Open University launches Open Business Creators Fund for Disabled Entrepreneurs

Part of The OU’s mission with Open Business Creators at The Open University is to reduce inequalities in the entrepreneurial landscape by providing equitable access to support and funding and championing under-represented and under-estimated founders. The Open University has launched the Open Business Creators Fund for Disabled Entrepreneurs across Ireland and the UK to encourage early-stage entrepreneurs to share their ideas and access support and funding.

We are working with Scope, the disability equality charity, to support disabled entrepreneurs on their entrepreneurial journey. With total funding of £25k provided by The Open University, this opportunity is designed to support any disabled person in the UK or Republic of Ireland who is at the idea or very early stage of starting up a business.

We will be selecting 5 early-stage business to provide £2500 each and 10 ideas to provide £1250 each. This fund is open to anyone resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland with lived experience with a disability. We adhere to the social model of disability where disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. If this resonates with you, then you are welcome to participate. 

To identify grant recipients, our panel will ask applicants to use a platform called Validate to explain their business ideas and present a portfolio. Applicants will have the month of October to develop and test their business models in the Validate platform and judges will review their portfolios in November. The submission deadline is 25 October 2024. Entries will be selected based on how well they convey their business or idea to the panel through their Validate portfolio. 

Applicants with lived experience of a disability are eligible to enter if they are resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland and over the age of 16 on 30/11/2024. Employees of The Open University are not eligible to enter. If you have any questions or need the materials provided here in alternative formats, please get in touch with us at Open-Business-Creators@open.ac.uk

To find out more or enter, please visit HERE.