Grow it awards
Your business is live, your customers are real, and now it is time to grow. Pitch for up to £5,000 in the Grow It Awards, the Queen Mary funding competition for student and graduate founders.
Who the awards are for?
The Grow It Awards are for current QMUL students and graduates of the last three years who are already selling. It does not matter what you sell: an app, a service, a product or a brand all count. If your business is registered and you have paying customers, this award is here to help you grow it.
What the money is for?
Growth. Think about what is holding your business back that money could fix, such as new equipment, marketing, stock or software. The award cannot be used for salaries, so plan your ask around something else.
Pitch training support
If you are shortlisted, we will support you with pitch training to help you get ready for pitch night.
Key dates
- Applications close: 1 November 2026, Midnight
- Pitch training: weeks commencing 9 November and 16 November (shortlisted applicants)
- Pitch night: 18 November
- Winners announced: on pitch night
Apply now
Questions? Email quest@qmul.ac.uk
Frequently asked questions
- You are a current QMUL student, or you graduated within the last three years
- Your business is registered and trading
- You have customers
- You do not hold a Student visa
Your business needs to be formally registered and already trading for example limited company, sole trader registered with HMRC. If you are not sure whether your set-up counts, email quest@qmul.ac.uk before you apply.
Yes, as long as you are not on a Student visa. The conditions of a Student visa restrict self-employment and registering a business, so we cannot award funding to founders on that visa. International graduates on other visas, such as the Graduate or Innovator Founder visa visa, are welcome to apply. If you are unsure, email quest@qmul.ac.uk and we will confirm.
The strongest applications show that you know your business well, and back it up with evidence. That means:
- You know your customers. Tell us who they are, why they buy from you and what you have learned from them. Show it with real examples, such as customer feedback, repeat orders or testimonials.
- You know your market. Show that you understand where you sit, who else is out there and how big the opportunity is.
- You know what makes you different. Explain why customers choose you over the alternatives.
- You have proof that you are trading. Sales figures, invoices or user numbers show the panel that your business is real
Yes. Even though this is a grant and you will not be paying it back, we still want to know what it will do for your business. Tell us what the award will help you earn, save or achieve. A clear link between the money and the result makes your application much stronger.
- Apply online before 1 November. Tell us who your customers are and what the money will help your business do.
- Pitch. Shortlisted founders then pitch at our pitch night on 18 November, and winners are announced afterwards.
Need support about your application. Book an idea surgery with the QUEST team
No. You do not need any pitching experience to apply. If you are shortlisted, QUEST will support you with free pitch training to help you shape your story, explain clearly what you will do with the money, and practise before pitch night.
It is a live, in-person event on 18 November at the Old Library, Garrod Building on Whitechapel campus. Each shortlisted founder gets 3 minutes to pitch, then answers questions from the judging panel. Winners are announced on the night, so you will know the outcome before you leave.
Expect the money 4 to 6 weeks after the pitch night. We pay by bank transfer once you have returned the paperwork we send you.