HotHouse  

As the Create Growth N2 project enters its final months ahead of closing in March 2026, we’re celebrating the incredible progress of our region’s creative and digital businesses by opening up three potentially game-changing opportunities designed to help you accelerate your next stage of growth.

By Christmas, your business could secure one of these amazing growth catalysts:

  • Hot House Investment Readiness Support with Kaiku. Get hands-on support to refine your pitch, sharpen your strategy, and get investor-ready. Secure a spot at the Big Creative Summit 2026, London. Showcase your business on a national stage among the UK’s leading creative innovators.
  • Pitch for a £5,000 Marketing Boost (plus £2,000 runner-up prize). Test your marketing ideas, build traction, and prove your potential for scale.

Investment Readiness Support

Kaiku will return to deliver the second round of our Hot House Investment Readiness Programme. Whether investment is something you’re actively seeking now or planning to explore in the future, the Create Growth N2 Hot House will give up to eight businesses the chance to build the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to attract investors.

Through tailored support, the programme will help you understand what investors look for, refine your strategy and pitch, and strengthen your long-term fundraising readiness, increasing your chances of successfully leveraging future investment opportunities.

Support Package

Receive personalised 1:1 consultancy from Kaiku, gaining tailored insight into your business and investor fit. You will also benefit from a professional review of your pitch deck or one-pager, and suggested refinements to capture investor attention.

 

Support Benefits

  • Prepare your businesses for future fundraising cycles through improved pitch decks, pitching practice and understanding of legal fundamentals.
  • Build founder confidence by fostering stronger relationships with key entrepreneurs and investors.
  • Take your fundraising ambitions beyond Nottinghamshire and connect with Kaiku’s global investor network. Equip yourself with knowledge and resources that you will continue to benefit them beyond the CGN2 programme.

 

Key Dates

Closing Date for Applications
14th November 2025

One-to-One Support
17th – 28th November

UK and European Funding Landscape Workshop
24th November, In person
Find out more and book your space.

Investor Ask Me Anything Prep
Date TBC (Jan 2026), Virtual

Investor Ask Me Anything Session/s Date
Date TBC (Jan 2026), Virtual

 

How to Apply

Email your current pitch deck to: [email protected] with the subject line: HotHouse Application

If you don’t have a developed pitch-deck, please download, complete and return the one-pager template.

Pitch to Propel

Accelerating creative and digital business to market traction

We often hear from early-stage creative and digital businesses in our region that one of their biggest challenges is finding the budget to take their product to market after investing heavily in development.

Without this marketing push, it can be difficult to demonstrate the market traction that banks and investors look for before providing debt or equity investment to scale.

To help address this, we’re giving businesses the chance to pitch to win one of two prizes, a £5,000 first prize and a £2,000 runner-up prize. Pitch to Propel will test the hypothesis that this kind of early-stage marketing investment can unlock significant growth potential.

Entrants will be shortlisted to 8 businesses, who will pitch to a panel of judges from industry with specialisms in; performance marketing, branding, scaling a business and a representative from the local business growth support ecosystem.

Detailed guidance and scoring criteria can be found here. 

 

Pre-application Support Workshop

Need support before you submit your application? Join Nottingham Business School on 18th November 2025, from 1pm to 3pm, online via teams.

Book here to secure your place: Workshop Booking Form

We will take you on a whistle-stop tour that guides you through developing a compelling application:

  • Defining a clear value proposition
  • Basics of scalable business models
  • Articulating differentiation between competitors
  • Creating an effective marketing plan
Book your spot