We're pleased to present the Young Innovators Award Winners 2020/21, 64 ordinary people with extraordinary ambitions.
Innovate UK's Young Innovators programme, in partnership with The Prince’s Trust and delivered by KTN, seeks to nurture the talents of tomorrow, ensuring that every part of the country powers our collective success, whilst tackling some of the most important challenges our society faces.
It will support young people over 3 years with individuals benefiting from a £5,000 grant, one-on-one coaching and an allowance to cover living costs.
Find out more about the programme: https://ktn-uk.org/programme/young-innovators/
Who is Benjamin & what is VING.AI?
"I am Benjamin Ndubuisi, co-founder VING.AI, which has recently received the Young Innovators Awards. With the support of my Innovation Champions, we are carrying out extensive market research to validate the business idea, and develop a strategy for successful execution in the UK. It has been both an engaging and enlightening experience so far, and I am looking forward to the rest of the year working together with great expectation! Visit www.VING.AI for more information"
VING.AI is an AI-powered secure currency exchange platform for Nigerians in the UK. With VING.AI, users are able to:
Shop for the best exchanges rates or trade directly with VING.AI for remittance (from the UK to Nigeria, and vice versa)
Cut down reverse remittance lead times (from Nigeria to the UK) from 1 – 5 days via local banks and / or legacy players (e.g. WU, etc.) to typically within 1 hour or less
Be empowered within the global African community by exchanging funds with fellow Africans via a secure and flexible platform
Why Early-Stage Startups Shouldn’t Ignore Grant Opportunities
In the startup world, funding is often synonymous with equity. Founders are conditioned to chase investors, prepare pitch decks, and give up shares to keep moving forward. But for many early-stage startups, this can come too soon and cost too much. What if there was a way to fund development, validate ideas, and gain credibility without parting with equity or rushing into a round? That’s exactly what innovation grants offer.
Building a Strong Consortium for Collaborative Grants
Collaborative grants open the door to larger, more ambitious innovation projects. But to succeed, funders want more than a good idea – they want the right team to deliver it. Strong consortia bring together diverse expertise, reduce risk, and demonstrate the project’s real-world impact. Whether you're an SME, academic institution, or R&D leader, knowing how to build and present a well-structured consortium can significantly boost your funding success.
R&D in Construction & Engineering: Overlooked Opportunities
While construction and engineering are typically seen as practical, hands-on sectors, they are also rich with technical innovation. Often, businesses in these sectors are unsure how to assess whether their projects meet HMRC’s eligibility criteria.
R&D Tax Relief for Startups: Navigating Innovation With Confidence
Startups often operate under intense financial pressure. Balancing product development, team growth, and market fit can leave little room for error. R&D tax relief remains one of the most valuable funding tools for UK businesses pursuing technological or scientific advancement—but it’s not automatic or guaranteed.
R&D Tax Shakeup: What UK Innovators Need to Know About the New Unified Scheme
From 1st April 2024, the UK government is introducing a unified R&D tax relief scheme, replacing the SME and RDEC schemes. This article outlines the key changes, including updated rules on subcontracting, overseas R&D, and support for R&D-intensive SMEs. Learn how the new scheme affects your business and what steps you need to take to stay compliant and maximise your claim.
Scaling with Innovation - Why the Right Support is Crucial for Business Growth
In today’s competitive business landscape, standing still is not an option. Growth-hungry companies must continually innovate, not just to stay relevant, but to lead. But innovation on its own isn’t enough. Scaling a business takes more than a great idea; it takes strategy, resilience, and the right support network to turn innovation into sustainable success.
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