Innovate UK Business Growth’s Invest-Ability is designed to support innovative businesses seeking to become investment-ready.
There are two investment readiness activities that are part of Invest-Ability: Invest-Ability Intensive Training and Invest-Ability Pitch Panel. Invest-Ability Intensive Training includes rigorous, structured training in the fundamentals of investment readiness, along with invaluable constructive feedback from active investors.
To express your interest in participating, please review all information and dates below. Ensure that you read all the important details and can attend all sessions before submitting your expression of interest for one of our Invest-Ability Intensive Training cohorts.
How does it work?
Preparation Meeting (virtual, 1 hour)
This meeting with your innovation and growth specialist takes place once you have been accepted onto Innovate UK Business Growth Invest-ability Intensive Training.
Group 'Get to Know You' meeting (virtual session, 2 hours)
Before you start the training, you will have the chance to meet like-minded peers embarking on the same journey as you. You'll also meet your expert trainer and gain an understanding of what to expect from the Invest-Ability Intensive Training.
During this session, you will learn to create your elevator pitch, value proposition, and one-pager. You will receive ongoing 1:1 support from your innovation and growth specialist to create and refine these throughout your Invest-Ability Intensive Training.
Training Day 1 (in-person session, full day)
Get an insider's look at how to find suitable investors for your company, what investors are looking for, and how to approach them. During this session, you will also have the opportunity to develop your value proposition, enhance your presentation skills, and understand the fundamentals of investment readiness. After this intensive session, you will need to allocate time to prepare a 5-minute pitch deck for Training Day 2.
Training Day 2 & Peer-to-Peer Pitching (virtual session, full day)
After two weeks of fine-tuning your pitch, with the support of your innovation and growth specialist, you will deliver your 5-minute pitch for peer-to-peer and trainer feedback. Before the investor session, you will have the opportunity to work again with an investment readiness specialist and your innovation and growth specialist to sharpen your pitch.
Investor Session (virtual session, 20 mins)
You will deliver a 5-minute pitch to test with a panel of active investors and investment experts and receive constructive feedback. This will improve your confidence and help you to build a more compelling investor pitch to become more investment-ready.
Is your business eligible?
Invest-Ability Intensive Training is by invitation only from your innovation and growth specialist.
The type of companies that would be suitable for the Invest-Ability Intensive Training would be companies that still need to align their value proposition and business model and at a stage where substantial traction and revenue are a long way off. Their pitch deck relies on potential and vision rather than traction and tangible metrics. They have secured a minimum investment of £100k in income from grants, investment, or revenue and are targeting £300k and above in funding over the next 24 months.
All submissions are reviewed by an expert panel to identify the most promising companies that will benefit the most from Invest-Ability Intensive Training for the upcoming cohorts.
How to apply
If you meet the suitability criteria, please select your preferred date below and complete the expression of interest.
If you do not meet all the suitability criteria but believe that you can greatly benefit from this, please contact your innovation & growth specialist to discuss further.
Please note that:
- All stages of the Innovate UK Business Growth Invest-Ability Intensive Training journey are mandatory to attend. Please ensure that you can join all of the dates before submitting an expression of interest for a particular cohort.
- Training Day 1 will be held in person at the regional location specified on the training dates below. Please check if this works for you before submitting your expression of interest.
- The 'Get to Know You' session, Training Day 2, and Investor Session will be held virtually.
- It is mandatory for the senior-level representative from the company who is going to pitch to the investors to attend all preceding sessions.
Training Dates
Cohort One 2024-25 (North)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Tuesday 16 April 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Tuesday 30 April 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Tuesday 14 May 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Tuesday 4 June 2024 (in-person session, North)
Training Day 2: Tuesday 18 June 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Tuesday 2 July 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Two 2024-25 (London)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Thursday 18th April 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Thursday 2 May 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Thursday 16 May 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Thursday 6 June 2024 (in-person session, London)
Training Day 2: Thursday 20 June 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Thursday 4 July 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Three 2024-25 (South East)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 12:00 on Wednesday 24 April 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Tuesday 7 May 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Tuesday 21 May 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Tuesday 11 June 2024 (in-person session, South East)
Training Day 2: Tuesday 25 June 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Tuesday 9 July 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Four 2024-25 (Midlands)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Thursday 25 April 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Thursday 9 May 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Thursday 23 May 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Thursday 13 June 2024 (in-person session, Midlands)
Training Day 2: Thursday 27 June 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Thursday 11 July 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Five 2024-25 (Wales)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Tuesday 17 September 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Tuesday 1 October 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Tuesday 15 October 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Tuesday 5 November 2024 (in-person session, Wales)
Training Day 2: Tuesday 19 November 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Tuesday 3 December 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Six 2024-25 (East)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Thursday 19 September 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Thursday 3 October 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Thursday 17 October 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Thursday 7 November 2024 (in-person session, East)
Training Day 2: Thursday 21 November 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Thursday 5 December 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Seven 2024-25 (Scotland)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Tuesday 24 September 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Tuesday 8 October 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Tuesday 22 October 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Tuesday 12 November 2024 (in-person session, Scotland)
Training Day 2: Tuesday 26 November 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Tuesday 10 December 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Eight 2024-25 (Northern Ireland)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Thursday 26 September 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Thursday 10 October 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Thursday 24 October 2024 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Thursday 14 November 2024 (in-person session, Northern Ireland)
Training Day 2: Thursday 28 November 2024 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Thursday 12 December 2024 (virtual session)
Cohort Nine 2024-25 (South West)
Expression of interest here
Expression of interest deadline: 17:00 on Tuesday 26 November 2024
Expression of interest outcome: Tuesday 10 December 2024
'Get to Know You' Meeting: Tuesday 14 January 2025 (virtual session)
Training Day 1: Tuesday 4 February 2025 (in-person session, South West)
Training Day 2: Tuesday 18 February 2025 (virtual session)
Investor Session: Tuesday 4 March 2025 (virtual session)
Innovate UK’s help with messaging has been crucial at our early stage. Engagements with investors and customers have been positive as a result.
