NatWest has opened applications for its latest Accelerator Pitch competition, giving founders the chance to compete for a share of a £100,000 prize fund at a live final held at the bank's London Head Office. The competition, which opened on 14 September, is part of NatWest Accelerator Pitch, the bank's UK-wide competition that will award £1 million across 2025-2026 to help early-stage businesses grow and scale.
Competition details and prize breakdown
Five finalists will be selected to pitch live at NatWest's conference centre in its flagship London office on 19 November 2026. They will compete in front of investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders for a share of the £100,000 prize fund. The winner will receive £70,000, with £20,000 awarded to the runner-up and £10,000 for third place.
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. NatWest has branches in Birmingham, among other locations.
Growing Together campaign support
The competition supports NatWest's Growing Together campaign, which aims to build the conditions and connections to help more businesses start, grow and scale by connecting founders with funding, expertise, networks and opportunities. The initiative is designed to help ambitious entrepreneurs access funding, coaching and networks.
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.
Regional director comments
Emily Fallon, Regional Director at 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."
She added: "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 in London, Fallon described it as "a brilliant opportunity for founders ready to take their business to the next level." Applications for the competition are now open.
