Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains (CLIMATES) Investment Readiness Programme 2025
Innovate UK Business Connect are delighted to open our 2025 programme for up to 15 SMEs in the Critical Materials space who are seeking to accelerate their investment raise.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
05/06/2025 00:00
Registration Closes
31/07/2025 17:00
Award
Support to hone your pitch, understand the funding landscape, prepare your investment materials and deliver a compelling commercial story. Culminates in a live Showcase event where selected cohort members will pitch to an audience of investors active in the battery and critical materials sectors.
Organisation
Innovate UK Business Connect
A wide range of critical materials are required for the technologies and innovation needed to decarbonise the transport, energy and industrial sectors and achieve the UK’s Net Zero ambitions. In 2024, the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre released its Criticality Assessment which examined the current global supply status of 82 materials and the UK’s economic vulnerability to any potential supply disruption. The study designated 34 critical minerals, providing the basis for UK policy and investment around critical minerals.
Innovate UK’s CLIMATES programme is supporting innovative companies working in the supply chains for any of these 34 minerals (includes extraction, processing, manufacturing, recycling and alternatives) and is offering this Investment Readiness Programme to UK companies seeking to raise investment in these areas.
What to expect
Selected companies will benefit from a 12-week hybrid programme, combining expert-led online and in-person workshops. At the end of the Programme, you’ll have developed an investor pitch, finished your proposition and you’ll have a defendable understanding of your IP, finances and future plans.
Programme Overview
The programme will support you to hone your pitch to investors, get a better understanding of the funding landscape, prepare your investment materials and be more confident in delivering a compelling commercial story. The programme will provide regular touch points with investors to help you navigate the fundraising process, make new connections and kick start your investment journey. The Programme will culminate in a live Showcase event where selected cohort members will pitch to an audience of investors active in the battery and critical materials sectors.
At the end of the Programme, you’ll have:
- Developed a suite of investor pitch materials (elevator deck/investor deck/demo deck etc.).
- Greater confidence in investor meetings, negotiations and due diligence.
- Clear articulation of your value proposition, market, IP, financials, and growth plans.
- Gained pitch feedback from investors & industry experts.
- Built collaborative relationships with your cohort, industry experts & Innovate UK representatives along the way.
- A live investor pitch experience at our final Showcase (if selected).
If you would like to apply to take part, please complete our application form at the link below. You can review a copy of the T&Cs here. Successful applicants will be required to sign and adhere to these.
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This programme is designed specifically for established companies that are actively developing a defined product or solution. If you’ve recently incorporated and are still shaping your idea, this may not be the right time to apply. The content is tailored for SMEs who are preparing to engage with investors in the next 6–12 months and need support refining their pitch, investment materials, and fundraising strategy.
We focus on developing and championing diversity of talent which we know will create more resilient supply chains for the UK. We strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups and female applicants.
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- UK based SMEs.
- Organisations active in critical materials supply chains for transport and energy. (Including materials development and provenance solutions, mid- and down-stream processing, component manufacturing, design for recycling, automated disassembly technologies and other enabling technologies)
- The programme is open to new participants only. If you have participated in any previous Innovate UK Business Connect Investment Readiness Programme then you will not be eligible to re-apply.
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- Deadline for applications: 5pm, 31st July 2025
- Applicants notified not later than 15th August 2025
- 2nd September (Virtual)
- Session 1: Briefing and meet the programme team
- Get to know you 1:1s
- 16th September (in person)
- Fundraising Workshop 1: Overview of Institutional Readiness
- Session 2: Narrative and Storytelling
- 18th September (Virtual)
- Introduction to Intellectual Property Workshop
- 14th October (in person)
- Fundraising Workshop 2: Deep dive into the Fundraising Deck + Market Sizing
- Fundraising Workshop 3: Financial Modelling and Valuations
- Session 4: Investor Interactions and Investor FAQ
- 23rd October (Virtual)
- Session 5: Investor Connections
- 13th November (in person)
- Fundraising Workshop 4 – Negotiating a Term Sheet and Term Sheet walk-through.
- Pitch Feedback Session – practice pitching to a panel of friendly faces
- 20th November (Virtual)
- Session 6: Showcase Selection panel – Investors and Industry Experts
- 9th December (in person)
- Batteries & Critical Materials Investor Showcase
*The dates are subject to change and will be confirmed to successful applicants