Canva launches £4,000 small business grant challenge
Business Economic Syndicated News 
By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
Canva is running a pitching competition giving five small businesses £4,000 in grant funding. There are opportunities for the top 100 entries and support for every small business that enters.
The challenge is open to founders based in the UK and Ireland who are over 18. You must be starting, run, co-run or represent a small business, side hustle, freelance business or creative idea with 50 or fewer employees.
What are the prizes?
The top five winners will win:
- £4,000 in grant funding
- One-to-one mentorship from industry leaders
- Exposure across Canva channels
- Free Canva Pro access
The top 100 businesses will win:
- Recognition as one of Canva’s Top 100 Small Businesses
- An invitation to an exclusive founder networking event
- Opportunities to connect with your fellow entrepreneurs
Every entrant will get:
- Three months of Canva Pro for free
- A ready-to-use pitch template
- Exclusive start-up and founder sessions
- Practical tools to help tell your business story
How do I enter?
Tell Canva about yourself and your business ambitions. Next, create a Canva pitch deck, presentation or video telling them more about your business.
The judges will be looking for strong ideas, creative storytelling, clear communication, effective use of Canva, and exciting growth potential. You can start with this basic template.
Judging will take place from July 13 – July 19, 2026, and announcements will be made between 20 and 26 July. The competition is open for entries and closes on July 12, 2026 at 11:59pm.
“At Canva, community has always been at the heart of everything we do, said Lorna Bladen, small business community manager at Canva. “We know how challenging it can be to turn a great idea into a growing business, especially when you’re just getting started. That’s why we’re creating more opportunities for founders to share their stories, connect with other entrepreneurs and access the support they need to grow with confidence.”
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