Innovate UK relaunches £4.5m women founders programme

Innovate UK offers up to 60 grants of £75,000 for women founders, plus business support and networking.

The Women in Innovation Awards 2025–26 targets women founders and co-founders of late-stage start-ups with minimum viable products, early user interest or revenue, and plans to raise significant capital within 12 to 24 months.

Successful applicants will receive grants alongside business support, training, networking and role-modelling opportunities as part of the £4.5m programme.

According to Innovate UK, only 2 per cent of equity investment in the UK goes to fully women-founded businesses, with women facing persistent challenges accessing investment.

“Internal data and external research, including insights from the Gender Index and Women’s Enterprise Scotland, show that women-founders face some of the biggest barriers when growing and scaling their businesses. Women face persistent challenges accessing investment – only 2 per cent of equity investment in the UK goes to fully women-founded businesses.” the organisation stated.

The programme specifically seeks women working on businesses that have developed beyond the initial concept stage. Eligible applicants should have a minimum viable product (an early version of a product with enough features to attract initial customers), demonstrate early user interest or revenue generation, and maintain a growing team.

Innovate UK has introduced a suitability checker allowing potential applicants to assess their eligibility before committing time to a full application.

Applications opened on 26 November 2025 and will close on 4 February 2026. The programme continues Innovate UK’s efforts to address gender disparities in business funding and support women entrepreneurs in scaling their ventures.

The awards form part of broader government initiatives to support innovation and entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups in the UK business community.