A monthly summary of opportunities available to UK businesses.

1. Digital Business Briefing
August 2014

2. What is this briefing?
• A digest of useful information for digital
businesses seeking funding and support,
updated every month
• Brought to you by the following organisations:

3. Contents
• Open funding calls
• Forthcoming funding calls
• Support for launching a new digital business
• Existing digital businesses
• Events
• Training

4. Open funding calls
1. "Smart" grants for start-ups and small businesses
Key feature: A grant scheme which offers funding to small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in R&D projects in the
strategically important areas of science, engineering and technology.
Scale:
• Proof of market - up to £25k - 60% of project cost
• Proof of concept - up to £100k - 60% of project cost
• Prototype development - up to £250k - up to 45% of project cost
Closes: 25th September 2014
More info on innovateuk.org

5. Open funding calls
2. Tech City Launchpad 2 - Internet of Things
Key features:
• Grants to support micro, small and medium sized businesses in and
around London and Cambridge to work on industrial Internet of
Things projects.
• Additional support to raise investment finance.
• Delivered in partnership with large-scale industry partners
Scale:
• Up to £150k grants funding up to 60% project costs
• Projects must be between £50-£250k
Closes: 3rd September 2014
More info on innovateuk.org

6. Open funding calls
3. An integrated future for cities
Key feature: large-scale SBRI contracts to encourage new ways of
achieving better integration of infrastructure and services across a
city. Contracts will be to develop prototypes, must link up cities and
will enable users to interact with multiple models to tackle different city
problems.
Scale:
• Contracts of between £1.5 - 2m – 100% funded
• Single contract, but able to sub-contract out work
Closes: registration closes on 7 January 2015
More info on innovateuk.org

7. Open funding calls
4. Innovation Vouchers
Key feature: Innovation voucher scheme funding for start-up, micro,
small and medium-sized enterprises to work with an external expert to
gain the knowledge to innovate and grow.
Scale:
• Up to £5k funding for SMEs
Closes: on 22 October 2014
More info on innovateuk.org

8. Open funding calls
5. Impact investment - Nesta
Key feature: An equity investment fund investing in social ventures
with innovative products or services that are addressing some of the
UK’s most pressing challenges. Investments are made in areas that
tackle:
• the health and wellbeing of an ageing population
• the educational attainment and employability of children and young
people
• the social and environmental sustainability of communities.
Scale: between £150k - £1m
Closes: ongoing
More info on Nesta Investments

9. Forthcoming funding calls
IC tomorrow Connected Cities
Key feature: Grant funding to work with industrial partners to develop
new solutions for connected cities
Scale:
• Up to £25k grants, 100% funded
• Specifically for micro, small or medium sized businesses
Opens: 1st September 2014
More info on innovateuk.org

10. Launching a new digital business?
• The Open Data Institute runs a start-up programme that helps
start-ups build business models around open data
• Tech City UK offers advice and support to start-ups looking for
guidance in and around London. It also endorses visa applications
to help recruit talent to the UK.
• IC tomorrow connects start-ups and SMEs with leading
commercial partners and investors, through funded contests,
events, and strategic matchmaking opportunities.
• Transmit Start Ups provide financial support and mentoring to
creative and digital entrepreneurs that would not normally be
available via traditional banking relationships.

11. Are you an existing digital business
seeking non-financial advice or support?
• Nesta runs a creative business mentor network for digital
businesses looking to grow
• The UKTI offers advice to help with exporting
• Tech City UK can help advise on inward investment
• The British Business Angels Association can help put you
in touch with relevant business angel investors
• The Digital Catapult can help you showcase your business

12. Are you an existing digital business
seeking advice or support?
• Subsidised costs to work with a specialist to build and
deliver business growth – GrowthAccelerator
• Email IP Audit to apply for up to £3k of free advice from
an IP professional
• Finance finder from GOV.UK

13. Key events in August
• For all events in and around London, check out Tech City News
• Digital Tuesday – Cardiff 5th August
• Digital Business – how we can help you? Brighton 8th August
• Seedcamp Meet & Greet – Bristol 13th August
• Tax efficient start-ups – Google campus, London 26th August
• Brighton Digital Festival – Brighton 1st September

14. Training and skills
• Open Data in a Day training course at the ODI – 4th August
• Business model tools and value proposition workshop from
Lancaster University and London Fusion – 6th August
• Technology Adoption in the NHS: Challenges and Barriers –
Tech UK London 11th August
• Getting the most out of VCs – London 1st September

15. Something else we've missed?
Please let us know plus sign up for monthly updates at:
digitaleconomy@ktn-uk.org