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Blended Finance & Funding Readiness Session for SME Founders - January Bookings Now Open
How the Session Is Structured and Delivered
Key Outcomes of the Session:
- SMEs can clearly articulate how grant funding can be used to leverage private investment
- Founders demonstrate increased confidence in navigating funding and investment pathways, including the practical use of AI tools
- Founders can identify and prioritise funder-aligned opportunities that match their stage of growth and funder expectations.
In-Person Technical Assistance for SME Cohorts
Turning Grant Funding into Long-Term Financial Resilience for SMEs
A half-day technical assistance session designed for incubators, accelerators, and SME support programme cohorts. Using blended finance principles, the session equips SME founders with practical tools to improve funding readiness, structure strong grant applications, and use grant funding to unlock private investment.
Founders are equipped beyond the session through free tools and resources, including lifetime access to our funding database, an AI-enabled funding playbook, and The Real Payoff of a Grant.
January Delivery Window Open
Each session is delivered to a capped cohort of up to 20 participants to ensure quality and practical engagement.
Delivery Assurance: We stand behind the quality of our technical assistance delivery. If the session does not meet the agreed objectives, we will work with you to address this — including a full refund where appropriate.
Selected Blended Finance Resources / Collaborations:
Energy Investment Toolkit (Rockefeller Foundation)
Grants To Investment Case Study (ODI Global)
The Real Payoff Of A Grant (BII)
Leverage Playbook For Grantees (Wangara)
Blended Finance Delivered Through Practical Technical Assistance for SMEs
The session is delivered live and in person, with dedicated time for questions and hands-on application.
Using blended finance principles — impact, leverage, and returns — SME founders are equipped with practical tools to use grant funding strategically to unlock private investment and build long-term financial resilience. Participants receive ongoing resources, including a complimentary copy of The Real Payoff of a Grant and tailored guidance informed by our advisory experience.
What We Mean by Blended Finance in Practice
What UK SMEs, CICs & Charities Say About ARK
Added Value for Incubator and Accelerator Programmes
This TA session strengthens the impact of your programme by equipping SME founders with practical tools to identify funding opportunities and use grant funding strategically to unlock additional investment.
By building funding capability, the session ensures that the resources you already invested in the SMEs continues to deliver impact beyond the programme - supporting financial resilience, growth and measurable impact.
Expert-Led Technical Assistance
Proven Pathways from Grant Funding to Investment
Drawing on experience across seven countries, ARK Group International has developed proven approaches to building financial resilience among grantees, including pathways from grant funding to investment readiness, such as:
- De-risking technical and financial indicators through the strategic use of concessional funding
- Strengthening trading income by transitioning toward scalable, product-based revenue models
- Creating revenue-generating assets that support long-term financial sustainability
- Signalling investment readiness to investors by leveraging the credibility of concessional funders
Meet The Speakers
Joevas Asare
Blended Finance Specialist
Radhika Sanyal
Concessional Funding Advisor
Felix Edwards
Strategic Partnership Expert
Workshop Agenda
This half-day technical assistance session is structured to support practical learning, with each module building toward grant funding readiness and investment preparedness for your SME cohort, grounded in blended finance principles.
Module 1 - Concessional Funding within Blended Finance (1.5 hours)
15 mins
Welcome & Introduction to Grant Funding Landscape and Key Principles
15 mins
Identifying and Securing Relevant Funding Opportunities for Your Business
30 mins
De-Risking and Positioning for Private Investment Using Grant Funding
30 mins
Practical Exercise - Strategic Narrative Development
Module 2 - Financial Resilience and Investment Readiness (1.5 hours)
30 mins
Identifying Investors and How to Signal Investment Readiness
30 mins
Securing an Anchor Client and Building Revenue Generating Assets
30 mins
Practical Investment Readiness Self Assessment Exercise
Module 3- Using Artificial Intelligence for Funding and Investment (1 hours)
20 mins
Practical AI Tools and Techniques for Raising Investment
20 mins
Mapping, tracking and staying connected with funders and investors
10 mins
Additional Resources and Tools to Use Beyond the Session
10 mins
Feedback and Closure
Enhance Your Programme's Impact
Equipping Your Cohort with Proven Funding Strategies
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