Deadline Date: May 06, 2026
The Santander X UK Awards 2026 recognise and support ambitious UK-based university ventures, startups, and SMEs by offering funding, recognition, and opportunities for growth.
The focus areas include entrepreneurship development, university innovation, startup scaling, SME growth, business funding, go-to-market preparation, product development, commercialisation, early-stage business support, and access to competitive growth opportunities.
The Santander X UK Awards 2026 aim to support the UK’s most promising university-linked ventures, startups, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The programme provides financial support, national recognition, and opportunities for participants to compete on a global stage.
The awards are structured across three categories: University, Startup, and SME, each designed to support businesses at different stages of development. The University category is intended for early-stage ventures connected to UK universities that are preparing to launch and develop their go-to-market strategy.
Eligible University category applicants must have a connection to a UK university through a student, graduate, staff member, or university-linked incubator or accelerator. They must also have a minimum viable product and a team of at least two people, including advisors or staff where necessary.
The Startup category is designed for UK-registered businesses that are within their first 18 months of trading and generating up to £250,000 in annual revenue. These businesses should be in a growth phase and preparing to scale. Applicants must also have a team of at least two people and meet at least one additional requirement, such as raising funding between £50,000 and £750,000 or achieving up to £250,000 in annual revenue. Win a share of £150,000 and take your business to the next stage.
The SME category supports established UK businesses that have been trading for more than 18 months and generate over £100,000 in annual revenue. Eligible SMEs must also meet at least one additional criterion, such as employing between 2 and 250 full-time staff.
The programme is designed to provide opportunities for businesses at different stages of maturity, supporting their development from early-stage ideas through to established enterprises seeking further expansion.
For more information, visit SantanderX.
