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Innovator Founder: endorsement checklist

For founders asking an endorsing body to assess a new UK business. These are the endorsement-stage checks, from GOV.UK and the Immigration Rules. Checked against the published guidance on 22 October 2026.

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Your business idea

New: you are starting a business, not joining one that is already trading.
Innovative: your business idea is original and different from anything else on the market.
Viable: the business has potential for growth, and you have, or are actively developing, the skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to run it.
Scalable: your plans include creating jobs and growing into national and international markets.
The idea is your own. Nobody has handed it to you.

Endorsing body

You have chosen an endorsing body that takes new applications: UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International or Envestors Limited.
You know the Global Entrepreneurs Programme endorses only founders it has invited onto its programme.
You have read your chosen endorsing body's own application requirements before you apply.

Business plan

The problem you solve, and what is new about your answer to it.
Your market and your competitors.
How you will reach customers.
Three years of financial forecasts.
The jobs you plan to create, and your own role in the business.
Every figure comes from a named source or from your own records.
The plan is written by you, in your own words.

Funding

You can show the endorsing body that you have enough funding for the business.
You can show where that funding comes from.
GOV.UK sets no minimum investment amount.

Fees and next steps

The endorsement costs £1,000 per person, paid to the endorsing body (GOV.UK, checked 22 October 2026).
If you are endorsed, you get an endorsement letter. You need it for the visa application.
After you arrive, you meet your endorsing body at least twice, and each contact point meeting costs £500.
The visa application to the Home Office is a separate stage. For advice on it, speak to an immigration solicitor.

Official sources

GOV.UK: Innovator Founder visa
GOV.UK: Innovator Founder eligibility
GOV.UK: Innovator Founder and Scale-up endorsing bodies
Innovator Founder endorsement guide

We are experts in the endorsement stage for the UK Global Talent Visa and the Innovator Founder visa. For immigration advice, please seek the services of an immigration solicitor.

Help with the Stage 1 endorsement application for the UK Global Talent visa, led by our founder, Mihir Thaker.

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Endorsing bodies

Tech Nation The Royal Society Royal Academy of Engineering The British Academy UKRI Arts Council England

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