Scheme details
Area: Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, County Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Northumberland
Categories: Finance & funding, Business support
Page last updated: 27 February 2026
What is PraeSeed?
PraeSeed is an annual six-week cohort investment programme that provides pre-seed founders with investor readiness workshops, hands-on support and the chance to pitch to our co-investment network. Each year PraeSeed invests up to £200k in up to 8 businesses from the 10-12 companies on the course.
Investing £6m into 35 preseed companies in the next 5 years
Why apply?
- Access to NPIF II capital and follow-on funding
- Insights into all aspects of investor readiness
- Exposure to our co-investor network
- Be part of a growing founder community
- Expert mentoring, advice and resources
- Additional support beyond PraeSeed
What we’re looking for?
- Pre-revenue startups: Last year you will have created no more than £250k in revenue
- Looking for equity: Seeking investment to help boost your business
- Based in the North: Or committed to relocating here
- Strong management: Who are willing to go the distance
- Growth: Any sector with growth potential
- A great pitch: Showing a clear understanding of your market
We are a capital-first programme deploying £150k-£200k investments in up to 8 start ups each year.
How it works
- Online applications open once a year in March.
- Up to 12 businesses will be shortlisted for the programme.
- Kicking off on the 8 June, shortlisted founders will join a weekly ‘inspire, educate and assess’ day at PXN Ventures HQ every Monday for 6 weeks.
- The full day workshops will be hosted by founders and experts across PXN Ventures's 6Ms – Model, Market, Money, Management, Momentum and More Than Money. Throughout the programme, you will be allocated to a PXN Ventures mentor.
- An eco-system pitch will be hosted in September to introduce you to the wider PXN Ventures team and our other investor partners.
- Up to 8 investments of £200k from NPIFII will be made by the end of October each year (up to 70% of businesses from the cohort will be funded).
Applications for PraeSeed 2026 are now open and will close on April 10, with the programme starting on June 8.