NatWest has opened applications for its latest Accelerator Pitch competition, giving UK founders the chance to compete for a share of a £100,000 prize fund.
The competition is part of NatWest’s wider Accelerator Pitch programme, which is designed to support early-stage businesses with funding, coaching and access to the bank’s wider network.
Applications opened on 14 September, with the competition open to eligible founders from across the UK. Five finalists will be selected to pitch live at NatWest’s conference centre in London on 19 November, in front of investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
The £100,000 prize fund will be split between the three highest-placed businesses, with £70,000 going to the winner, £20,000 to the runner-up and £10,000 to the third-place finalist.
To enter, founders must join the free NatWest Accelerator community and submit a 60-second video pitch explaining their business and how the funding would help them grow.
The competition is part of a wider commitment from NatWest to provide £1m of funding through its Accelerator Pitch programme across 2025 and 2026.
For the five founders that make the final, the opportunity extends beyond the prize money. They will pitch their businesses to a panel of investors and business leaders, while also gaining access to coaching and the wider NatWest Accelerator community.
The bank has increasingly positioned its Accelerator programme as a way of supporting businesses beyond traditional banking services, providing founders with access to expertise, connections and support as they look to scale.
NatWest said the latest competition is aimed at ambitious entrepreneurs across the UK, with the London final providing a platform for founders to put their businesses in front of investors and other senior figures from the business community.
The structure of the competition also reflects the different challenges facing early-stage businesses. While access to capital is an obvious requirement for founders looking to grow, the opportunity to build relationships with investors and other entrepreneurs can be equally important at an early stage.
The £70,000 first prize can be used by the winning business to support its growth, while the additional coaching and network opportunities give the finalists access to resources beyond the competition itself.
The latest competition follows previous NatWest Accelerator Pitches, which have provided funding to businesses across the UK. The programme forms part of the bank’s broader work with entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses.
Applications are now open, with the five finalists due to be announced ahead of the live final in November.
For founders, the competition offers a straightforward proposition: pitch the business in 60 seconds, secure a place in the final and compete for a share of £100,000 without giving up equity in the company.
The wider NatWest Accelerator programme is designed to support businesses through different stages of their growth, making the competition another route for founders to access the bank’s network while putting their businesses in front of potential investors and partners.
With the final taking place in London on 19 November, the latest competition will bring together five businesses competing for the £70,000 top prize and a wider opportunity to build their profile among the UK’s investor and entrepreneurial community.
