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Venture Forward is a Innovate UK initiative to support underrepresented founders who are seeking equity investment. As one of the most prolific early-stage investors in the North of England - GC Angels will deliver Cohort 3 of the programme over 8 weeks from Sep - Nov 2026.

About the programme

The programme will provide you with the tools and know-how to optimise your next round of funding. You will receive:

  • Over 8 weeks, workshops covering key areas of the fundraising process, including funding options, strategy, financial modelling, valuations, term sheets and building out a robust fundraising campaign
  • Support to dive deep into your individual value and investor propositions
  • Fundraising templates
  • Opportunities to meet investors from across the UK
  • Chance to secure upto £500k in equity investment from GC Angels
  • Click on the application link
  • Complete ALL questions
  • Attach your pitch deck (we cannot consider applications without this)
  • Your pitch deck should be no more than 10 slides in PDF format (excluding intro slide). Any deck with more than 10 slides will not be considered and your application will be void
  • Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis

     Deadline: 24 August, 2026

  • Sep 2: Workshop 1/Cohort Welcome Mixer 
  • Sep 9; Workshop 2
  • Sep 16: Workshop 3
  • Sep 23: Workshop 4
  • Sep 30: Workshop 5
  • Oct 7: Workshop 6/Cohort Closing Mixer
  • Nov: Private VF Investor Event
  • Dec: GCA IC Decision

All Workshops are mandatory and run from 0900 - 1600.

Stage 1: Fill in the application form - Venture Forward | GC Angels - make sure you attach a pitch deck of 10 slides max. Any applications not supported with a pitch deck cannot be considered.

Stage 2: Interview - if your application is shortlisted you will be invited to attend a 10 min virtual interview to assess your suitability for the programme. 

Stage 3: Offer - if successful you will notified by email within approx 3 days.

Please Note: Places will be awarded on a first-come/first-served basis until the cohort is filled. Unfortunately we will not be able to provide feedback for applicants who are unsuccessful.

Cohort 3 Applications Are Now Open

Thank you to every Northern founder who applied to join Venture Forward Cohort 3.

🗓️ Cohort 3: September – November 2026
📍 Location: NatWest Group, 1 Spinningfields Square, Manchester, M3 3AP (Google Map)
👥 Cohort size: 20–30 founders
⏰ Application deadline: Monday, 24 August 2026

Overall, I would say we've all been very fortunate to find ourselves on this cohort. The presentation has been excellent, and it’s been thought‑provoking at every stage.

I would recommend any founder who can find their way onto the next cohort, or the one after that, to just do it — because it is absolutely incredible.

Simon Hall - APIMS Limited

They explained complex terms in a very simple, digestible way. Not once during the sessions was anything unclear to me, as everything was explained in a very accessible way for someone without this background. The variety of businesses on the cohort has been fantastic.

Dora Marcec- Gynomics

The program has been very pragmatic, not just in terms of the academic theory of fundraising, but also in helping us get deep into the investor mindset and learn the heuristics. That’s been incredibly helpful.

For me, the best part has been understanding the rationale behind why certain things are required, what investors want in a data room and how that aligns with an investment committee.

Leroy Tonge - Clareo Health

Cohort 2 Testimonials