UK: £100,000 grant programme launched for South West start-ups

Funding opportunity

The UK’s South West Regional Development Agency is looking for five new technology-based start-ups to take part in this year’s FASTtrack, a programme of tailored business support for companies based in the South West of England. The programme, now in its second year, funds a package of professional support and strategic mentoring for the companies.

FASTtrack programme was set up by the electronics design network Silicon South West to address the needs of technology start-ups. Silicon South West’s Simon Bond, said, “These companies are born into an extraordinarily complex environment of global markets and internationally distributed supply chains. Technology start-ups need to coordinate their research and development, fund raising and international customer engagement from inception. FASTtrack aims to make a difference by introducing strategic mentoring at a stage where typically companies most need it and are least able to afford it.”

The support package includes mentoring from industry experts with a proven track record, sales and marketing training, hands-on, focused assistance in applying for grants, and coordinated one-on-one introductions to key customers, partners and investors.