UK Games Fund — Starter Fund

What it is

Grants of £20,000 for newly formed UK games studios building their own-IP first game — solo developers with commercial experience, early-stage graduate companies and early-stage startups. The latest application window is closed and the next round is unannounced.

⚠️ ingest normalisation 2026-08-21: games-only fund — heavy confirmed-games preferred rule added (wizard has no games question yet, so unconfirmed tech/creative businesses honestly score ~58%, never 100%). Re-verified 2026-08-31 on starterfund.ukgamesfund.com: the page says it is closed for new applications and supplied for reference only. £20,000 per applicant for own-IP development; three routes — solo developers with commercial experience (plus contractor teams), early-stage university graduate companies, early-stage startups needing audience validation; Tranzfuser teams without prior Prototype Fund grants may apply via the Head Start Pathway only; previously UKGF-funded companies are NOT eligible. Latest timeline on page: May 2026 applications, Jun-Jul review, Aug-Sep selection, Oct 2026 fund commences, Jan 2027 second tranche. Next window unannounced (annual cycle is not an announcement). Games-only restriction is a proxy via creative/technology sector — the wizard has no games question. ⚠️ Overlaps existing seed row uk-games-fund (combined Content/Prototype/Starter) — merge or supersede before ingest to avoid double-listing.