Business Hothouse guide to Invest4 grants: get up to £170,000 for your business

The Business Hothouse is an ERDF and HM Government funded business support programme, delivered by the University of Chichester. It offers free hands-on, practical, expert business support and access to the Invest4 business grant fund. 

Here's their guide to understanding the Invest4 grant, how to access it, and how Business Hothouse can help. 

What is the Invest4 grant?

Available until July 2022, Invest4 is a match-fund grant for business and start-up owners looking for finance to help their business or idea to grow. This means, if you can pay (or raise capital) for 60% of your costs, Invest4 will pay the 40% balance, up to £170,000.

For example, a new website and media campaign at a combined cost of £100,000 might help your business to grow. If you can raise £60,000, the Invest4 Grant Fund will pay the remaining 40% balance of £40,000.  

How can I finance my 60%?

There are lots of ways to find your 60%, from crowdfunding to equity-share, the Business Hothouse can show you the full range of options and help you choose the best option for your business or idea. You can access this advice and guidance through their free workshops.

What can I use the Invest4 Grant Fund for?

Consider what would help grow your business: staff training or more staff? A vehicle? New equipment? A campaign to take your business to a wider customer base?

Invest4 has funded lots of projects like these and many more besides. You can find some examples of projects on the Business Hothouse website here. Over 90% of the applications to the fund have been successful in gaining a cash award.  

How do the Business Hothouse help?

Providing direct access to the Invest4 grant, they take you through the both the application process and application form step-by-step.

They also run a full range of free intensive programmes run by business experts, to help you establish or to grow your business. 

So how do you apply for the Invest4 Grant Fund? 

The process is straightforward – you can view it at-a-glance here.

Next steps…put your entrepreneurial cap on!

Now you know what’s available from the Invest4 Grant Fund, put your entrepreneurial cap on and think about how you would spend it. Whether you need £5,000 or £105,000, the Invest4 Grant Fund is here to support you. 

With so much free expert support on offer and new post-pandemic markets opening up, this is great time to launch a new business or to extend your product or service offering - especially with the financial cushion of the Invest4 Grant Fund.  

If you have an idea for a new product or service and would like to discuss its potential for success, take a look at The Business Hothouse’s free intensive Building Products Customers Crave. Delivered by management consultants at the Sussex Innovation Centre, it will help you to shape your idea into a launch-ready entity. Or, if you have an idea that’s launch-ready, and want to access Invest4, but have no idea how to start a business? Check out their 12-hour boot camp for business beginners.

Access to Invest4 is available until July 2022. Find out more about The Business Hothouse and Invest4 Grant Fund by emailing: hothouse@chi.ac.uk, or for an Invest4 Grant Fund application form email: invest4@brighton-hove.gov.uk. 

Visit their website here, or connect with Business Hothouse on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter. 

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