Engine Shed, as part of Bristol Innovations, is proud to have renewed its support of the Investment Activator Programme (IAP).
IAP is a techSPARK initiative, created to help catalyse investment into fast-growing startups in the West of England. Launched in 2020, Engine Shed was one of the original partners of the programme, which was the first of its kind in the UK designed to increase the flow of money into the area and showcase the region as a leading start-up hub.
The problem we hope to solve
Despite the UK’s thriving startup ecosystem, access to equity investment remains highly uneven. London dominates, securing 49% of all UK equity deals and 63% of total investment value, while regions outside London and the South East struggle to attract funding.
Raising investment is also a time-intensive process, taking founders an average of 6–8 months to secure funding. The challenge is even greater for underrepresented groups—all-female founder teams received just 2% of VC funding in 2022, despite making up 9% of deals, showing no improvement in over a decade. Meanwhile, less than 2% of VC investment went to Black and ethnic minority-led businesses.
While equity funding isn’t the right route for every company, building a stronger and more regionally balanced investment ecosystem will be key to fostering long-term innovation and economic growth.
What we are doing
For the past five years, we have supported techSPARK to strengthen the South West’s investment ecosystem by bringing together investors and founders, judging competitions and mentoring, increasing visibility for regional startups, and driving more equity investment into the region.
Quarterly Investment Briefing (QIB): This exclusive event series provides a platform for investors to network, share insights, and access investment opportunities. These sessions complement techSPARK’s Annual Investment Review, which tracks trends in the South West’s funding landscape.
Silicon Gorge: As the region’s flagship pitch competition, Silicon Gorge has introduced over 150 of the most promising early-stage startups to investors. Companies such as Immersive Labs, KETS Quantum Security, Lettus Grow and Condense Reality, all previous members of the SETsquared Bristol incubator, have been part of this journey.
Applications for the 2025 edition are now open so get yours in before 11 April.
Pitch Me!: A safe space for founders to refine their pitches, this online event series provides startups with direct feedback from experienced investors and industry experts. It helps early-stage businesses sharpen their fundraising strategy and improve their chances of securing investment.
Dates for PitchMe! in 2025 are 12 February, 9 April and 4 June. Register interest.
Early-stage support: IAP is committed to helping founders from idea to Series A. Through 10+ South West Founders meetups annually, it brings together over 60 early-stage entrepreneurs to share experiences, connect with peers, and learn from industry leaders.
IAP impact over the last 5 years
✅ Over 90 investment-focused events
✅ Supported more than 500 startups and scaleups in their fundraising efforts
✅ Highlighted investment asks totalling £290M+, connecting founders with the right investors
✅ Built up a community of over 800 angel and institutional investors interested in our ecosystem
Despite a challenging investment climate, the South West’s ecosystem remains resilient. Our work continues to address funding gaps, support underrepresented founders, and ensure more companies secure the backing they need to scale.
More about the Investment Activator Programme
IAP is supported by both public and private sector organisations: Bristol Innovations, Engine Shed, TLT, British Business Bank, Link Stone Advisory and Walmer Group.
For more information, visit the IAP website or download the latest Annual Investment Review