About the programme
This training programme will support up to 20 early-stage businesses who have already completed their first raise at pre-seed or seed level as they prepare to raise further private investment to scale technologies that address major challenges in medicine and health, agriculture and food, energy, waste recycling, chemicals, and materials.
The training will help participating SMEs build confidence, sharpen their investment proposition, and connect with investors actively seeking opportunities in engineering biology; increasing the visibility, credibility, and investment readiness of UK SMEs in the engineering biology sector.
This is part of the Engineering Biology Innovation Network, led by Innovate UK Business Connect in collaboration with Innovate UK and UKRI’s Technology Mission Fund, which aims to drive the development of a joined-up UK innovation ecosystem to ensure synthetic biology tools, technologies and processes can be more easily developed and adopted by a variety of industries. The network’s goal is to progress innovations, create a commercially focused community and foster new consortia to advance innovations towards commercial applications.
Key outcomes for SMEs
By the end of the training programme, participants will have:
- a high-quality investor-ready pitch deck.
- a compelling one-page investment summary.
- confidence to pitch in-person and handle investor Q&A.
- practical knowledge of how to approach investors and raise capital.
- new connections with investors and support networks.
- a clearer roadmap to growth and scale.
- the opportunity to pitch at a final Investor Showcase Event to a curated audience of investors.
Who should apply?
We are looking for UK-based SMEs who have already completed their first investment raise and are aiming to improve their effectiveness in further stage fundraising. Companies must have an overarching goal of ‘pulling’ engineering biology knowledge and expertise from lab-based discovery towards application and be developing engineering biology innovations in one of the following thematic areas:
- agriculture and food production
- health
- materials and chemicals
- energy and low carbon fuels
- waste recycling
- the development of novel synthetic biology tools and technologies
Engineering Biology is defined as: a rapidly growing field with potential for innovation and applications across industry sectors and technology areas, including agriculture and food, health, energy and low carbon fuels, materials and chemicals, and waste recycling. It encompasses the wider capabilities and ecosystem that supports the exploitation of synthetic biology (the design, engineering and re-engineering of biologically based parts, devices and systems) to address major economic and societal challenges.
We are expecting a senior member of the company (C-suite, director or president level) to attend the training. Applications from junior members of staff are not advised.
Public funding experience (e.g. through Innovate UK) is not required.
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The programme runs from October 2025 to January 2026 and will include both in-person (mandatory) and online sessions (optional). Participants will be expected to complete 3 tasks in their own time in between sessions designed to develop their pitch materials.
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The online kick-off and all following in-person training is mandatory; you must be willing and able to attend at the time of application. All in-person training will take place at the Innovate UK Business Connect London office (Unit 218, Business Design Centre 52 Upper Street Islington London N1 0QH), unless otherwise stated.
- Thu 09 Oct 2025 / 10:00-13:00
- Kick-off (online)
- Tue 04 Nov 2025 / 09:00-17:00
- Build Your Pitch (in-person)
- Thu 20 Nov 2025 / 12:00-17:30 and Fri 21 Nov 2025 / 9:00 – 13:00
- Perfect What’s Behind the Pitch (in person)
- Tue 16 Dec 2025 / 09:00-17:00
- Pitch Critique with expert panel (in-person)
- Thu 29 Jan 2026 / 09:00-17:00
- Investor Showcase Event, Venue: Etc St Pauls, 200 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4HD, UK
Participants will also have optional access to 1:1 support and online webinars to gain the following insights:
- engineering biology investor appetite and deal sizes
- guidance from investors and experts in engineering biology
- how to scale engineering biology technology and business
- how to connect with investors in the engineering biology sector
- how to apply for future rounds of the Investor Partnerships competition
- Thu 09 Oct 2025 / 10:00-13:00
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The Investor Showcase Event, scheduled for 29 January 2026, will provide selected participants the opportunity to pitch their business and innovation to a panel of active, sector-relevant investors in engineering biology.
We will be working with investors who demonstrate a clear appetite, experience and capacity to invest in emerging engineering biology businesses.
This event is also a strategic step in building a stronger UK-based investor community focused on engineering biology.
Innovate UK's application and funding process
If you need more information about how to apply, please read our funding support pages. For additional support, reach out to our team of innovation experts who are ready to help you navigate the application process and maximise your chances of success.
For more information
Accessibility and Inclusion
Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.