About Us

Aaron has a track record for winning grant funding and delivering projects, across existing and past businesses as a founder. He’s very passionate about writing high-quality, clear and compelling applications for businesses that want to win funding.

Over the past 15 years, he has founded several companies, many of which were supported by government grant funding in their early stages. He has personally secured 43 successful grant awards for his own ventures, giving him first-hand experience of what it takes to win competitive funding.

Alongside building and funding his own businesses, he also serves as an Innovate UK (IUK) assessor, reviewing funding applications and evaluating innovative projects. This perspective gives him a deep understanding of how grant competitions are judged and what makes an application stand out.

Aaron founded GrantUp to help other innovators achieve the same success. Since then, the team has supported hundreds of organisations across a wide range of industries in their pursuit of non-dilutive funding. Aaron’s motivation is simple: to help impactful innovations get funded so they can make the world a better place.

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Katy brings over twenty years of experience in developing partnerships that deliver measurable business growth. She has a proven ability to identify high-value opportunities and negotiate successful collaborations that support innovation, market expansion, and access to funding.

She is expert in advising a wide range of sectors, including technology, manufacturing, professional services and life science in their development and growth strategy, identifying relevant funding opportunities and aligning project plans with long-term funding objectives.

Katy’s ability to engage with stakeholders at every level and navigate complex environments makes her a valuable asset in securing funding and driving sustainable growth.

As Director, she leads on revenue generation through the development of new partnerships and the expansion of existing ones—enabling clients to scale operations, launch innovative products, and enter new markets.

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Sarah brings deep technical expertise in both grant funding and R&D tax relief, with over 15 years experience in both. She has an outstanding track record in successfully handling HMRC Enquiries resulting in positive outcomes for SMEs across multiple industries. She is an expert in helping companies unlock funding that supports research, development, and growth.

Her extensive knowledge of the grant application and R&D tax landscape makes her an invaluable partner for organisations pursuing innovation funding. Sarah takes a strategic and methodical approach to every project, combining careful analysis with a strong attention to detail to ensure each client’s work is accurately represented and positioned for success. This thoughtful approach helps businesses confidently navigate complex funding processes and maximise their chances of securing support.

Sarah is also a registered PRINCE2 practitioner and a qualified teacher, bringing together strong project management capability with a natural ability to communicate complex concepts clearly. During seven years working in the public sector, she developed a deep understanding of government programmes and funding frameworks, further strengthening her expertise in identifying untapped R&D tax credit opportunities for clients.

Her ability to bridge the gap between government policy, HMRC regulations, and the realities of innovative businesses allows her to translate technical work into clear, compelling grant applications and robust R&D tax claims. With Sarah’s guidance, organisations gain a knowledgeable and reliable partner committed to helping them secure the funding they need to innovate and grow.

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Dr Felix Warren is a Lead Innovation Consultant at GrantUp with a proven record contributing to the £185 Million that GrantUp has secured. He has written successful bids across Innovate UK competitions including Smart, Biomedical Catalyst, Advanced Precision Medicine, Farming Futures Fund, and Investor Partnerships, as well as Horizon Europe and NIHR’s i4i Connect and PDA competitions. Alongside this, Felix has reviewed more than 500 grant applications, giving him unique insight into what funders look for and how to craft proposals that succeed.

With a PhD in Precision Medicine from the University of Glasgow and years of experience in MedTech and life sciences innovation, Felix brings both scientific expertise and strategic consultancy skills to his clients. He has project-managed multi-million-pound collaborations, including a multi-million DEFRA-funded consortium, and led high-impact proposals that balance technical excellence with commercial and regulatory requirements. His approach combines rigorous analysis with clear communication, ensuring complex innovations are translated into compelling cases for funding.

Beyond consultancy, Felix is a committed STEM ambassador and educator. He helped design and deliver an undergraduate biology course recognised by The Guardian as the UK’s best life sciences course in 2023 and has presented his own research at international conferences. Through outreach and science festivals, he hopes to help inspire the next generation of innovators. At GrantUp, Felix works with clients to not only win funding but also to build strategies that accelerate their innovations towards real-world impact.

Katie is a highly experienced Innovation Consultant and Grant Writer with over a decade of expertise in securing funding for science and engineering projects. She has successfully raised over £35 million for initiatives in advanced manufacturing, recycling, biotech, food processing, agri-tech, and sustainable innovation. This is seperate to her efforts contributing to GrantUp's £185 Million.

Katie has an in-depth understanding of UK and EU funding mechanisms from a range of funding bodies, such as Innovate UK, DEFRA, DESNZ, BEIS, Carbon Trust and the European Commission. She excels in managing the end-to-end bid process; collaborating with SME’s, large organisations and research institutions/universities to deliver high quality grant applications.

Katie’s expertise in Innovation Consultancy is underpinned by a strong science background, including an MChem from the University of Leeds and a PhD in Sustainable Organic Chemistry from the University of Nottingham in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline–with her research published in several high-impact journals. Combined with her strategic insight, attention to detail, analytical mindset, and communication skills, she is a valuable asset to organisations seeking to drive innovation and secure funding for transformative projects.

