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  1. School of Business and Management
  2. Entrepreneurship Hub
  3. QM Social Venture Fund
  4. Investment strategy

Investment strategy

How we invest £15,000 to accelerate early-stage social ventures 

Ready to secure investment for your social venture? 

Each year, the Queen Mary Social Venture Fund (QMSVF) runs a competitive investment process to identify and support a high-potential, early-stage social enterprise. The winning venture receives a £15,000 equity investment and ongoing support from our student venture capital team and industry mentors.  

We focus on founders who want to build financially sustainable businesses that deliver measurable social or environmental good – not as a byproduct, but as the heart of their mission. 

SVF Winners 2026
SVF Winners 2026

 

What we invest in 

The Fund focuses on early-stage, for-profit social enterprises that aim to create: 

  • Measurable social or environmental outcomes 
  • Scalable impact aligned with a clear business model 
  • A financial return alongside positive societal change 

QMSVF makes investments with the intention of generating both impact and financial performance and expects ventures to grow these in parallel as they scale.

 

What you receive if selected 

If your venture is chosen through our annual competition, you will receive: 

£15,000 equity investment - This funding is designed to help you grow, validate or commercialise your social venture.  

Continued post investment support - You’ll work with Queen Mary student investors trained by Creator Fund professionals, who bring relevant frameworks, analysis tools, and deal flow experience to support your next stage of development.  

Visibility and ecosystem connections - Your venture will be showcased within the Queen Mary entrepreneurship community, with opportunities to connect to mentors, partners and experts across the University’s growing entrepreneurial network. 

 

Our investment principles 

The QMSVF investment approach is built around three core principles: 

Impact at the centre

  • The venture must clearly tackle a social or environmental challenge, with potential for measurable, scalable impact.  

Commercial viability

  • We invest in for-profit social enterprises that have the potential to sustain themselves financially and grow their impact through scale. 

Founder commitment

  • We look for founders who demonstrate motivation, clarity of purpose, and the ability to build a mission driven organisation. 

 

Who can apply for funding? 

To submit your venture for consideration: 

At least one founder must be:  

  • A current student at a UK university (UG, PG, PhD or Postdoc), or 
  • A recent graduate (within the last three years). 
  • The venture must be located in the UK. 
     

How the annual competition works 

The investment competition typically takes place once a year (usually April).  

Exact dates are confirmed each academic cycle.  

  • Submit your application - Through the StartUp Application Form page. 
  • Screening & evaluation - Student VCs review your pitch deck, impact model and business case. 
  • Shortlisting - Top ventures advance to interviews and deeper due diligence. 
  • Final pitch - Finalists pitch their ventures at the QMSVF showcase event, where the winning venture is selected. 
  • Investment & support - Winners receive funding and continued mentorship from the student VC team. 

 

Take the next step 

If your venture is mission driven, early-stage and ready for investment: 

Apply through the StartUp Application Form 

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