Beacon Investment Fund: Up to £200k Equity for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Startups via UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Quick summary

The Beacon Investment Fund is an equity investment stream for early-stage businesses based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, delivered under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It offers up to £200,000 of equity to ambitious start‑ups and is administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The fund targets businesses in areas including environment and energy, and broader business support and skills. The scheme provides equity (not grant funding).

Who it’s for

Key points on eligibility and focus:

• Early-stage companies headquartered in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.
• Sector focus includes environment and energy, plus general business support and skills-related start-ups.
• Funding is provided as equity investment, so prepare for investor terms and dilution.

What to prepare before applying

To improve your chances, prepare these materials:

1. Investor-ready pitch deck — clear problem, solution, market size, traction, team, and the ask.
2. Concise financial summary — 3–5 year projections, unit economics, and cash runway.
3. Cap table — current ownership, proposed post-money structure and dilution.
4. Use of funds — exactly how the investment will be spent and milestones it will hit.
5. Evidence of traction — customers, pilots, letters of intent, revenue, KPIs or prototype.

Practical tips on equity terms

When negotiating or accepting equity, consider:

• Type of security (ordinary shares, preference shares, convertible notes or SAFE) and investor rights.
• Milestone‑based tranches to align funding with progress.
• Board/observer seats, veto rights and information covenants.
• Valuation realism — be ready to justify your ask with comparable evidence and traction.

Source: GrantFinder listing for the Beacon Investment Fund