We know it can be challenging to start your business without some funding in place.
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Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE)
Win up to £20,000 to start and grow your enterprise.
DBACE supports visionary creative entrepreneurs who are over 18 years of age, and are driven by a mission to create and sustain social value through their enterprise.
DBACE aims to reach ambitious individuals from all backgrounds with ideas that will improve the lives of others and the communities we live in.
The prize package is designed to give you everything you need to power up your idea or existing business so that you can take it to the next level.
Applications for DBACE 2026 are now closed. Applications for DBACE 2027 will open in 2027.
Santander X UK Awards
Calling university and early-stage start-ups! Enter your innovative business and win a share of £150,000 in equity-free funding and the opportunity to compete against the best early-stage startups from across Europe and Latin America in the Santander X Global Awards.
The competition is open to University startups from any UK university.
There are three categories:
University (for university-linked new businesses looking to launch))
Startup (for growing businesses ready to scale)
SME (for legally incorporated UK businesses generating over £250k annual revenue)
The University category is for university entrepreneurs preparing their go-to-market strategy and who are looking to launch their business. To enter this category your business should:
Be linked to a UK university (at least one team member must be a current student or employee, a graduate of the last five years (since 2021), or an entrepreneur from a university incubator, accelerator or spin-out)
Have a minimum viable product and be preparing to go to market
Have a team of 2 people or more (if you are a solo founder this can include advisors/board members and/or full/part-time staff).
90 businesses will be shortlisted.
Applications for the 2026 competition are now closed.
Tata Varsity Pitch Competition
Applications for the 2026 Tata Varsity Pitch Competition are now open.
The Tata Varsity Pitch Competition is the longest-running inter-university business pitching competition in the UK. It is open to current students and graduates up to three years after graduation. Applicants compete to win one of several award categories and the grand prize of £15,000 cash.
You need to choose one of the following categories to apply for:
Product, Home and Everyday Design – Design and engineer innovative products that improve everyday life now and in the future – from physical products and smart devices to beautifully designed tools and services that solve real-world problems
Education, Work and Society - Shape how people learn, work and connect – from education and skills to future‑of‑work and social impact solutions
Consumer, Commerce and Experience - Design the future of retail, food and beverage, fashion, hospitality and lifestyle, including UX, experiences and brands
Digital, Health and Deep Tech - Create intelligent digital products and advanced technologies using AI, data, engineering and science – including software, medtech, biotech and other deep tech innovations
Climate, Energy and Smart Mobility - Build & design cleaner energy, smarter transport and sustainable solutions for the planet
Applications for this competition are now open. The deadline for applications is 18 October 2026.
Ignite Competition for social enterprises
IGNITE is the UK’s national platform for emerging social entrepreneurs; democratising access to entrepreneurship, creating financial equity and building ventures that deliver transformative public benefit. Win a share of our £50,000 equity-free fund and join our six-week, expert-led impact accelerator.
If you’re a first-time founder building a venture with social or environmental purpose, IGNITE is for you. Whether you’re a for-profit startup, a CIC or a an entrepreneurial charity, we’re looking for bold founders with sustainable models, lived insight, and the drive to create real change.
Ignite backs student and graduate-led ventures tackling social and environmental problems with scalable, entrepreneurial solutions. We’re open to all models — as long as you’re building something with:
Open to all models – For-profit and not-for-profit ventures alike
Clear purpose – A defined problem and measurable impact
Long term sustainability – A model that can stand on its own
An ambitious founding team - ready to lead change
A route to trading income - A plan to generate 50%+ of income from trading
Genuinely early-stage – Turnover and/or prior funding under £100,000
If you’re a student or recent graduate building a venture with social or environmental purpose — Ignite is for you (at least one team member must have graduated from a UK university in the past 3 years).
Whether you’re a for-profit startup, a CIC, or a charity, we’re looking for bold founders with sustainable business models, lived insight, and a drive to create real change. If your enterprise is early-stage, impact-driven, and ready to grow — apply now.
Applications for 2026 are now open.
The deadline for applications is 9 August 2026.
Samuel Wilson’s Loan Trust
Samuel Wilson’s Loan Trust (SWLT) is a charitable organisation which offers business loans to young people (aged 18-39) for establishing and developing new businesses, and who are "in need by reason of ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage."
Who can apply
To qualify for a loan individuals must
Be between the age of 18 and 39 inclusive
Have recently set up (no longer than 36 months) or be about to set up a business
Trade in Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, East Sussex or West Sussex
Please note that the Trust does not loan to any business whose primary trade is the manufacture or sale of alcohol.
Loan terms
Up to £50,000 for limited companies or between £25,000-£50,000 for sole traders
2% interest rate (subject to change)
Repayment within five years (60 months)
The precise interest rate, amount and period of the loan will be considered on an individual basis, determined at the discretion of the Trustees.
A guarantor may be required.
How to apply
You will need to submit a robust business plan with a detailed and realistic financial forecast as a part of your application.
Contact the Samuel Wilson Loan Trust to receive the application form and the templates to use for your business plan and financial forecasts. You will be required to submit supporting documents as listed on the application form.
What happens next
When you have submitted your application, we will check that your documents are correct and you will receive support from a Business Adviser to help you prepare your application for review by the Trustees.
Please note that the process could take two to four months depending on the strength of your application.
The Enterprise Advisor will give you feedback on how to write and submit an application with a higher chance of being shortlisted.
Stay informed about upcoming opportunities, deadlines and more - email student-enterprise@gold.ac.uk to sign up to the student enterprise mailing list.