This is a unique opportunity to access mentorship from exited tech founders to steer your innovation during the crucial early stage, or​ receive a cash grant to validate your tech idea (spending restrictions apply). Trove Ventures have specially adapted their First 90 programme to take founders from idea to impact, with three phases to develop your tech idea for the market.

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Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be early-stage entrepreneurs or small businesses in tech and based in South Yorkshire.

• Business must have a technology-based product or service as their primary business activity.

• You will need to provide your registered address as a Sole Trader or Limited Company.

• Have an idea for a new business or in early-stage development prior to going out to market.

• Projects should be innovative and have the potential for significant impact.

• Applicants must demonstrate a clear plan for how the grant will be used to validate their business idea (if self-validated) OR a business plan to fully identify their customer base (if validated by provider).

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Grant Details

• Grants will be awarded up to £2,500 per project OR

• Businesses can apply to receive £5,000 worth of bespoke idea validation support from our experienced provider Trove Ventures.

• Funding can be used for market research, prototyping, and other validation activities.

• Recipients will also receive mentorship and access to a network of industry experts within their local authority.

• This programme may close earlier than the advertised date once the fund has been fully allocated.​

• You will hear back within a maximum of 3 weeks.

• The Idea Validation Grant helps fund activities that test and develop your idea like building prototypes, running product trials, or doing user testing. It can also support market research, though we expect most of that to be done before applying. Most proposed costs should be for direct expenses, not staff time.