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seed fund
Interested in the More Than Profit DO IT awards? Read on for how to apply to both the SEED Fund and the More Than Profit DO IT awards...
Have you got a great idea? Do you want to help it grow with up to £5,000 from us?
We have set up the SEED Fund for UAL students and graduates to give you the opportunity to develop your creative idea into into a sustainable business or practice. You can also apply for the Fund if you have an existing project or early-stage business that you want to develop further.
SEE wants to support the creative community at UAL to create innovative projects and businesses. We have a series of grants of up to £5,000 available for the creation of innovative projects and businesses. If you're successful in your application, you'll also get access to a dedicated network of business mentors and intellectual property advisors, through the SEE Enterprise Mentorship Programme and Own-It Direct programmes.
You don't have to have a track-record in developing projects - we just want to find people with some good ideas and help them flourish.
To find more about the programme and how to put together an application, book a place on an upcoming'SEED Fund workshop' HERE.
If you have developed a business plan and Cashflow, and would like to receive some feedback prior to the submission, you can book a 1-to-1 business advice session with Mr Nick Howe, a business advisor from NatWest. The sessions can be booked via the Advice page, and it is mandatory for all attendees to bring along their business and financial plans for the sessions.
Finally, we're running a SEED Fund & More Than Profit roadshow across all 6 UAL colleges between April and May. Find out when and where - HERE
The next deadline for applications is on Thursday
6June 2013, 5pm.
PREVIOUS AWARDEES
Find out more about those successfully awarded SEED funding so far.
Plus, see how far the SEED Fund has come in its first year.
Here is the video application from one of our successful awardees, Food for Good:
SEED FUND AIMS
The SEED Fund aims are to:
• ENABLE creative start-ups by
supporting prototype, proof-of-concept or test-trial of new and
innovative ideas; business planning and access to professional services
or specialist expertise
• EMPOWER creative entrepreneurs by providing business support and legal advice
•
ENGAGE creative practitioners by providing an accessible platform for
experimentation, networking and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
This funding is made possible through the Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF).
WHO CAN APPLY?
The SEED Fund supports creative individuals/groups that demonstrate viable and sustainable project/business plans and is available to:
• UAL current students
• UAL graduates (within 3 years of graduation from date of application)
For project tracking purposes, evaluation and grant reporting, registered businesses must be based in the UK and while international collaborations and overseas market and sourcing are encouraged, the project must have a presence and base in the UK.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
The SEED Fund aims to help turn creative and innovative ideas into
sustainable businesses and equip applicants with the right skills,
experience, resource, expertise and support to achieve this.
Therefore, submissions should demonstrate the following:
• The proposal is an innovative idea or concept (can be applied to products, processes and/or services)
• The proposal presents a viable proposition which demonstrates market understanding
• The proposal shows that the idea has 'scalability' and sustainability (ie, potential to survive and thrive)
• The proposal demonstrates the skills and commitment of the applicant(s)
• The proposal shows how this project contributes to the applicants' future development
It is also desirable (though not critical) if your project demonstrates the following:
• It incorporates and develops cross-disciplinary collaboration (ie across colleges, disciplines, courses or research centres)
• It meets priorities as set out in UAL's medium term strategy (ie sustainability)
• It achieves match-funding and/or in-kind support (letters of support must be provided)
• It achieves conditional offers from customers (evidence must be presented)
Here is another video application from another awardee, Lisa Edoff Design:
APPLY NOW
Apply now for the SEED Fund.
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
We want to see the following from you through your online submission:
• Your 1 min video pitch showing us your enthusiasm for your idea (we will be shortlisting based on the video pitches and selected information on your application)
• Your project idea and plan convincing us to choose your application
• Supporting documents to accompany your application (implementation plan, financial plan, CV).
In the Application Pack (see bottom of page), you will find the Application Form, Application Guidance and a Cashflow Template. Please read all the information and requirements thoroughly before you submit your application online. Once you start the online application, you will be required to complete it in one sitting, as you will not be able to save a draft.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Support for potential applicants
SEE delivers regular 'Seed Fund workshops' to assist applicants with their submissions. To register, go to the Events page.
If you have developed your business plan and would like some advice before submitting your application, you can book for a 1-to-1 advice session with Mr Nick Howe, through the Advice page. Please note that it is mandatory for attendees to bring along their applications (business and financial plans) to the advice session.
2. Online application
Applications need to be made online. They may take place throughout the year,but will be batch assessed by the SEE Panel quarterly. Cut-off dates* for assessment are 5pm on:
- 28 Aug 2012
- 30 Oct 2012 (Live Pitch on 13 Nov 2012 at Enterprise Week)**
- 28 Feb 2013
- 30 April 2013
- 06 Jun 2013
(Live Pitch on 24 Jun 2013 at Artsmart)**
*
Any applications received after the cut-off dates will automatically be reviewed with the following batch. SEE reserves the rights to make amendments to these dates.
**
Please note that if you are applying for the
30 Oct 2012 and 06 Jun 2013 rounds, video pitches will not be required, but if shortlisted, you will be required to do a
live pitch
(10-20 min presentation + Q&A) to our judging panel on 13 Nov 2012 and 24 Jun 2013 respectively. Please make sure that you are available to present in person on those dates.
3. Shortlisting by SEE
Proposals will be shortlisted in batches by SEE, based on your video pitches and key information in your submissions.
4. SEE Panel
A SEE Panel comprising various senior representatives from UAL will evaluate the proposals.
5. Results announced
An outcome is aimed to be reached within 4 weeks from the assessment cut-off dates. Results will be announced via email.
6. Fund disbursement
Funds will be disbursed once the agreement has been signed off and relevant documentation has been received. 80% of the fund will be disbursed upfront.
7. Project completion
A final report needs to be submitted at an agreed date. Funding balance (up to 20%) will be disbursed upon satisfactory completion of the project. Project owners are required to contribute to SEE case studies and other learning and marketing resources.
WHAT CAN BE FUNDED
Grants will range from £1,000 to £5,000, with the average award in the region of £3,000. Submissions of up to £5,000 will be considered if there are special circumstances.
The fund can cover activities lasting up to two years for the following consumables:
• Research and development (eg market intelligence)
• Production costs (eg prototyping, materials, exhibition costs)
• Project activities (eg marketing, events)
• Professional development and training
• Specialist expertise and advice (eg legal and intellectual property)
• Touring and travel (up to 10% of total budget)
• Workspace/studio/retail space rental (up to 10% of total budget)
• Licensing fees (up to 10% of total budget)
• Legal/IP costs/expenses
• Business expenses
Note: some capital costs (eg equipment, vehicles, property ownership) may be considered fundable for Social Enterprise (DO It) applications (only) on a case by case basis.
WHAT CANNOT BE FUNDED
We are unable to fund the following:
• Capital costs (eg equipment, vehicles, property ownership) with the exception of some Social Enterprise (DO It) applications, on a case-by-case basis
• Franchises
• Investment schemes
• General running costs and overheads that are already paid for by other income
• Ongoing overheads relating to equipment or buildings (e.g., refurbishment, insurance and maintenance costs)
CONTACT
For further enquiries, please email us at seed@arts.ac.uk
SEED Fund Application Pack (208Kb)