Deadline Date: February 17, 2026
Techstart Ventures is inviting entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas to participate in the Regional Innovation Challenge, a Northern Ireland–wide grant competition designed to support founders at the earliest stage of development.
The challenge focuses on providing Proof of Concept Grants of up to £15k to assess the viability and commercial potential of novel, early-stage business ideas, with multiple grants available per region and a region-based competition structure delivered in partnership with local innovation hubs, supported by Northern Ireland councils.
The Regional Innovation Challenge is open to applicants applying as a Sole Trader, Partnership, or Limited Company who have a novel and innovative concept to prove, with the principal applicant required to be the founder and, in the case of Limited Companies, also a Director and majority shareholder. Applicants must be resident in Northern Ireland, and Limited Companies must be registered locally. Limited Companies applying for grant portions covering employment costs must clearly detail the work and expected outputs, with a maximum of 30% of the grant available for founder employment at a set daily rate of £200. Independent third-party costs must be identified at application stage with quotations attached, and successful applicants must provide formal quotations prior to a Letter of Offer being issued. The grant scheme allows only one submission per application round, and applicants cannot have more than two unsuccessful applications within the current Grant Fund period (2025–2030). Companies previously awarded a Catalyst Co-Founders’ Proof of Concept Grant cannot claim the same costs under Techstart Grants, and University-related companies with institutional ownership or associated IP are not eligible.
This grant offers a unique opportunity for early-stage entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland to validate their innovative business concepts, access funding to explore commercial potential, and gain support through a structured, regionally coordinated program designed to help founders take the first step toward building sustainable businesses.
For more information, visit Techstart Ventures.
