Funding
We can help you find and apply for different sources of funding.
We are fortunate in Scotland to have a diverse business infrastructure with a huge range of support from agencies, such as Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise, as well as a strong network of angel investors. Check out our investment guide and explore some of the funding sources for starting and growing your business or social venture.
- Video: Find funding
- Find funding for your startup with Ross McLennan
Discuss with a business adviser
Our team of business advisers have years of experience supporting our entrepreneurs with various funding and support programmes in Scotland and beyond. They can help you with your application and give you advice on how to strengthen your application.
Download our funding guide
Business Ideas Competition
Win a share of £1,000 for your idea. All you have to do is describe the idea, what stage you're at and who are the potential customers. It's that simple. Running a couple of times a semester. Find out more and apply now.
The Enterprise Initiative Grant (EIG)
If you have an early-stage business idea and need funding to conduct market research, develop a prototype of develop marketing materials or a website then we can help an EIG award of up to £1,000. To qualify you must be a student of the University of Edinburgh and be actively engaged with our student enterprise team. Ask you business adviser for more information.
The Student Experience Grant
A one-off contribution of up to £5,000 to support innovative projects and initiatives that will enhance students’ social, academic, entrepreneurial, sporting or cultural development. Go to the Student Experience Grant page.
Institute of Academic Development
The University’s IAD offers funding to support a variety of student activities, from single events to longer-running projects. Go to IAD website.
Below are a range of third-party guides, links and resources to help you with further information on funding, investment and support.
SMART Scotland
Scottish Enterprise’s grants aim to support high risk, highly ambitious projects to conduct feasibility tests and development prototypes. They are available to small and medium enterprises based in Scotland. Go to SMART Scotland website.
Innovate UK
The UK Government’s innovation agency is part of UK Research & Innovation, supports new businesses with a range of services including funding opportunities. Go to Innovate UK website.
Converge Challenge
Working in collaboration with Scotland’s universities, Convene uncover emerging spinouts and startups, acting as a catalyst to accelerate the creation of innovative products and services that will improve lives ad safeguard our planet. Visit Converge Challenge website.
Scottish EDGE
A competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming, innovative, high-growth entrepreneurial talent. Visit Scottish EDGE website.
Firstport
Supporting individuals across Scotland to start, develop and grow their ideas into businesses with social impact at their core. They offer business support and funding for social enterprises. Go to Firstport website.
Big Issue Invest
Offer social enterprises and charities a range of repayable finance options, from loans as small as £20,000 to larger investments of up to £10 million as well as cooperate mentoring and investment programmes designed for early-stage social businesses. Go to Big Issue website.
Young Company Finance Scotland
A monthly publication which has been reporting since 1998 on all aspects of the financing of early-stage high growth companies in Scotland, from startup to maturity, flotation or sale. Their guide brings together directories of funders and advisers with articles giving guidance to young companies preparing to raise finance. Go to guide.
Digital Development Loan
Created by the Scottish Government, they offer interest-free loans of up to £100,000 to SMEs to improve the digital capacity, digital capacity of digital skills of your workforce. Eligible companies need to have been trading for six months. Go to Digital Development Loan website.
LINC Scotland – the Scottish Angel Capital Association
The national association for business angels in Scotland, with a membership which includes many active individual investors and most of the main angel groups or syndicates. Visit LINC Scotland website.
Scottish Enterprise
Offering expert advisers to provide guidance and support, helping businesses to achieve their innovation ambitions and drive growth. Visit Scottish Enterprise website.
Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE)
As Scotland’s National Academy of, they use the combined knowledge of the 1,800-strong Fellowship to tackle the most pressing issues facing society, provide independent expert advice to policymakers and inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers. Visit RSE website.
Digital Catapult
Bringing together an expert and enterprising community of researchers, startups, scaleups and industry leaders to discover new ways to solve the big challenges limiting the UK’s future potential. Through our specialist programmes and experimental facilities, we make sure that innovation thrives and the right solutions make it to the real world. Visit the Catapult website.
Climate-KIC
A European knowledge and innovation community, working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy. With an accelerator programme, events and further support. Go to website.
Goolge Cloud Startup Program
Build your business with innovative technology and holistic support from Google Cloud. Offering financial support, help with growing your business and technical skills. Find out more on their website.
Scottish Enterprise database
Scottish Enterprise have a funding database for further funding options. Go to database now
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI convenes, catalyses and invests in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system. Visit website.
Find Business Support
Giving customers an overview of all funding and services offered by public sector organisations across Scotland. This makes it quicker and easier for businesses to find the information, advice and support they need, when they need it. Go to Find Business Support now.
Our Startup Community Platform
Check out our Startup Community Platform for dates of other, external funding opportunities. Go to platform now
We often share information on funding including upcoming deadlines and any partnered events (for example we often work with Converge with the team hosting a workshop with further information) on our social media and via our newsletters.
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