Applications are now open for the 2026 FUEL Programme, Teesside University’s intensive start-up programme designed to help students, graduates and staff build, test and grow their business ideas with expert support.
Delivered by the Launchpad team, the seven-week programme combines mentoring, workshops, networking and practical business support, preparing founders to pitch for a share of £30k grant funding.
Previous winners include founders behind businesses such as Wander Films, Platvix Ltd, Sencode Cyber Security, The Petite Agency Ltd and Kona Clean Teknologies Ltd. Many have gone on to secure studio space, grow client bases, launch products and access further regional business support alongside benefiting from continued mentoring and the connections built during the programme itself.
Starting on Monday 29 June 2026, FUEL is designed for people in the early stages of starting a business, whether they already have a clear idea or are still shaping their direction.
Over seven weeks, participants work with experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and industry specialists on everything from business planning and pitching to marketing, finance, sales and market validation. The programme also introduces founders to practical tools used across start-ups and scale-ups, helping them test assumptions, challenge ideas and build commercially viable businesses.
Founders also become part of a growing community of ambitious entrepreneurs across Teesside University and the wider Tees Valley business community.
Through its unique combination of funding, business support and expert mentoring, FUEL continues to play a vital role in the success of some of the region’s most exciting start-up businesses. But what really sets the programme apart is the entrepreneurial community it creates. The impact of that network lasts far beyond the programme itself, with many continuing to draw on the confidence, connections and experience they gained through FUEL many years after the programme.
For many founders, FUEL becomes more than a programme. It becomes the point where their business starts to feel real. Many have described it as transformational with several founders continuing to collaborate longer after the programme ends.
Discussing the impact of the programme, Cristian Bazgan - founder of Resonance Health - said: 'FUEL gave me the tools to refine my idea into something pitch-ready. I spent weeks working on my idea, refining the business model, identifying who is it for and what problem I'm solving. One of the biggest things it helped me do was shift my mindset from a student into a real founder. Getting that grant was one of the biggest boosts of confidence I could have had because it made me realise someone else believed in the idea too.’
Participants can also benefit from dedicated office space at Launchpad for six months if needed, alongside continued access to mentoring, networking and business support beyond the programme itself.
Selected applicants are invited to attend a special pre-FUEL workshop before the programme begins. This gives founders the opportunity to meet their cohort, connect with the Launchpad team and learn more about the opportunities available through the programme.