Round Five of the Springboard Startup fund is launching next week.

The aim of this fund is to support graduate entrepreneurship at USW and, specifically, to provide seed funding to USW graduates to start-up a new business.

Graduates from 2020 to 2023 are invited to apply. The 2023 award is subject to a pass grade for this year’s graduates.

Award levels

• Maximum award up to £5,000 (for exceptional applications)
• Smaller awards likely to be between £1,000 and £3,000

Eligibility

• Graduated from USW from 2020 to 2023 (completed their course by 31 May 2023).
• Have a new business idea that is ready to start trading within at least six months of a funding award, or are within the first six months of trading.

Assessment Criteria

Priority will be given to applications from graduate start-up companies or freelancers that:

• Demonstrate evidence of an innovative business idea with a proven market/customers.
• Demonstrate the likelihood of growth in the near future to create jobs.
• Seeking to be based in the new Startup Stiwdio at Treforest Campus, or Newport Campus Startup Stiwdio.
• Clearly demonstrate evidence of the financial need for the award.

Application procedure

Submission of an Executive Summary Business Plan (maximum of three pages), including details of why the grant is needed.

Supporting evidence, such as a prototype of a product or service, a sample of film or video footage, or concept designs.

Shortlisted applications will then take part in a pitching competition. This will be held on Thursday 9 June in the Treforest Campus Stiwdio. 

Application forms can be found here. Applications will open on May 1 2023: https://bit.ly/SpringboardStartUp5

Pitching Judging Panel

The chair is Richie Turner, Incubator Manager for USW, joined by successful Welsh entrepreneurs, including at least one graduate entrepreneur from USW, and other USW staff.

Support and guidance

If you need support or guidance in submitting an application please email [email protected]

Shortlisted applications will be supported in developing their pitches through our dedicated online pitching resources.