September is a month of fresh starts, and it has certainly felt that way here. We've hosted some of our best attended webinars yet, published new guidance, celebrated some big founder milestones, and started building the next stage of the community. Here is the month in one place, so you can catch up on anything you missed.
Webinars and sessions
We started the month with our Open Q&A, which was one of the best attended sessions we have run. This time we tried something new and grouped the questions by theme rather than taking them as they came in. Finance took up a big part of the session, from what counts towards the £50,000 spend to how to evidence funds when you can't yet trade. We also had some thoughtful questions about founders and co-founders, and what we want to see on paper to show someone is a founder and not an employee.
On 23rd September we held our live session on significant progress, and this one was busy. The recap is on Innovator Pulse, along with the full video. The main message was that progress is about more than showing your business still exists. It is about what you said you would do in your endorsed plan, what has actually happened since, and whether you can explain any changes along the way. Build your evidence as you go, rather than trying to piece it together at a checkpoint. And as we put it in the session, "It's better to sell something you haven't yet made, than it is to make something you can't sell."
The following day, we ran Applying For Your Next Endorsement (ILR or Same Business) for current visa holders in their final year. If you missed it, the session runs again on 29th October (details below). We also published a recap of our late August session on pivots and the new rules. A few points are still awaiting clarification from the Home Office, and we will follow up with a proper article and a further session once we have them.
You can catch up on the significant progress recap here:
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How long does endorsement take?
This is the question on everyone's mind, so we put the honest answer in one place. Our official guidance is four weeks, but in practice we have been running faster, with recent averages of around 22 to 30 days. Some applications clear in as little as five days, others take closer to 40 if a plan needs a closer look, and the upper limit is 60 days.
You won't receive progress updates while your application is with an assessor, and silence is completely normal. We only start investigating a case once it has passed 50 days with no reply. Our full article, Understanding your endorsement timeline, explains the process and when it's the right moment to get in touch.
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Our Global Talent Pathway pilot
Do you know anybody who is considering applying for the Global Talent Visa?
Innovator International is selecting a small group of talented international technology professionals, entrepreneurs and researchers to take part in a new pilot programme. Selected participants will receive free support to explore and prepare an application for the UK Global Talent (Digital Technology) endorsement, giving them the opportunity to build their career, research or business in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship.
Places are limited and participation will be based on the strength of your experience and achievements. This short questionnaire should take around 3 minutes and will help us identify candidates for the programme.
This is a limited-time opportunity - to submit your expression of interest, please complete the form below:
Our new guide on what counts as R&D
Many founders assume that because they are creating something new, they are automatically doing research and development. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Our newest guide, What constitutes research and development for the Innovator Founder Visa, explains why in plain English.
The heart of it is uncertainty. R&D means solving a scientific or technical problem where the answer isn't already obvious. The guide gives you three questions to ask yourself. Was I trying to solve a genuinely difficult problem? Was I seeking a genuine advance, rather than something that is simply new to my own business? And would another competent professional already know the answer? It also reminds us that R&D doesn't need to be revolutionary, and that "science" covers far more than laboratories.
There is practical advice on evidencing your work as you go, written more like a technical project report than a marketing document. It also explains how to demonstrate the outcome, through a patent, a registered design or, where formal protection isn't appropriate, an independent specialist report. The overall message is to start with the end in mind.
It sits alongside the rest of our visa route guides on the Innovator International website, including the Application Pack, the Same Business Guide, the ILR Settlement Guide and the Business Planning Guide, all available from the Visa Routes menu.
Business and funding reads
There was plenty to read on the practical side of building a business this month. We looked at whether you need an accountant yet. The short answer for most pre-revenue founders is probably not, but you should still be talking to one, and we set out the three triggers that mean it's time.
We also refreshed two of Richard's articles on innovation and funding, Do grants enable or stifle innovation? and Should the UK taxpayer support YOUR innovation?. They were written to sit together, and they ask where funding really fits into a growth journey. Paid members can also read our piece on what "scalable" actually means.
Richard Harrison
Richard Harrison
Innovator International
Founder stories and celebrations
Laura's story, Diamonds are forever?, is a brilliant read on what it takes to challenge an industry that has barely changed in generations. Her business, Lark & Berry, was built to prove that luxury and responsible sourcing don't have to be a trade-off.
We also had some big news from Ravi at Finexer, who has had his Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) application approved. Congratulations, Ravi, we are proud to have been part of your journey. You can read his story, Finexer is Making Open Banking Work.
We are also starting a new series called Where Are They Now?, catching up with some of the first founders who trusted us with their stories. If you would like to share yours, whether you were endorsed last month or a few years ago, just drop us a message. You can browse all of our Founder Stories here.
Harriet Fuller
A note that made our week
We received some lovely feedback from Duke Saputra, who has been joining our Q&A webinars. He told us that Innovator International stood out because we don't treat the relationship as purely transactional, and he gave a special mention to Karen for making sure everyone felt heard, even when sessions ran over. Thank you, Duke. Feedback like this is exactly why the team does what it does.
Our community and supplier network are growing
If you are looking for somewhere to keep the conversation going between sessions, our new Building Your Business in Britain Facebook group has quickly become a brilliant place to connect with other founders. Between the group, WhatsApp and our regular webinars, there is always a way to reach us.
We have also been building a trusted network of suppliers who understand what it means to build a business in the UK as a migrant founder. It now includes accountants and bookkeepers, HR and payroll specialists, health and safety consultants, insurance brokers, web designers, mortgage advisors, sales trainers, IP and R&D support, and banking partners.
Every supplier has been vetted, and every one of them understands the challenges our community faces, from visa timelines and endorsement requirements to getting a mortgage when your income history looks a little different. This is not a directory of businesses who paid for a listing. It is a group of partners we would happily recommend to a friend.
We are now looking to grow the network further. If you are a specialist who wants to support founders properly, or you know someone who is, you can tell us about your business through our Supplier Onboarding Form. If you are a founder looking for support read the full story here:
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We are also piloting our Investment programme, and as the network grows, so will our webinar programme. We will be holding more online sessions where we invite special guests in for round table style conversations about the topics that matter most to founders. Keep an eye on our upcoming events page for more.
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What's on in October and beyond
Our Innovator Founder Visa Open Q&A returns on Wednesday 7th October at 10am. There is no agenda and no slides, so bring whatever is on your mind. Because these sessions have proved so popular, they will be moving to twice a month from November, so there will be even more chances to get your questions answered.
On Thursday 15th October at 10am we are running our Welcome Session for Entrepreneurs, for founders who are new to the community or newly endorsed. It's a friendly way to meet the team and find your feet.
On Wednesday 21st October at 10am we are dedicating a whole session to Answering All Your Financial Questions. If investment, funds structure or evidence requirements have ever left you scratching your head, this one is for you.
Finally, on Thursday 29th October at 11am, Applying For Your Next Endorsement (ILR or Same Business) runs again for current visa holders who are getting close to the end of their visa period.
Please note that the Welcome Session and the next endorsement session are booked through the link in your welcome email or welcome pack. You'll find full details for every session on our upcoming events page, and we'll add more as they are confirmed.
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That's September in full. Thank you for being part of the community, and see you next week
