The IATL's Den

• Current students who have taken or are taking an undergraduate or postgraduate IATL module and want to transform their enterprise or creative learning into reality—whether you have already taken the first step as part of an assessment (such as designing a new game, shaping an idea for a social enterprise or charity, or developing a new product or business), or you are now thinking about how to apply your learning outside of the module.

• Current students who have already received project funding from IATL for their idea and wish to take their projects further.

Please note that:

• Work that has already been assessed may be used as the basis of an application. If you want to enter an idea that will be part of your assessment for an IATL module but has not yet been submitted, you will need to contact us to ask if that is possible.

• All funding must be spent and a final project evaluation submitted within 3 months of graduation at the latest.
• You must have written agreement from all other project members if the idea you submit is not just your own.

Team submissions are accepted. If you are working as a team, please submit only one application form and include the contact details of all team members. If your idea was created by a team and you are submitting by yourself, you must gain permission from other team members to submit to IATL's Den.

Warwick Enterprise offer a host of ways to develop your skills and to chat about and refine your ideas through guidance and advice, including

For individual or team enterprise proposals, we strongly encourage applicants to get in touch with the Warwick Enterprise team for guidance, support and coaching: Explore your ideas | Warwick Enterprise

• You could join others in the innovation community via Startium
• Or you could contact the Warwick Enterprise team directly, and they can signpost you where to find the relevant information: Connect with Warwick Enterprise

There are multiple ways Warwick Enterprise could help you refine your ideas and develop new skills, including:

• personalised 1-to-1 coaching you can book online
• online and in-person guidance and support
• individual chat with Innovation Fellows
• skills development workshops and networking events
• online courses like Startup Sherpas and other educational programmes
• see also the Lord Rootes Fund, listed with other potential funding sources on our Project Funding and Costs page.

If you have any questions about IATL's Den itself and / or the application process, you can also contact IATL at IATL@warwick.ac.uk

Things you might want to cover in your application:

• What is your idea? Let us know the background and what you want to achieve in your project / venture.
• Let us know if you've already started on your project - what have you done so far?
• Tell us if you've already had some funding for this idea.
• Highlight the benefits of the project - for you, the participants, the University and / or the wider community.
• Note any risks or ethical considerations that may be associated with your project / venture.
• Highlight sustainability / environmental considerations related to your project.

You are strongly encouraged to apply only for the level of funding you need to carry out the project, rather than to apply automatically for the maximum available.

Within your proposal you should include information regarding:

• the main costs of delivering the project with timings/milestones
• any costs relating to travel and accommodation
• subsistence (food and other living costs)
• any insurance costs
• any other funding either awarded or applied for (including funds you intend to contribute yourself).

IATL's Den does not normally cover:

• Equipment. If equipment is part of your budget, you will need to explain in your application why it is integral to your project. Awards from the Fund are not intended to cover the cost of personal equipment.
• A project of yours that is the same or very similar to one we have funded previously.
• A project that involves delivering a course of learning.
• Fees to publish material on a platform.

If you are unsure whether we can fund an item or activity, please contact us before you apply.

Your budget should addresses the following questions:

• What costs and expenses are you applying for funding to cover?

• How have you arrived at these figures? Please provide details including the source(s) of the information

• Why are these costs/expenses important for your project? This is especially important if you apply for something we would not usually fund or for an unusual item. Contact us if you have questions.

• Have you applied for funding for this project elsewhere? Please include details, including specifying which part of your project IATL funding will support.

• If you have a shortfall in your budget, how will you meet it?

Please be specific if you can and don't generalise. We will need to see a breakdown of expenses and not only a broad headline total. If you include an estimate, please give details of how you have arrived at that figure. We understand that it can prove difficult to specify costs but please provide a breakdown where you can.

If it is possible that your project might generate a profit before the end of the project period, please note this in the application form and provide an estimate of potential income in the budget section.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit receipts and a final budget with their completed project reports, as well as an update on spend in their progress report.

We support students being paid for their project work whenever possible. There are two forms of support we offer to students:

• Living costs (accommodation, food, etc.) - if you will work full-time on a project during the project period, provide a total cost supported by a detailed breakdown in your application.
• An hourly rate - the standard rate we support for student work is the equivalent of Unitemps FA4 spinal point 16. This is currently £15.38/hour (Oct 2024 rates). Student projects are funded through a bursary, so you would not actually be employed through Unitemps and there is no Unitemps fee.

You will be given the opportunity to present your ideas to a Dragon's Den-style panel. The panel will be made up of Warwick staff and Warwick alumni who have experience of enterprise and / or have been entrepreneurs themselves.

You will be invited to pitch your idea, and you will then be asked questions by the panel. During your pitch, you should come prepared to outline your idea. Know your numbers - be ready to talk about the finances in your project. Tell the panel how your project or venture will impact you, the wider community or the University. Be ready for questions and be clear about your timeline and what you want to achieve should your project be funded.

If you apply for IATL's Den, you will be given comprehensive support from the Warwick Enterprise team. They will give you guidance on pitch preparation, storytelling techniques, and presentation delivery.

On the day of the panel there will also be a networking lunch for all students who have applied to IATL's Den, whether your idea is shortlisted or not. The lunch will be made up of Warwick alumni, industry experts and Warwick staff who talk to you about your idea, give you advice and guidance and may even end up being your mentor!

We will be checking in with all successful applicants who receive funding. You will be expected to provide a progress report during your project and a report outlining outcomes and an evaluation of your project once it is complete. We will ask for a financial update during your project and a final reconciliation of your spend with your final report. if you are happy to stay in touch, we will also follow up with an annual check-in to see how your project has progressed.