Tech business support programmes
Here are our current funded opportunities for tech companies in South Yorkshire, funded by SYMCA and deliver by TECH SY and our partners.
Our programmes cover early-stage ideas and growing tech companies.
TECH SCALE UP ADVISORS EXPANSION PILOT
For growing tech companies
The Tech Scale Up Advisors Expansion Pilot will run from 12th May 2025 to January 2026. The programme offers five hours of support meetings per business from experienced business leaders, helping tech entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of scaling up their ventures.
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​This is a TECH SY funded expansion of the Tech Scale Up Advisors programme by Business Sheffield, extending this service to Doncaster, Rotherham, and Barnsley. Tech companies across South Yorkshire should apply before referals for the pilot close on 28th November 2025 by booking your initial diagnostic meeting.​
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Meet Our Advisors
Our team of experienced advisors includes:
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Morgan Killick: With over 20 years of experience in founding and running multiple businesses, Morgan brings expertise in investment readiness, growth strategy, and management. Morgan will lead business diagnostics and allocate businesses to advisors.
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Robin Gibbons: A young and driven entrepreneur, Robin has a deep understanding of AI, automation, and app development. Robin's experience in growing businesses at a rapid pace will be invaluable to our clients.
The companies they have supported have raised over £20m in investment and created over 200 jobs. Several more experienced advisors will soon be announced.
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We invite tech founders and businesses in South Yorkshire to take advantage of this opportunity while they can. To participate, businesses must be in the early stages of their journey, based in South Yorkshire, and able to identify areas needing support. Referrals close on 28th November 2025. To get started, visit Morgan's Calendly page to book your initial diagnostic meeting.
IDEA VALIDATION GRANTS
For new tech ideas
The Idea Validation Grants programme provides direct support to early-stage tech founders and businesses in South Yorkshire. The programme offers financial assistance and funded support to help validate business ideas, ensuring their market potential before significant product development. Choose from:
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Up to £2,500 grant to validate your tech idea
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Up to £5,000 worth of structured idea validation support from our expert provider Trove Ventures.​
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Apply by 19th December 2025 on the Enterprising Barnsley grant portal.
This 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
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Applicants must be early-stage entrepreneurs or small businesses in tech and based in South Yorkshire.
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Business must have a technology-based product or service as their primary business activity.
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Have an idea for a new business or in early-stage development prior to going out to market.
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Projects should be innovative and have the potential for significant impact.
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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
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Grants will be awarded up to £2,500 per project OR
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Businesses can apply to receive £5,000 worth of bespoke idea validation support from our experienced provider Trove Ventures.
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Funding can be used for market research, prototyping, and other validation activities.
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Recipients will also receive mentorship and access to a network of industry experts within their local authority.
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This programme may close earlier than the advertised date once the fund has been fully allocated.​
About Trove Ventures
Meet co-founders Chris Dalrymple and Carl Stanton
Trove exists to help experienced and aspiring founders launch businesses that matter. They offer deeply hands-on, structured support to help founders go from idea to traction, faster and with more clarity. Their tailored idea validation programme for TECH SY is designed to validate early-stage ideas through structured thinking, mentoring, and executional support. They are well connected across the South Yorkshire startup ecosystem, with strong links to Sheffield Angels, Sheffield Technology Parks, and the Cooper Project.
