Founded 2013/2014, HQ Glasgow. Scotland's largest funding competition: grants & loans £10k-£100k for startups, social enterprises, charities. Distributed £29m+ across 712 awards (90%+ drawn); 25th round May 2025: 35 winners, £1.5m. Notable portfolio: Selaura (pharma/biotech), Ava Innes (home furnishings), Senguard (software). Recent winners: Clean Carbon UK (carbon capture), Confidence Plus (medical devices), Evolve Metals (circular copper), Looper Tech (LCA software). Assessment panel: RBS, Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise, Hunter Foundation, Social Investment Scotland, external experts.
Investment Focus
Investment Thesis
Pre-start/ideation to early growth (Series A). All sectors incl. agritech, AI/robotics, biotech, creative, data/tech, fintech, energy, life sciences, manufacturing, photonics, quantum, space, tourism. Grants & loans £10k-£100k (Main: 30% grant/70% loan; Social Enterprise: 70% grant/30% loan). Firms <5yrs old, <24 employees, capable of hiring 5+ within 3yrs. Competition model spun out 2014 by Hunter Foundation, RBS, Scottish Govt, Scottish Enterprise. Team of 7; mentoring, alumni events, business support post-award. Scotland-based only.
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