The Big Venture Challenge is an 11 month campaign supporting ambitious, high potential, social entrepreneurs to raise investment and rapidly grow their ventures by providing them with access to business support, expert connections and matched funding.
Winners will get the chance to access seed investment if matched by loans or equity from co-investors, as well as business support and mentoring designed to keep pace with high growth social entrepreneurs.
The Big Venture Challenge will run themed cohorts every year, in order to build deeper, more relevant strategic support networks around each cohort. In 2016 there will have one themed cohort; Education, Training and Skills.
During 2016 the Challenge seeks to identify another 20 social entrepreneurs who are committed to scaling up their social impact. The sponsor is seeking entrepreneurs across England and looking to find at least 40% of the ventures from outside the Greater London area.
This year’s match-funding from Big Venture Challenge is awarded as a non-repayable grant of up to £20,000. This is only awardable to those who raise investment while on the programme and is awarded at UnLtd’s discretion based on performance.
The complete package of support offered comprises:
- Access to free legal advice and business workshops.
- Access to a network of investors, corporate partners and entrepreneurs facilitating the potential for additional possibilities and collaborations.
- A personal Venture Manager and Investment Manager providing support throughout the year.
- Access to external investors plus the potential for a match grant from Big Venture Challenge of £20,000.
The programme is open to start-up and early-stage ventures as well as established ventures. Eligible applicants are those who are the founders of their social enterprise venture, which must be less than five years old and based and operating in England.
The 2016 competition is now open. The final deadline for submission of applications is 7 March 2016.
More information is available on the UnLtd website.
