Venture Further Awards 2026 - Apply Now
The Venture Further Awards (VFA) is the UK’s premier university startup competition, offering over £200,000 in equity-free prizes plus £150,000+ in software and tech perks to help founders build and scale. Hosted by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), this is where the University of Manchester’s most ambitious students and alumni transform high-potential concepts into market-ready ventures.
We believe innovation comes in many forms, from the solo creative to the deep-tech researcher. That is why VFA 2026 is structured into four specialised tracks, ensuring every founder has a tailored pathway to success.
Apply by midnight, Monday 4th May — don’t miss out
The Grand Finale: June 16th 2026
The journey culminates in a high-stakes finale on 16th June.
Finalists from each track will pitch to a panel of expert judges and an audience of investors, industry leaders, and peers. After a day of live pitching, the evening will feature The Grand Awards Ceremony.
With an audience of over 200 people, winners will take centre stage to deliver a “victory pitch,” sharing their vision and next steps.
The evening concludes with a drinks and food reception, offering finalists and guests the chance to network, forge new partnerships, and celebrate Manchester innovation.
Applications are now open. It’s time to Venture Further.
As a participant of Venture Further Awards, you’ll also receive lots of perks including:
Equity-free funding - Access of up to £200K funding pool. Our funding is released as small grants to support testing, prototyping and early go-to-market activity.
£150K+ in software & tech perks - We have lots of technology perks to support you will be developing your startup, including Google Cloud, Notion, GitHub, Miro, Mixpanel and more.
Hybrid founder community & workspace - Access to the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre co-working space (known as the Enterprise Zone).