Your January Jumpstart List for Creative, Digital & Tech Founders
As we close out the year and head into a much-needed holiday break, early-stage founders across the creative, digital and tech industries are already looking ahead to 2026. And for good reason, Q1 is historically one of the strongest periods for new grants, competitions, innovation challenges and investment activity.
If you want to hit the ground running in January, the smartest move you can make now is simple:
know which funding opportunities are coming, what they’re looking for, and what you can prepare before you switch off.
Here’s a curated list of the most relevant, high-impact funding opportunities opening in early 2026, especially for founders building in creative technology, digital innovation, gaming, immersive, AI, design, media, content and the wider creative economy.
⭐ 1️⃣ Innovate UK: Creative Catalyst 2026
Opening: January 2026
Funding: £50k–£200k grants
One of the most anticipated grant calls for creative-tech founders.
Creative Catalyst supports innovation across design, media, immersive, gaming, fashion tech, advertising, digital arts and new creative IP.
Ideal for:
- Early-stage founders with a strong creative concept
- Projects combining creativity with tech innovation
- Businesses developing new tools, formats, experiences or products
How to prep over the holidays:
- Draft your project’s problem + innovation statement
- Gather early evidence of demand
- Clarify your commercial potential
This is the official programme hub where the 2026 round will appear.
⭐ 2️⃣ UKRI / AHRC: CoSTAR Labs Project Funding
Opening: Feb–Mar 2026 cycles
Funding: Varies (£50k–£300k typical ranges)
CoSTAR continues to be a major catalyst for the UK’s future media, immersive and screen-tech ecosystem. Expect new calls for R&D collaborations, prototype development, real-time production, virtual production and content innovation.
Ideal for:
- Creative tech teams wanting R&D facilities
- Immersive, VFX, real-time content, or virtual production founders
- Partnerships between creatives + technologists
Prep now: Identify potential collaborators early.
CoSTAR Programme Overview:
Funding Finder (where the 2026 calls will appear):
⭐ 3️⃣ Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) – Creative Economy Innovation Grants
Opening: January 2026
Funding: £30k–£100k (pilot projects)
These grants support innovative projects at the intersection of culture, creativity and emerging tech. Expect themes like AI-powered storytelling, new cultural experiences, sustainable creative production, and audience engagement tech.
Ideal for:
- Creative R&D projects
- Early-stage innovation in media, culture & design
- Startups collaborating with universities or cultural organisations
AHRC Funding Finder:
Main Funding Finder:
(You can filter by AHRC + Creative Economy.)
⭐ 4️⃣ Innovate UK Innovation Loans – Round 25
Opening: Likely February 2026
Funding: £100k–£2m (flexible loans)
Designed for later-stage early-stage businesses who need funding to scale, hire, build or commercialise. These are loans, not grants, but they come with extremely competitive terms for businesses with growth potential.
Ideal for:
- Founders preparing to scale
- Businesses with established revenue or users
- Innovators with strong commercialisation plans
Perfect for creative tech founders who have outgrown grants.
Innovation Loans Overview:
Latest Open Round (for reference):
⭐ 5️⃣ UK Games Fund – Round 13
Opening: January 2026
Funding: Up to £50k
A fantastic opportunity for indie studios, game creators, and interactive entertainment teams. This fund supports prototype building, playable demos and early IP development.
Ideal for:
- Solo game developers
- Small studios
- Teams developing new concepts, characters or gameplay mechanics
⭐ 6️⃣ EIC Pathfinder & Transition (EU) — Deep Tech + Creative AI Calls
Opening: Q1 2026
Funding: €100k–€4M (depending on stream)
While EU-based, many UK founders with EU partnerships or subsidiaries benefit from these calls. Expect growing interest in:
- Creative AI
- Distributed media systems
- XR hardware
- Ethical generative tech
- Future content infrastructure
Perfect for founders exploring cross-border collaborations.
⭐ 7️⃣ Local & Regional Growth Funds (Opening Jan–Mar 2026)
Many UK regions will reopen innovation and growth funds early in the year, including:
- Greater London Authority Creative Growth Grants
- Greater Manchester Innovation Fund
- Midlands Createch Pilot Fund
- Scottish Enterprise Creative Technology Support
These are especially useful for teams scaling locally or embedding talent pipelines.
Greater London Authority (Creative + Business Grants)
Greater Manchester Combined Authority – Innovation Funding
Scottish Enterprise – Creative Industries Support
⭐ 8️⃣ Private Investment Momentum: Angels, Micro Funds & Early VCs
While not a “programme,” Q1 is the busiest period for:
- angel investors
- early-stage creative-tech funds
- micro funds
- EIS-backed investors
Many investors have new capital allocated from January and actively scout creative, media, digital tech and AI startups.
January Tip:
Use the holiday quiet to prepare a clean pitch deck and 12-month plan.
🧭 How Founders Can Prepare Over the Holidays (In One Afternoon)
To get ahead without sacrificing your rest:
- Write a 1-page summary of your project or innovation.
- Draft a simple budget (don’t overthink it).
- Collect any proof points, user feedback, demand signals,and early traction.
- Create a folder called “2026 Funding Prep” and drop everything in.
- Switch off, knowing January-You has everything they need.
Small preparation now = less overwhelm later.
🎄 Final Thought: January Favours the Prepared Founder
While the holidays are for rest, clarity and reconnection, a little gentle preparation today can unlock big opportunities in early 2026. This list is your starting point — a snapshot of the most impactful funding routes for creative, digital and tech founders ready to grow.
Take what you need, save what resonates, and begin 2026 with momentum already on your side.