Seed Fund

Seed Fund Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be a student/graduate of the University of Huddersfield
• All applicants/members of the participating business must be at least 18 years of age.
• The business activity must show benefit to the West Yorkshire region.
• Be a business based in the UK if trading already.
• If you are not trading, you should have a minimum viable product (MVP) or a demonstrable gap in the market for your product.
• For all purchases, please provide justification as to why you have chosen your preferred supplier.
• The grant cannot be used for personal expenses.

Seed Fund Usage

This grant can be used to help you bring a product to market from a formed idea, help grow or scale an existing business, or purchase equipment that will help your business move to the next stage of its evolution.  Examples of this can include:

• Preparing to go to market.
• Have a product/service that could be disruptive and innovative, with the ability to scale.
• Have a tech or innovative idea that has a proven gap in the market, based on research that you have completed, where funding is required to take the idea to the next stage.
• Creating a prototype or bring a product to market.
• Need to buy a new piece of equipment that will allow you to meet additional demand, improve your business efficiencies, or expand into a new market.

* Applications for the Alan Lewis Seed Fund 2026 will open in October 2025 *

Stage 1 – Application

Submit your application form with up to 1,200 words on your business journey to date, the growth strategy, what the funds will be used for, spending and delivery timeline, R&D, Market research, and headline financials.

The closing date for submitting your application will be announced in October 2025 when the fund reopens.

Please send your completed form to n.j.walker@hud.ac.uk

The Alan Lewis Seed Fund Guidance Notes can help with your application.

 

Stage 2 – Business Plan / pitch deck

Successful applicants from Stage 1 will be invited to submit a full business plan and a 2-minute pre-recorded video pitching your idea.

The business plans and video pitches will be sent to our independent panel of judges for marking.

 

Stage 3 – Awards Event

All applicants from Stage 2 will be invited to an awards event where the winners will be announced. 

 

We wish you good luck with your application!

 

Information Sessions

Want to know more?

Got a question about the fund?

Come along to one of our online information sessions where a member of the Enterprise Team will be on hand to answer your questions. 

Dates for the information sessions will be added here when the fund reopens in October 2025.