Guidance

Unlocking Space for Investment: Programme overview

Updated 24 July 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unlocking-space-for-investment/unlocking-space-for-investment-programme-overview

1. Business and Investor Pathway programme

The Unlocking Space for Investment: Business and Investor Pathway programme seeks to increase private investor awareness and understanding of investment opportunities across the space economy through the delivery of two pathways.

Each pathway offers tailored support to successful applicants, including learning content, masterclasses, networking and pitching opportunities. The programme overall seeks to create long-term, meaningful partnerships between the UK Space Agency, investors and companies.

We ran our pilot programme in 2023/2024 and intend to run a subsequent programme again this year. This page will be updated with further details once reopened. In the meantime, you can find more information about the programme below.

1.1 Investor Pathway overview

The Investor Pathway programme is dedicated to supporting private investors seeking to capitalise on the nascent UK space sector and leverage existing government investment. The programme will encourage investment in the sector by sharing knowledge and empowering investors, particularly those considering their first venture into space investment.

The Investor Pathway will grant investors access to:

  • knowledge sharing: a 7-week flexible online course tailored for investors moving into the space sector
  • pitch day: invitation to an exclusive pitch day hosted by the UK Space Agency, in coordination with the parallel pathway for space businesses
  • community: exclusive access to deal-flow backed by UK Space Agency investment, invitation to industry events and opportunities to form investment partnerships with pathway members and the UK Space Agency

1.2 Business Pathway overview

The Business Pathway will offer tailored content and focused interventions to support space sector businesses to get investor ready, helping to bridge the valley of death in reaching the growth stage (Series A+). We will look to:

  • demystify the world of institutional investment through an understanding of the different types of investor and what they care about
  • give the opportunity to get hands on with commercial and financial investment advisers from early-stage through to late-stage transactions, helping to frame your investment opportunity and addressable market size
  • provide appropriate materials, skills and coaching to generate the right investment content to support due diligence and the investor engagement process
  • offer experience pitching to investors, allowing valuable feedback to be shared to support you along your investment process

If you would like any further information or have any questions or feedback, please contact the team by email at USI@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

2. UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S)

Are you a business operating in the space sector, looking to raise pre-seed and seed+ funds? The UK Space Agency UKI2S Space Portfolio may be for you.

UKI2S supports pre-seed and seed+ companies who can deliver substantial benefits for humanity, from space. With investments ranging from £100,000 to £500,000, the funding aims to address the critical funding gap early-stage space companies face.

UKI2S is active in building companies, playing a hands-on role in finessing the business case, building the team and hiring team members, supporting negotiations around intellectual property, navigating the funding landscape, and establishing best practice in newly founded companies.

Find out more about UKI2S.

3. Space Investment Day

Join us for the upcoming Space Investment Day in London, where we bring together investors and innovative space SMEs. This half-day, in-person networking event will allow you to engage with influential voices, challenge your thinking and explore new investment opportunities.

This page will be updated with further details once registrations are opened.

If you would like any further information, have any questions or feedback about these programmes, or would like to request to be added to our Unlocking Space for Investment Alumni network, please contact the team by email at USI@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

Back to top