Scheme details
Area: Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, County Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Northumberland
Categories: Finance & funding, Grant, Business support
Business stage: Start-up, Trading business
Page last updated: 30 January 2026
How it Works
Founders, here’s the journey in four steps
Step 1: Apply: Submit your application to NextWave
Step 2: Evaluation: Ecosystem leaders and investors review your application and recommend those they think have the most investment potential
Step 3: Get Selected: Receive your invite to attend the NextWave Final, or even better, get selected as one of the top 20 founders chosen to pitch on stage
Step 4: Win Big: Secure game-changing connections, build your network, or win a £335K investment opportunity
NextWave Eligibility Criteria
✅ Pre-seed or seed stage
✅ SaaS company (within any sector)
✅ UK-headquartered
✅ SEIS-eligible (with at least £150,000 SEIS allocation remaining)
✅ B2B or B2B2C (with revenue primarily from B2B channels)
✅ Ambitious founders looking to raise investment and scale nationally
Timeline
Applications Close: 22 March 2026
Judging Period: 22 March 2026 – 30 April 2026
NextWave finalists announced: w/c 4 May
NextWave Final (live in Manchester): w/c 18 May