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SBRI Healthcare & NIHR i4i Venture Capital Readiness Programme

in partnership with Lifted Ventures

Empowering Women-led Health & Social Care Innovations

 

Are you a female founder tackling healthcare challenges with an innovative solution? Do you need funding, expert guidance, and connections to investors to scale your business? The SBRI Healthcare & NIHR i4i Venture Capital Readiness Programme is here to support you.

This six-month, high-impact programme is designed to equip women-led startups with the tools, knowledge, and networks to access funding and accelerate growth. Whether you’re refining your business model, preparing for investment, or looking to connect with mentors and industry experts, the programme provides a comprehensive roadmap to success.

Why Join the Venture Capital Readiness Programme?

This is not just another accelerator. It’s a bespoke programme designed to address the specific challenges that female founders in health and social care face when accessing investment. By joining, you will:

  • Gain Access to Funding – Learn about grants, equity, and debt funding opportunities, and connect directly with angel investors and venture capitalists.
  • Receive Expert Mentorship – Work with seasoned entrepreneurs, healthcare leaders, and finance specialists who have successfully raised capital.
  • Develop a Strong Business Model – Refine your business plan, financial forecasting, and intellectual property strategy to become investor-ready.
  • Join a Supportive Community – Connect with like-minded female founders and build a network of peers, mentors, and investors who are committed to your success.
  • Visit Successful Women-led Ventures – Gain real-world insights by visiting innovative healthcare businesses that have secured investment.
  • Pitch to Investors – At the programme’s finale, showcase your business in front of a curated audience of angels and VCs.

What’s Included?

Business Model Development

  • Learn how to refine and strengthen your business strategy.
  • Identify key growth opportunities and potential risks.
  • Work in small “learning pods” to collaborate with other founders facing similar challenges.

Accessing Funding & Financial Forecasting

  • Understand different funding options and how to position your business for investment.
  • Create a compelling financial plan that aligns with investor expectations.
  • Gain insights into legal structures, intellectual property (IP) protection, and governance.

Investor Readiness & Pitch Development

  • Craft a winning pitch and develop a professional investor deck.
  • Learn the essentials of due diligence and how to communicate your business opportunity effectively.
  • Participate in one-to-one coaching sessions to refine your strategy.

Exclusive Site Visits

  • Meet successful women-led health and social care businesses.
  • Learn from their funding journeys – both the successes and challenges.
  • Gain inspiration and practical insights to apply to your own business.

Mentorship & Networking

  • Get matched with relevant mentors from the health, social care, and investment sectors.
  • Build relationships with advisors, non-executive directors, and experienced investors.
  • Become part of the Lifted Ventures Community and expand your network.

Investor Showcase Finale

  • The programme culminates in a high-profile pitch event.
  • Present your business to a room full of angel investors and venture capitalists.
  • Receive bespoke investor feedback to guide your next funding steps.

Programme Timeline & Key Dates

  • May 12th – Cohort announcement
  • May 21st – Programme kickoff (In-person)
  • June – September – 12 hours of virtual & in-person workshops, site visits, mentorship, and coaching
  • October 22nd – Investor pitch event

How to Apply

Applications open on March 10th and close on April 25th.

Ready to accelerate your health innovation? Apply now to be part of this game-changing programme!

Apply now

FAQs

What are the eligibility criteria for this programme?

You must have been awarded SBRI Healthcare or NIHR i4i grant funding to apply.

  • A founder, co-founder or CEO of the business
  • Operating in the Health and Social Care space 
  • Business to have been registered no more than 7 years prior
  • Business registered in the UK
  • Application from a woman founder or co-founder, or anyone identifying as a woman
  • Business not currently insolvent or likely to be in the next six months
  • Business looking to fundraise between £200,000 and £2million in the next 12 months

No, this is only for those who have already had a grant and want to further progress their investment journey.

The programme has nine sessions, from site visits, in person events and online workshops. The total amount of time you’ll spend on the programme will be around 16 hours between May and October.

No, this course is free to access.

No, you need to be able to commit to all the workshops so that you gain the maximum benefit from the education and are fully ready for the end of the programme investor showcase.

Yes, we can support you. Please include all your requirements in your application.

Yes, please get in touch via our email address [email protected].

Yes you can, however you will need to provide proof of the change of name.

Our funding for this programme precludes any overseas participants, so no, you are not eligible.

You should have a significant shareholding in the businesses, ideally equal to that of any male co-founders.

No, it is anticipated that participants fund their own travel except in exceptional circumstances. Please get in touch via [email protected] to learn more about this.

As long as you believe that you may be raising investment in the next 24 months you are eligible to apply.

Yes, your co-founder (of any gender) is welcome to join us, however we ask that there is a consistent approach to having one person, who identifies as female attend all of the sessions. We’ve found that this helps to build relationships across the cohort and accelerates learning.

Apply now