This is not an accelerator, this is cohort investing
PraeSeed is helping to build the North’s next break out businesses with help from the British Business Bank’s Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
to us
What is PraeSeed?
PraeSeed is an annual six-week cohort investment programme that provides pre-seed founders with investor readiness workshops, hands-on support and the chance to pitch to our co-investment network. Each year PraeSeed invests up to £200k in 5-7 businesses from the 10-12 companies on the course.
Investing £6m into 35 preseed companies in the next 5 years
Why apply?
Access to NPIF II capital and follow-on funding
Insights into all aspects of investor readiness
Exposure to our co-investor network
Be part of a growing founder community
Expert mentoring, advice and resources
Additional support beyond PraeSeed
The first cohort investment programme in the North of England
What sets apart?
Capital
invests capital through PXN Ventures with access to their investor network to help startups get funded faster.
Community
Join a collaborative community of like-minded entrepreneurs with a shared goal - to create meaningful Northern companies.
Content
Learn from the best with course content created and curated by inspiring experts who’ve scaled businesses before.
What we’re looking for?
Pre-revenue startups
Last year you will have created no more than £250k in revenue
Looking for equity
Seeking investment to help boost your business
Based in the North
Or committed to relocating here
Strong management
Who are willing to go the distance
Growth
Any sector with growth potential
A great pitch
Showing a clear understanding of your market
We are a capital-first programme deploying £150k-£200k investments into 5-7 start ups each year.
How it works
- Online applications open once a year in March.
- Up to 12 businesses will be shortlisted for the programme.
- Kicking off on the 9th of June, shortlisted founders will join a weekly ‘inspire, educate and assess’ day at PXN Ventures HQ every Monday for 6 weeks.
- The full day workshops will be hosted by founders and experts across PXN Ventures's 6Ms – Model, Market, Money, Management, Momentum and More Than Money. Throughout the programme, you will be allocated to a PXN Ventures mentor.
- An eco-system pitch will be hosted in September to introduce you to the wider PXN Ventures team and our other investor partners.
- Up to 7 investments of £200k from NPIFII will be made by the end of October each year (up to 70% of businesses from the cohort will be funded).
“It’s like nothing else out there in the North for preseed businesses. If you’re serious about growing a business in this region, you should be applying to PraeSeed.”
Jason Crispin, Auditsu, Founder
Join a portfolio of exceptional founders building ground-breaking businesses
Jess discusses FAQ questions...
Want to join the next PraeSeed cohort?
Tell us why you, why here, why now.
Applications will reopen in March 2026.
Apply for NPIF II funding
Are you raising a larger round? You can apply for NPIF II funding all year round. Apply for funding from PXN Ventures, here. Alternatively, if you are an investor or adviser, visit our PXN Investments website to find out more.
