A grant competitors for social entrepreneurs rising from UK universities is now open for entries after final 12 months’s six finalists shared greater than £300,000 in funding for his or her start-up companies.
Dragon’s Den fashion pitching contest Ignite, the Ford Household Basis’s flagship occasion, can be hosted at Barclays Innovation Hub powered by Eagle Labs in Shoreditch on the night of Tuesday twenty first October 2025. The 5 social enterprise finalists will every obtain pitching and bespoke accelerator help from Ignite innovation companion Barclays Eagle Labs, in addition to entry to digital assets.
Social enterprise founders who want to apply for Ignite funding and mentorship ought to be College college students or current graduates and might want to submit a 1,500 phrase marketing strategy or seven web page pitch deck by Sunday seventeenth August. The shortlist of finalists can be introduced in September.
Entries have been acquired from 33 universities throughout the UK in 2024, culminating in a reside closing at The Shard the place six excellent finalists pitched to a distinguished judging panel and over 100 visitors. The companies shared a £50,000 prize pot on the evening, with an extra £280,000 in funding awarded post-event by the Ford Household Basis. This 12 months’s occasion will observe an analogous format, and organisers are actively searching for new companions to assist again daring, formidable and disruptive founders to spice up the nationwide entrepreneurship ecosystem and wider financial development.
Ford Household Basis founder and philanthropist Tony Ford commented:
“We’ve already seen large outcomes by working with final 12 months’s Ignite finalists, and I strongly urge different philanthropists, companies and academic institutes to think about the catalytic potential of supporting this 12 months’s competitors. By utilizing entrepreneurial options to sort out deeply entrenched societal points, social enterprises mix mission-driven influence with the agility and sustainability of buying and selling fashions. They’ll scale, innovate and reply quickly, all whereas producing income. This implies any monetary help drives influence straight to vary lives and reshape the long run.”
Ignite 2024 finalist Giselle Gonzales is the founder and CEO of EQUALReach – a world employment platform that connects refugee professionals with significant, expert digital work to rapidly safe very important earnings. Because the Ignite closing, EQUALReach has secured a UK/worldwide enterprise pilot with a Fortune 500 firm, led a Bosch-funded non-public sector advocacy and has featured within the Jobtech Alliance’s 2025 Digital Employment Report.
Giselle Gonzales commented:
“Ignite was some of the genuinely supportive entrepreneurial programmes that I’ve been a part of. Once they say they again founders, they imply it. The teaching was sensible, the suggestions actionable, and their community of help is top-tier. I’d wholeheartedly suggest Ignite to any changemaker who’s merging revenue and objective to construct one thing that issues.”
Stephen Brown, Director of Barclays Eagle Labs, added:
“We’re delighted to be the Ignite Innovation Companion, aligning to our ambition of supporting college founders and deepening our dedication to entrepreneurs within the social enterprise ecosystem. With development and alternative on the forefront of the work we do, we’re dedicated to supporting the thriving UK Tech sector with a mission to encourage and educate formidable founders and startups to assist them succeed.”
The 5 finalists invited to the unique occasion on twenty first October 2025 will ship a brief pitch to a reside viewers and panel of industry-leading consultants, with a 3 minute Q&A session to observe. There can be an inspirational keynote speech and ample networking alternatives accompanied by champagne and canapés.
To use for Ignite 2025 or to investigate about turning into an official companion, please go to ignitecomp.co.uk and for extra details about the Ford Household Basis, see fordfamilyfoundation.co.uk. With over £1 million invested in simply three years, the Basis champions daring entrepreneurs tackling society’s hardest issues – proving that enterprise may be the best drive for social good.
