Simply Business Second Act Entrepreneur Fund

The Simply Business Second Act Entrepreneur Fund , delivered in partnership with social enterprise Hatch Enterprise, is a UK non-dilutive grant competition awarding direct funding and executive coaching to founders starting or scaling businesses over the age of 40.

Judge Levi Roots (founder of Reggae Reggae Sauce) leads the panel evaluating high-growth, viable business models across the UK.

• Direct Cash Grant Pool: £50,000 GBP total pool (£10,000 GBP equity-free cash grant per winner; 5 winners selected).

• Equity Terms: 0% Equity / 100% Non-Dilutive (0% equity taken; no repayment, warrants, or tuition fees).

• Mandatory Coaching & Incubation: 1-on-1 personalized executive coaching program from Hatch Enterprise running virtually and in-person from December 2026 to April 2027. (Grant funds are transferred upon completion of the coaching module).

• Hatch Alumni Network: Access to ongoing founder events, peer mentoring, and investor networks.

To qualify, applicants must satisfy all core criteria:

1. Age Requirement: Open strictly to UK residents aged 40 or over at the time of entry (no upper age limit).

2. Geographic Focus: Must be legally based and operating in the United Kingdom.

3. Stage: Open to both pre-launch business ideas and trading businesses seeking expansion capital.

4. Judging Evaluation Criteria:

   • Viability & Business Model: Clear revenue model covering operating expenses.

   • Proven Market Demand: Evidence of target market demand, customer traction, or gap analysis.

   • Growth Ambitions: Scalability plans for the £10k allocation.

   • Written Pitch Format: Concise narrative (100–200 words); no fully AI-generated entries permitted.