Seed Fund

Seed Fund Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be a student/graduate of the University of Huddersfield
• All applicants/members of the participating business must be at least 18 years of age.
• The business activity must show benefit to the West Yorkshire region.
• Be a business based in the UK if trading already.
• If you are not trading, you should have a minimum viable product (MVP) or a demonstrable gap in the market for your product.
• For all purchases, please provide justification as to why you have chosen your preferred supplier.
• The grant cannot be used for personal expenses.

Seed Fund Usage

This grant can be used to help you bring a product to market from a formed idea, help grow or scale an existing business, or purchase equipment that will help your business move to the next stage of its evolution.  Examples of this can include:

• Preparing to go to market.
• Have a product/service that could be disruptive and innovative, with the ability to scale.
• Have a tech or innovative idea that has a proven gap in the market, based on research that you have completed, where funding is required to take the idea to the next stage.
• Creating a prototype or bring a product to market.
• Need to buy a new piece of equipment that will allow you to meet additional demand, improve your business efficiencies, or expand into a new market.

How to apply for the Seed Fund

Stage 1 – Application Form

Deadline for submission of Stage 1 Application Form is 12:00 noon on Friday 18 December 2026: 

• Complete the Alan Lewis Seed Fund Stage 1 - Application Form with up to 1,200 words on your business journey to date, the growth strategy, what the funds will be used for, spending and delivery timeline, R&D, Market research, and headline financials.

Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 15 January 2027: 

Application Forms that meet the Eligibility Criteria will be sent to an independent panel of judges for marking and shortlisting. 

The closing date for Stage 1 applications is 12 noon on Friday 18 December 2026!

 

Stage 2 – Business Pitch

Monday 18 January to Friday 9 April 2027: 

• Shortlisted applicants from Stage 1 will be invited to present a 10-minute business pitch to an independent panel of judges  

• Applicants will be given a pitch deck template to use and will be invited to several sessions where they’ll be given support and guidance to prepare, practice and refine their pitch.  

• Unsuccessful applicants from Stage 1 will be notified that their application will not be taken any further 

 

Thursday 15 April 2027*: 

• Invited applicants will present their pitch in-person to a panel of independent judges. Pitches will be a maximum of 10-minutes, followed by 10-minutes Question & Answers from the panel 

• Pitches will be scored and marked by the independent panel of judges. 

 

Thursday 6 May 2027*: 

• Winners will be announced at an awards event on Thursday 6 May*. All Stage 2 applicants will be invited. 

We wish you good luck with your application!

*Dates are subject to change. Any changes will be notified by the Enterprise Team.

 

Information Sessions

Got a question about the Alan Lewis Seed Fund?

Come along to one of our online information sessions where a member of the Enterprise Team will be on hand to answer your questions. 

• Friday 16 October, 11:00-11:30 - Click here to join
• Monday 26 October, 15:00-15:30 - Click here to join
• Wednesday 11 November, 12:00-12:30 - Click here to join
• Tuesday 24 November, 10:00-10:30 - Click here to join
• Thursday 10 December, 14:00-14:30 - Click here to join

The closing date for 2026/27 applications is 12 noon on Friday 18 December 2026!