Funding Strategy & Investor Pitching — Workshop Series

Wednesday, 28th Jan 2026, 09:30 - 12:30

If equity funding feels unfamiliar or complex, this session provides a clear, grounded understanding of how it works and what investors expect. We’ll walk through the process in practical terms, covering readiness, expectations, and key considerations for founders. 
 
You’ll learn: 

You’ll leave with a stronger grasp of equity finance and greater clarity on your strategic options. 

This workshop is delivered in collaboration with GM Digital Security Hub (DiSH).

GM Digital Security Hub (DiSH) offers growing digital security businesses and the wider Greater Manchester community with access to business support, mentoring, dedicated growth programmes, training, and career opportunities through a consortium of Barclays Eagle Labs, Plexal, Lancaster University and The University of Manchester.

This session helps you develop a pitch deck that clearly and powerfully communicates your business proposition. You’ll learn what funders prioritise, how they assess presentations, and how to structure information to reflect your strengths. 

You’ll learn: 

You’ll leave understanding how to align your pitch deck with investor expectations. 

This workshop is delivered in collaboration with GM Digital Security Hub (DiSH).

GM Digital Security Hub (DiSH) offers growing digital security businesses and the wider Greater Manchester community with access to business support, mentoring, dedicated growth programmes, training, and career opportunities through a consortium of Barclays Eagle Labs, Plexal, Lancaster University and The University of Manchester.

Many SMEs hesitate when it comes to debt due to uncertainty or perceived risk. This workshop provides clarity on loan products, lender expectations, and how the application process works — enabling you to make informed decisions with confidence. 

You’ll learn: 

You’ll leave with a clear understanding of commercial lending and how to approach debt finance strategically. 

This workshop is delivered in collaboration with Bloc (Bruntwood).

Bloc focuses on wellness, work-life-balance, and productivity. Join us for a renewed focus on your work environment to help boost your productivity and work-life balance. We've incorporated technology to monitor and optimise air quality, built a state-of-the-art wellness suite, a sleep pod, wellness room, and a cascading garden in the foyer has been featured to help bring balance to business. Bloc features a cinema room, spaces for community pop-up events, and co-working spaces to help foster collaboration. The future of work is wellbeing.

This session offers a practical opportunity for founders to practise their pitch and receive constructive, real-time feedback from investors. A number of attendees will be invited to deliver their pitch during the session, giving them the chance to refine their structure, messaging, and delivery in a supportive environment. 

All attendees — whether pitching or observing — will gain valuable insight into how investors evaluate a pitch, what they listen for, and the common areas founders are encouraged to strengthen. Observing live pitches helps you understand real investor reactions, recognise effective communication styles, and reflect on how to improve your own approach. 

The session also includes a networking section, allowing attendees to share reflections, exchange experiences, and connect with other founders who are preparing for future pitching opportunities. 

This workshop is delivered in collaboration with Sister and NatWest Accelerator.

Based in the heart of Manchester, Sister will be recognised internationally as one of the world’s leading applied innovation districts - a vibrant hub where ideas, investment and enterprise come together. Set across 4 million sq ft, Sister brings together start-ups, university spin-outs, global corporates, researchers and investors in a connected ecosystem designed to spark collaboration and accelerate growth.

A joint venture between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech, Sister combines world-class research and industry expertise to create a community where businesses of all sizes can innovate, scale and succeed, driving inclusive economic growth across Manchester and beyond. At the centre of this ecosystem is the Renold Innovation Hub, offering tailored support for early-stage businesses through flexible workspace, access to research expertise, specialist events, mentorship, and connections to investors and funders.

The NatWest Accelerator is in its 10th year of supporting start ups and scales up nationally. It allows you to access co-working space and become part of a vibrant community of like-minded business owners in a location near you. You can also sign up for our regular events, meet your local Accelerator team, understand what support we could offer, and engage with the entrepreneurs in the hub. We are happy to host this event with our friends The Growth Company to provide even more support for our Manchester entrepreneurs.