The IFB Nature Positive Innovation Accelerator Programme supports SMEs to hone their business model and pitch technique to raise finance.
There is an ever-growing demand for high integrity nature-positive businesses who are capable to returning Angel, Venture Capital and debt finance. This is important since investors are themselves facing increased regulatory demands to demonstrate the nature uplift and impacts of their investments, such as through the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS).
Members of the IFB team and the 2025 cohort
The first SMEs in the 2025 cohort of successful programme-applicants gathered in Hendon on Thursday 16th January for its first meeting.
IFB Partner, Dr Robyn Owen of Middlesex University, said,
"Each company within our new cohort will should benefit greatly from the coaching programme. It will help them to attract investment in early-stage business solutions, and build their confidence to pitch ideas in front of investors who want to make a positive impact with their money."
Co-facilitator & IFB partner Dougal Fleming said,
“Working with companies who are working to regenerate the earth is exactly where I want to be in my career, We are delighted with the calibre of companies who’ve registered."
Several other members of the IFB Team were present including its Lead, Dr Nick Wells. He said,
"It was a privilege to meet the nature positive entrepreneurs at the Accelerator kick-off workshop. The entrepreneurs and Middlesex team's enthusiasm and motivation was infectious, and it was great to hear more about the strong concepts from the 16-strong cohort of companies."
The programme comprises 12 sessions and includes coaching on:
- Innovation scoping and defining nature-positivity
- What investors want to see
- Financials and business planning
- Tax breaks for investors
- Pitch deck structure
- Deal Legals
- Innovation and IP basics and deep dive
- Nature positive toolkit – be the first to test this exciting green assessment tool
- The Big Pitch Day
If you want to witness the pitching on May 15th, you can apply for one of a limited number of seats.