Step 1 - Read the Start-up Scheme Guidance Notes and register your interest.

Step 2 - Initial Meeting with Graduate Enterprise Officer

We encourage you to schedule an initial 30-minute meeting with the Graduate Enterprise Officer. The initial meeting will be used to discuss your business idea, the application process and evaluation of applications.

You can schedule this call by clicking HERE or by emailing enterprise@warwick.ac.uk 

Please note: The initial 1:1 meeting is not a pre-requisite for your Start-up Scheme application.

Step 3 - Apply for the Start-up Scheme. By submitting :

• 1 Business plan and
• 1 Video pitch (up to 3 minutes long)

*Please note we will only accept submissions using our business plan template.

Download our business plan template here

Our business plan template is a fillable Pdf (this means you can save your answers and return to the pdf at a later date).The fillable pdf template only accepts text. If you believe photos, graphs or images would strengthen you business plan, you can upload those images on dropbox/google drive and insert the link on the relevant section of our business plan template.

If you have already created your own business plan you will need to translate your plan from its current form into this one, then you can be sure you have included everything we need to know in order review your business idea.

Download our business plan template here

Submit your business plan here.

Step 4 - Shortlist Applications

Warwick Enterprise will review all applications and shortlist the strongest viable, scalable and innovative business applications to progress to the Pitch to Panel session.

Step 5 - Pitch to Panel

Should your application for endorsement be shortlisted, you will be expected to pitch your business idea to a panel. The panel will be made up of senior staff from across the University’s academic and non-academic departments. If you are part of a team, all members of the group applying for endorsement must be present at the Pitch to Panel activity.

The Panel will assess your application based on your business being viable, scalable and innovative, and determine whether they have confidence in you and the approach you outline.

Step 6 - Receive a Decision

There will be three possible outcomes from the Pitch to Panel interview:

1) You will gain endorsement

2) You will be required to provide further evidence requested by the panel

3) You will not gain endorsement from the University, and you will have no right to appeal.

Step 7 - Endorsement Letter

If your application for the Start-up Scheme is successful, Warwick Enterprise will issue you with an Endorsement Letter which you can use to apply for your Start-up VISA.