Supporting Impact Ventures

ImpactU is a collaboration designed to support university ideas to become mission-led businesses that tackle the world’s biggest unmet needs. 

With our investment funds, we provide pre-seed capital. Our ImpactU Hub training ecosystem helps founders build, test and scale with confidence. 

Bringing change to
people, places and the planet
by accelerating impact-led projects

ImpactU has built the momentum for real growth.

  • 49 university members
  • 660+ learners through the ImpactU Hub
  • 26 ventures received £1.04m in investment
  • £633,500 follow-on funding secured by ImpactU ventures
We are launching a new fund in partnership with Financier de Tubize. 
Please get in touch to invest in our ventures or partner with ImpactU to keep building this exciting ecosystem. 
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Lead Partner Universities 

University of Cambridge Logo
University of Northampton Logo
University of Oxford Logo

Member Universities

Anglia Ruskin University
Aston University
Birmingham City University
Brunel University of London
Buckinghamshire New University
Cardiff University
Cranfield University
Durham University
Edinburgh Napier University
Henley Business School
Heriot-Watt University
Imperial College London
Keele University
Kings College London
Kingston University
Lancaster University
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Loughborough University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Norwich University of the Arts
The Open University
Royal College of Art




University of Bath
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Buckingham
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
University of Greenwich
University of Leicester
University of Liverpool
University of Manchester
University of Nottingham
University of Plymouth
University of Portsmouth
University of Reading
University of Southampton
University of Strathclyde
University of Surrey
University of Warwick
University of West of England
University of York
York St John University


Benefits of Joining ImpactU

  • Access to training: your staff and students gain access to specialised training and resources to explore and start to create impact ventures. Equip your community with the tools they need to create meaningful change.

  • Eligibility for investment: impact ventures affiliated to Member Universities are eligible for ImpactU investment. 

  • Discover hidden talent: The main contact at your university will receive feedback and guidance for applicants, so you discover entrepreneurs and start-ups that weren’t on your radar.

Pathfinder Award Recipients

University of Bristol

Our mission is to create sustainable, robust, and intuitive robots that embody intelligence and solve real problems for arable growers. We focus on small to medium-scale farms, offering ease of use and comprehensive support services. Our lightweight and innovative solutions target automation of seedling planting and chemical-free weed management, enhancing productivity and efficiency in our growers’ fields.

Royal College of London

We're building a tool to help people with Essential Tremor track their condition, understand their patterns, and make small, informed changes that improve daily life

University of Warwick

Pause is a digital platform helping individuals with behaviour change and improving their interactions. We’re a small research group with the University of Warwick exploring where best to apply our technology Pause guides parents through evidence-based parenting techniques in challenging moments, as well as helping parents prepare for difficult times and get back to normal afterwards.