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Banco Santander Open Innovation | Grow it award

Queen Mary University of London

Already selling something? The Grow it award gives £5,000 to help you grow it. Open to QMUL students and recent graduates. Deadline 1 Nov.

ENROLL BEFORE

26 days, 8 h 43 min

  • Aimed at: Startups/Scaleups
  • Located in: United Kingdom
  • University/ies: Queen Mary University of London

  • Requirements

    1. You are a current QMUL student, or you graduated from QMUL within the last three years.
    2. Your business is registered (for example, a limited company or Community interest company) and is actively trading.
    3. You are a founder or co-founder of the business.
    4. You can show proof of trading, such as customers, sales or revenue.
    5. The award is for growth, not for testing an idea. It cannot be used to employ people.

  • General information

    Is your business already trading? The Grow it award gives you £5,000 to take it further.

    The Grow it award supports QMUL student and graduate founders whose businesses already have paying customers. We want to back businesses where £5,000 makes a clear difference, and where growth can be seen within six months of receiving the award. Up to three awards will be made. Winners are chosen after Pitch Night.


    Who can apply

    1. Your business is registered and trading, with paying customers.
    2. You are a current QMUL student, or you graduated within the last three years.
    3. Your business can be of any kind. A bakery, a clothing brand, a consultancy or a creative practice are all welcome.
    4. If you have graduated and hold a Graduate visa or any other visa, and you have a registered business, you can apply.
    5. If you are currently studying at QMUL on a Student visa, you cannot apply to this award.

    This award is not for ideas or prototypes. If you are not yet trading, book an idea surgery with the QUEST team instead.

    What the award can be used for

    The award works best for things like equipment, stock, marketing, a website or online shop, software, certifications, or packaging and branding. It cannot be used to employ people.


    Please plan for what £5,000 can realistically achieve, as a plan that needs much more than this will score lower.

    What we are looking for

    1. Evidence of sales and a clear description of who your customers are
    2. A clear reason why customers choose you
    3. One specific thing holding your business back that the money would help you overcome
    4. A six month plan with milestones, costs and a way of knowing it worked
    5. A realistic starting point and target, such as current monthly sales and where you expect to be after six months


    Both larger businesses showing strong absolute growth and smaller businesses showing a big step relative to their size are welcome, as long as the plan and the return are credible.


    How to apply

    Complete the online application form and upload evidence of your sales, such as invoices, a sales dashboard screenshot or anonymised bank statements. The form takes around 45 min to complete.


    Key dates

    1. Application deadline: 1 November
    2. Pitch Night: 18 November


    Support

    Book an idea surgery with the QUEST team to talk through your application.

  • Reward

    £5,000

  • Call guidelines

  • Links and documents

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