Start-up Connect
What is Start-up Connect?
We help innovators turn their ideas into reality across every sector and in every part of the UK, through funding, business network and growth advice, world class facilities and centres, and access to talent and skills.
Through Innovate UK Start-up Connect, we put your business growth journey at the heart of how and when we support you. Working with you to understand your needs and break down your barriers to getting started, the portfolio of products and services from Innovate UK and partners across the UK, help you succeed in your innovation journey.
Whether you’re a new entrepreneur with an innovative idea, or an academic looking to commercialise your ground-breaking research, Innovate UK’s programmes, products and services can guide you through this process. We support you at all stages in your journey and help your business find its unique path to success.
Understanding your needs
We understand your needs and barriers and the risks you are taking, and our experts can support you on this exciting journey.
Unique combination of support
We support you with a wide range of products and services, to help you take your business to the next level , whether starting from a university or your own kitchen table.
Well-connected
We are uniquely connected right across the UK innovation ecosystem and can point you to the right place to get the right support.
Creating a community to support innovative start-ups
Innovate UK is launching a call to action to build an active community of incubators and accelerators that support technology startups to grow and scale. The aim is to increase their visibility across the ecosystem and provide opportunities for partnership and collaboration.
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Taking the first step – start-up or spin-out
INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
ICURe
An early-stage research pre-accelerator programme, ICURe supports researchers exploring commercial potential.
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INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
CyberASAP
'Cyber Security Academic Start-up Accelerator Programme' - the only pre-seed accelerator programme in the cybersecurity ecosystem.
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INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
Young Innovators
The Young Innovators Awards are an annual competition from Innovate UK that finds, supports and celebrates young people with great business ideas.
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INNOVATE UK PRODUCT
Innovation Canvas
The Innovation Canvas tool supports the development of an innovative product, service or process, helping you establish your challenges and actions to success.
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Scaling your business
INNOVATE UK
Business Growth
Grow your business by protecting your IP, improving innovation management and accessing the innovation ecosystem globally.
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INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
KTPs link forward thinking businesses with the UK’s world class knowledge bases to deliver innovation projects.
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INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
Launchpads
Supporting small and medium sized enterprises progress their ideas toward commercialisation, contributing to local economic growth.
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INNOVATE UK
Catapult Network
The Innovate UK Catapult Network is made up of innovation centres with a strong sector or technological focus that play a key role in accelerating innovation.
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Access to finance
INNOVATE UK OPPORTUNITY
New Innovators
Supporting micro and small businesses develop highly innovative ideas that have a clear route to commercialisation and business growth.
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INNOVATE UK
Business Growth
Grow and scale your business by accessing the right finance and funding for you, and becoming investment ready.
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INNOVATE UK
Business Connect
Directing you to the latest opportunities available in innovation, and how you can apply.
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INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
Investor Partnerships
Offering unique opportunities for high-growth, innovative UK companies to access the funding they need to thrive and succeed.
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Access to markets
INNOVATE UK
Business Growth
Helping you to make connections to partners and leverage insights to expand into vertical and international markets and achieve scaling ambitions.
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INNOVATE UK
Global Programmes
Helping innovative SMEs to collaborate and explore global markets, accelerating business growth.
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INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
Ignite Labs
Ignite Labs provides a dynamic space for UK innovators to stay ahead of the curve, helping you navigate and succeed in the ever-evolving economy of tomorrow.
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INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME
Contracts for Innovation
Enabling innovators to work directly with the public sector to develop new technologies and processes.
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SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
Haven't found what you are looking for?
Innovate UK has developed a self-assessment tool to help early-stage businesses identify the right products and services to support them on their start-up journey. Click the link to get started.
Get started
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Connect with us
Connect with us for more information about Innovate UK Business Connect and how we can support you.