The CPCA Business Growth and Social Impact Investment Fund – What it can do for your business and eligibility criteria

The CPCA Business Growth and Social Impact Investment Fund, provided by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, offers two types of funding for businesses in the Green Tech and Low Carbon sectors: debt funding and equity funding.

The aim is to help businesses access finance to grow, particularly those in underrepresented areas.

Debt funding

Debt funding is available for businesses that already have existing sales and customers.

This type of funding is ideal for businesses that need finance to scale their operations and drive further growth.

To be eligible for debt funding, businesses must:

Have a viable product or service with strong commercial potential
Already be generating existing sales
Show a clear need for finance to scale up and deliver growth
Provide detailed financial projections showing how the funding will lead to business expansion
Have a committed management team with relevant experience to execute the growth plan

Equity funding

Equity funding is suited to businesses that may not yet have a large amount of sales but can demonstrate credible near-term sales prospects.

This funding option requires a realistic exit strategy for investors within five years.

Eligibility for equity funding includes:

A viable product or service with compelling commercial potential
Credible near-term sales prospects, even if existing sales are limited
A need for finance to scale up and deliver growth
Financial projections covering a five-year period, aligned with the exit strategy
A committed management team with the skills and experience to grow the business
A realistic exit strategy within five years
Co-investment from other investors, with at least 30 per cent (preferably 50 per cent) of funds sourced from additional backers

By clearly defining your eligibility for debt or equity funding, and preparing a strong application, you can improve your chances of securing the support you need.

For assistance with your application or if you have any questions about eligibility, please contact our grants team.