Start-up Connect

New, innovative businesses are critical for the future success of our economy. Creating a new business to take an idea from concept to commercialisation can be a challenge when you don’t know where to go for support. Innovate UK Start-up Connect puts your business growth journey at the heart of how and when we support you.

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.

Collaboration

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.

Experimentation

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.

Entrepreneurship

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

With a focus on market-led innovation, we can help ensure you exploit the IP from your world class research in the right way.
ICURe

INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME

ICURe

An early-stage research pre-accelerator programme, ICURe supports researchers exploring commercial potential.

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CyberASAP

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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Young Innovators

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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Innovation Canvas

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

You’ve taken the first step, now let us help to accelerate the growth of your innovative business.
Business Growth

INNOVATE UK

Business Growth

Grow your business by protecting your IP, improving innovation management and accessing the innovation ecosystem globally.

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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

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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Launchpads

INNOVATE UK PROGRAMME

Launchpads

Supporting small and medium sized enterprises progress their ideas toward commercialisation, contributing to local economic growth.

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Catapult Network

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

We know that finding the right type of funding at the right time is critical to your future success and we can help.
New Innovators

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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 Business Growth

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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Business Connect

INNOVATE UK

Business Connect

Directing you to the latest opportunities available in innovation, and how you can apply.

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Investor Partnerships

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

Finding the right customer is the next important step on your journey, and our programmes can help you build that key relationship and opportunity.
Business Growth

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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Global Programmes

INNOVATE UK

Global Programmes

Helping innovative SMEs to collaborate and explore global markets, accelerating business growth.

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Ignite Labs

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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Contracts for Innovation

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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Women In Innovation Success Stories: Ying Lia Li, Zero Point Motion, South West England

Women In Innovation Success Stories: Ying Lia Li, Zero Point Motion, South West England

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