators embrace:

• A prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) developed.
• Evidence of early buyer curiosity or preliminary income.
• Clear understanding of the goal market and enterprise mannequin testing.
• Formation of a group past the unique founders.
• Realistic evaluation of market alternatives.

Funding Details

• Grant restrict: Up to £75,000 per challenge.
• Duration of help: 12 months of bespoke enterprise mentoring.
• Additional help: Highly recommended candidates (who don’t obtain funding) should be provided mentoring for 12 months.

Competition Process

• Applications are assessed competitively.
• Not all high-scoring initiatives might obtain funding on account of funds limits.
• In the 2024/25 cycle, solely 3.4% of candidates have been profitable, highlighting the aggressive nature of this system.
• A suitability checker is now included to make sure candidates meet the outlined scope earlier than beginning an application.

Assessment Factors

Innovate UK considers a number of parts when awarding funding:

• Quality and feasibility of the innovation.
• Alignment with goal sectors.
• Business progress potential and scalability.
• Prior conduct of candidates (e.g., excellent funds owed to Innovate UK or UKRI).
• Broader authorities funding issues and portfolio steadiness.

Accessibility and Inclusion

Innovate UK is dedicated to making sure the competitors is accessible to all candidates:

• Reasonable changes can be found for people with disabilities or long-term situations.
• Applicants are inspired to request help no less than 15 working days earlier than the deadline.
• Contact choices:
  • Phone: 0300 321 4357 (obtainable Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm and 2pm–5pm, excluding holidays)

Important Notes

• The competitors closes strictly at 11:00am UK time on Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
• Innovate UK reserves the correct to regulate funding allocations in response to coverage modifications or authorities selections.
• Futher info Here.

Why Apply?

Winning a Women in Innovation Award gives extra than simply funding. It provides:

• Credibility and recognition in the innovation ecosystem.
• Access to mentorship and networks that may speed up progress.
• A platform to draw funding alternatives inside 12–24 months.
• Tailored help to assist ladies entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and scale their companies sustainably.

The Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26 characterize a singular alternative for ladies founders to safe each monetary backing and strategic steerage. With a powerful give attention to high-growth sectors and scalable enterprise fashions, this system is designed to highlight female-led enterprises which might be able to make a big impression.

Given the aggressive nature of the awards, candidates ought to put together totally, leverage the suitability checker, and spotlight each their innovation’s market potential and their management capability. Success in this program could be transformative, opening doorways to funding, partnerships, and long-term progress. Apply now.

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