Innovation SuperNetwork
UMi, the operating brand of Innovation SuperNetwork, is a UK business support delivery partner that connects 680,000+ SMEs and start-ups to government-funded grants, loans, and advisory services via the UMi Sat Nav platform and regional fund partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSunderland, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Innovation SuperNetwork firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Innovation SuperNetwork
- Legal name
- UMi
- Website
- https://supernetwork.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- UMi, the operating brand of Innovation SuperNetwork, is a UK business support delivery partner that connects 680,000+ SMEs and start-ups to government-funded grants, loans, and advisory services via the UMi Sat Nav platform and regional fund partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Innovation SuperNetwork is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunderland
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Innovation SuperNetwork business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government Fund Management: UMi manages government-funded programs including grant distribution, fund management for regional growth funds, and delivery of business support services commissioned by public sector bodies
- Business Support Services: Provides information, training, and 1:1 advice to help businesses start, become more sustainable, and grow
- Platform Services: Delivers on-demand business support through the UMi Sat Nav platform on a subscription or per-use basis
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Sat Nav Platform - low-cost flexible support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Innovation SuperNetwork product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UMi (formerly Innovation SuperNetwork) provides business support, finance, and funding services to UK businesses, acting as a delivery partner for government-funded programmes. It combines 1:1 advisory services, training, the UMi Sat Nav on-demand digital platform, the UMi Get Funding portal, and managed regional growth funds (e.g., North of Tyne Growth Fund, UMi Debt Finance Scotland, Tees Valley Securing Investment) to connect start-ups, SMEs, and established companies with information, expertise, and capital.
Product overview
UMi operates as a unified business support platform offering multiple integrated services. The core offerings include UMi Sat Nav (on-demand business support platform) and UMi Get Funding (funding access platform). These are complemented by regional fund programs (North of Tyne Growth Fund, UMi Debt Finance Scotland, Tees Valley Securing Investment), event programs (VentureFest North East, Ignite Space, Tees Valley Business Summit), and campaign programs (Digital Enterprise Top 100 and 30, Business Support Service). Together, these products form an ecosystem connecting UK businesses with information, expertise, and finance to help them start, grow, and succeed.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- UMi Sat Nav: A flexible, low-cost platform that delivers on-demand business support, taking the hard work out of finding and using the best information, expertise and finance.
- UMi Get Funding
Products and services
- UMi Sat Nav A flexible, low-cost digital platform that delivers on-demand business support, providing actionable and expert guidance to UK businesses when they need it.
- UMi Get Funding A streamlined one-stop shop bringing together knowledge and expertise to help UK businesses access funding solutions suited to their needs.
- Business Support Service The government's Business Support Service for England, offering advice and guidance to new and existing businesses, with information on national and local schemes, grants and loans.
- North of Tyne Growth Fund Grant support programme for SMEs in Northumberland, North Tyneside, and Newcastle areas, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aimed at capital investment projects with growth and job creation potential.
- UMi Debt Finance Scotland Loan capital fund of £12m providing loans of £25,001 to £250,000 to small and medium sized businesses across Scotland.
- Tees Valley Securing Investment Programme connecting enterprises with investors and funds, addressing barriers to accessing capital, funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
- Business Support Advisory and Training Provision of information, training, and 1:1 advice to help UK businesses start, become more sustainable, and grow, delivered directly by UMi advisers and trainers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 680,000+ businesses supported since 2007
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Innovation SuperNetwork
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Innovation SuperNetwork technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Innovation SuperNetwork partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- UK Space AgencycoreUMi delivered Ignite Space, a two-day national event designed to open doors to the fast-growing UK space economy, on behalf of the UK Space Agency in both 2024 and 2025. Events were hosted at National Space Centre in Leicester and Leeds Royal Armouries.
