Founders invited to compete for £100,000 in latest NatWest Accelerator Pitch competition in London
Applications for the latest NatWest Accelerator Pitch competition open on 14 September, giving ambitious entrepreneurs the chance to compete for a share of a £100,000 prize fund and accelerate their business growth.
The London competition is part of NatWest Accelerator Pitch, the bank’s UK-wide competition which will award £1m across 2025-2026 to help early-stage businesses grow and scale.
The competition also supports NatWest’s Growing Together campaign, which is building the conditions and connections to help more businesses start, grow and scale by connecting founders with funding, expertise, networks and opportunities.
While the live final will be held in London, the competition is open to eligible founders from across the UK, reflecting NatWest’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurial talent in every nation and region.
Five finalists will be selected to pitch live at NatWest’s conference centre, in their flagship office in London, on 19 November 2026, where they will compete for a share of the £100,000 prize fund in front of investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
The winner will receive £70,000, with £20,000 awarded to the runner-up and £10,000 for third place.
To enter, founders must join the free NatWest Accelerator community and submit a 60-second video pitch explaining how the funding would help grow their business.
Emily Fallon, regional director, NatWest Accelerator, said: “London is home to some of the most ambitious founders anywhere in the world, and we’re incredibly excited to open applications for the next NatWest Accelerator Pitch competition.”
“Through our Growing Together plan, we’re backing entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, helping them access funding, coaching, networks and opportunities to scale. We’ve seen the impact this support can have through our recent competitions in Oxford and Wolverhampton, and we’re excited to discover the next generation of businesses ready to grow.
“With £100,000 on the table and some of the biggest names from the business world joining us in London, this is a brilliant opportunity for founders ready to take their business to the next level.”
Since launching in 2025, NatWest Accelerator Pitch has attracted thousands of applications and awarded significant funding to ambitious businesses across the UK. Alongside the chance to secure funding, participants can access coaching, investor connections, peer networks and support through the wider NatWest Accelerator programme.
The London final will return to NatWest’s flagship Accelerator hub almost a year after the inaugural London competition, which saw Orli founder Dr Mark Cox take home the £70,000 top prize. Since winning, NatWest has continued to support Dr Cox and Orli, a behavioural intelligence platform for childhood emotional wellbeing, through its wider Accelerator community, helping the business build momentum and scale.
The London event follows successful competitions in Oxford and Wolverhampton and marks the second time NatWest has hosted a Pitch final in the capital. More than 400 founders, investors and business leaders attended the Oxford final at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, while the recent Wolverhampton event showcased some of the Midlands’ and UK’s most exciting entrepreneurial talent.