Funding Mini Masterclass: How To Unlock Grants, Bids & Procurement in 2026

Funding Mini Masterclass: How To Unlock Grants, Bids & Procurement in 2026

Exclusive to the ScotlandIS community, Ailsa (www.ailsa.io) is hosting a practical mini masterclass on how to access Scottish and UK grant funding, prize competitions, procurement opportunities, tenders and bids - tailored for tech startups and small businesses, from very early-stage ideas through to more established ventures.

Ailsa’s team are funding experts, having secured over £500 million in non-dilutive funding for businesses like yours. That hard-won insight now underpins Ailsa: an AI-powered platform designed to get you the grants you deserve.

Designed to demystify how non-dilutive funding really works, this session cuts through the noise to explain what’s realistic at different stages of growth, how grants and bids sit alongside revenue, angel and venture investment, and how to make informed decisions without draining time or momentum.

This 30-min webinar - the first in a planned series running throughout 2026 - lifts the lid on how founders and innovators can assess fit, understand trade-offs, and confidently navigate funding routes that genuinely support the long-term health of their business.

Whether you’re still shaping an idea or actively trading and planning for growth, the emphasis is on clear thinking, practical insight and actionable next steps - you're not going to want to miss this!

Ailsa's team will cover:

- What grants, prizes, procurement and tenders/bids are - and what they aren’t

- How non-dilutive funding fits into a typical startup capital stack- What stage your business needs to be at for different opportunities, and what “funding ready” really means

- How to interpret eligibility criteria, and the critical difference between being eligible and being competitive

- How to find relevant Scottish and UK opportunities without drowning in portals, alerts and mailing lists

- When not to apply for funding - and what to do instead

Format

Attendees are invited to submit questions in advance, which will help shape the agenda and ensure the session focuses on what’s most valuable. The webinar is practical and discussion-led, with a 30-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A. There will also be opportunities for targeted, sector-specific and 1:1 funding clinics with the Ailsa team following the session.