- North of Tyne Growth FundcoreUMi served as Delivery Partner for the North of Tyne Growth Fund (NTGF) providing grant support to SMEs across Northumberland, North Tyneside, and Newcastle areas from January 2020 to August 2023. The fund generated 592 new jobs and fueled local business growth. Part-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
- Tees Valley Combined AuthoritycorePartner on Tees Valley Securing Investment project addressing barriers to accessing investment, funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Also partner for Tees Valley Business Summit annual event.
- Durham Business Growth and Productivity ProgrammecoreRegional program through which UMi helped iPac Packaging Innovations secure grant funding to develop operations and enable growth.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Innovation SuperNetwork competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hatch Enterprise: UK charity delivering support programmes, training, and incubator services for under-represented entrepreneurs. Comparable as a regional/specialist SME support delivery organisation competing for similar grant-funded mandates.
- FW Capital: UK fund manager delivering government-backed debt and equity finance to SMEs across Wales and the North West. Directly comparable as a regional delivery partner for growth-capital funds serving SMEs, with similar fund management and advisory mandates.
- Be the Business: UK-charitable SME productivity and growth support organisation, funded by government and corporate partners. Highly comparable as another publicly-funded UK delivery vehicle for SME improvement programmes, competing for similar mandates.
- Beauhurst: UK platform providing data on high-growth companies and connecting them to investors and advisors. Comparable as a UK SME/investor data and matching platform that overlaps with UMi Get Funding and Sat Nav functionality.
- Mercia Fund Management: UK-based regional fund manager operating government-backed venture and debt funds for Northern England SMEs. Comparable regional peer operating Northern-focused fund vehicles with public-sector capital, including Northern Powerhouse programmes.
- Enterprise Nation: UK small business support community and platform offering advice, events, and connections to funding. Comparable as an SME-facing business support and events platform that overlaps with UMi Sat Nav and VentureFest North East.
- Start Up Loans Company: UK government-backed provider of personal loans and mentoring to start-ups, operating a delivery model very similar to UMi's Debt Finance Scotland and SME advisory work, with the same funding-by-government-funders structure.
Broad incumbents
- Innovate UK: UK government innovation agency that funds and supports innovative businesses; a key commissioner of UMi programmes (e.g., Digital Technologies Launchpad). Comparable as the principal source of programme demand and a strategic partner/funder rather than a competitor for delivery.
- British Business Bank: UK government-backed economic development bank that delivers and channels finance programmes to smaller businesses, including regional funds. Comparable as a larger public-sector institution distributing capital to SMEs, though operating at significantly greater scale.
Others
- UK Business Angels Association: Trade body representing the UK angel and early-stage investment community, including regional networks like Northern Investor Hub referenced in UMi case studies. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler that connects SMEs to investors, similar to the role UMi plays via Get Funding.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Innovation SuperNetwork social profiles
Digital presenceInnovation SuperNetwork financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Innovation SuperNetwork leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Innovation SuperNetwork funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Innovation SuperNetwork M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Innovation SuperNetwork
What does Innovation SuperNetwork do?
UMi (formerly Innovation SuperNetwork) provides business support, finance, and funding services to UK businesses, acting as a delivery partner for government-funded programmes. It combines 1:1 advisory services, training, the UMi Sat Nav on-demand digital platform, the UMi Get Funding portal, and managed regional growth funds (e.g., North of Tyne Growth Fund, UMi Debt Finance Scotland, Tees Valley Securing Investment) to connect start-ups, SMEs, and established companies with information, expertise, and capital.
Is Innovation SuperNetwork a public or private company?
Innovation SuperNetwork is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Innovation SuperNetwork founded?
Innovation SuperNetwork was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Innovation SuperNetwork based?
Innovation SuperNetwork is headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Innovation SuperNetwork make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Fund Management is the primary driver. The others are business Support Services and platform Services.
Who are Innovation SuperNetwork's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hatch Enterprise, FW Capital, Be the Business, Beauhurst, Mercia Fund Management, Enterprise Nation and Start Up Loans Company. Broad incumbents are Innovate UK and British Business Bank. UK Business Angels Association is listed as an others.
Does Innovation SuperNetwork have an API?
No public API is recorded for Innovation SuperNetwork.