Student Enterprise Fund - GROW Pathway

Apply for up to £5,000 to GROW or accelerate your business.

The Student Enterprise Fund – GROW Pathway is generously supported by Santander Universities.

Applications are now open. Apply via the Santander X Platform.

Applications close midnight, Sunday 2 March 2025.

Apply Now – GROW

To explore eligibility or get feedback on an application form, book a 1:1 with the Student Enterprise Team.

Book a 1:1

Who is the GROW Pathway For?

The GROW pathway is suitable for students who have set up and launched a product or service onto the market but require essential funds to grow or accelerate their business progress. If you have already tested initial go-to-market strategies and achieved initial sales, but lack the financial resources to grow or accelerate your business progress, the GROW pathway could be for you. This pathway is suitable for businesses and social enterprises across all industry sectors.

What can GROW Funding be used for?

GROW funding can be used to support a wide range of different business expenses. Example use of funds might include essential equipment, raw materials, stock, product development or testing, software, marketing costs, legal or regulatory costs, professional development and much more.

Is my business eligible for GROW Funding?

At a minimum, students applying for the GROW pathway must demonstrate the viability of their business, through customer research AND initial paying customer traction. They must also be able to clearly communicate their business model and go-to-market strategy, as well as having a robust understanding of the risks and challenges for their business. Demonstrated progress and commitment to their business or social enterprise to date is also essential.
GROW Pathway funding is available to undergraduates, post-graduates and recent graduates (up to 36 months post-graduation) leading a business or social enterprise across a broad spectrum of different industries.
Applicants must be legally eligible to start a business in the UK (unfortunately students studying on an International Student Visa are NOT eligible to apply).

Applicants who have previously received Student Enterprise Funding, are eligible to apply for further GROW funding, within the following parameters:

Students must provide evidence of successful spend, impact of the previous funding awarded and demonstrate realistic projections based on the further funding required.
Students can win up to a maximum total of £10k, across multiple years, for the same business, across all three funding pathways.

How do I apply?

Applications are now open. Applications close midnight, Sunday 2 March 2025.

Applications must be submitted via the Santander X Platform before the deadline, midnight, Sunday 2 March 2025.
Candidates are required to provide a 2-minute video pitch via the application form. More details on requirements for this can be found in the application form.
Short-listed candidates, based on the application form and video pitch, will be in invited to an online panel interview, where they will be expected to present their business/social enterprise idea.
Students invited to panel will have three minutes to pitch, and this will be followed by up to fifteen minutes of Q&A from the panel.

Apply Now – GROW

Key Dates:

Applications Close: midnight, Sunday 2 March 2025

Online Panel Interviews: WC Monday 17 March 2025

If you are interested in applying for the GROW Pathway or have any questions regarding eligibility, we highly recommend you book a 1:1 appointment with a member of the Student Enterprise team.

Book a 1:1

You can contact the team at studententerprise@soton.ac.uk

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