Ben is a highly experienced bid writer with wider ranging expertise, addressing funder requirements across multiple sectors. He has secured more than 350 grants for clients over the past 15 years. Alongside Innovate UK and Research Council applications, he has unique experience developing proposals of interest to charities, trusts and foundations. He is also an IUK expert reviewer and has been instrumental in the £185 Million secured by GrantUp in funding.

With an academic background crossing biomedicine and history he is particularly keen to support projects that contribute to public good and more efficient business practice, including via the creative industries and through provision of better services.

Ben has spent over ten years supporting funding applications at the universities of Durham and Bath. He is now primarily focused Innovate UK bids as well as other funding bodies for academic and commercial bids. He maintains extensive knowledge of lesser known funders. He is also a Research Committee member of the Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD) and a Trustee of Bath Mind mental health charity.

Daniel is an experienced grant writer who has worked on competitive funding programmes including Innovate UK (IUK), NIHR, EIC, and DASA, supporting innovative companies across sectors such as FinTech, DeepTech, construction, cryptocurrency, and advanced technology. Before specialising in grants in 2022, he spent many years working in R&D tax credits, delivering claims across industries ranging from food and drink and CNC machinery to software and projects connected with the European Space Agency.

Since moving into grant funding, Daniel has delivered numerous successful applications, particularly within Innovate UK’s former SMART programme, the Innovation Loans fund, and the Biomedical Catalyst (BMC). His work contributes to the £185 Million in non-dilutive funding secured by the GrantUp team for ambitious and innovative organisations.

Daniel’s background in English Literature and History has shaped a writing style that balances clarity, precision, and technical depth. He works closely with founders and technical teams to translate complex innovation into clear, compelling proposals that resonate with grant assessors, helping high-quality companies secure funding to accelerate their growth.

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Martin brings over 30 years of experience in high-technology industries, combined with seven years specialising in grant funding and innovation bids.

Much of Martin’s career has been spent in aerospace and advanced engineering, where he built a broad scientific and technical foundation while working within complex, high-value technology programmes. He was most recently involved in leadership within a technology start-up inside Collins Aerospace, where he helped shape technology strategy and supported the successful delivery of Innovate UK funded projects designed to accelerate the development of emerging aerospace technologies.

Since 2019, Martin has also served as an Innovate UK bid assessor and project Monitoring Officer, providing him with valuable insight into how funding applications are evaluated and how funded projects are managed. This perspective allows him to guide organisations in developing applications that align closely with assessor expectations while also ensuring projects are structured for successful delivery once funding is secured.

At GrantUp, Martin applies this combination of industry leadership, technical expertise, and grant assessment experience to support innovative companies in developing competitive funding proposals. His work contributes to the team’s wider success in helping ambitious organisations secure significant levels of non-dilutive funding to advance breakthrough technologies and commercial innovation.

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Dr Thomas Kelly is an experienced grant writer and R&D innovation consultant with deep knowledge of UK, US, and EU funding landscapes, including Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, NIHR, and SBIR. He has been a key lead in the £185 Million GrantUp has secured for innovative businesses across multiple industries, through highly competitive funding programmes.

His expertise lies in AI and digital products, but he has also written winning proposals across diverse sectors, including green energy and sustainability, medtech and healthtech, maritime, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, agritech, and fintech. Skilled in navigating complex application processes, he develops tailored funding strategies that help businesses de-risk innovation, scale effectively, and bring breakthrough technologies to market.

With a strong academic foundation, Thomas holds a PhD in English Literature from King’s College London, where he taught courses on persuasive writing, research methodologies, and literary theory. He has presented his research at international conferences focusing on themes such as imagined communities, technological utopianism, and urban verticality work that sharpens his ability to analyse and frame narratives of progress and innovation critically. His approach to grant writing is highly collaborative: he works closely with clients to distil complex technical innovations into compelling, accessible proposals that appeal directly to grant evaluators.

Matthew is a bid writer with over 10 years of experience working at the interface between university research and industry innovation, supporting organisations to secure competitive grant funding. He has extensive experience applying to programmes including Innovate UK, NIHR, and European funding schemes, and maintains a close awareness of developments across the innovation funding landscape. Matthew also serves as an Expert Reviewer for both the European Commission and Innovate UK, giving him valuable insight into how proposals are assessed.

He has developed projects across a wide range of innovation areas including healthcare, software, hardware, and advanced digital technologies. Matthew has particular expertise in emerging technology programmes involving AI, computer vision, immersive technologies, Createch, and cloud computing, helping organisations translate cutting-edge research into commercially credible innovation projects. He previously spent seven years establishing and managing the CAMERA research centre at the University of Bath, where he served as Operations Director.

Matthew has submitted multiple successful grant applications for both academic and commercial organisations, including ventures he co-founded himself. Through his work with GrantUp and the wider innovation ecosystem, he contributes to the team’s track record of supporting ambitious organisations in securing over £185 Million in non-dilutive funding for innovation projects.

Shelley brings decades of commercial experience supporting innovative businesses, helping organisations identify and pursue funding opportunities that enable them to grow, scale, and bring new ideas to market. She works with companies across a wide range of sectors, guiding them through how innovation grants and other funding routes can support their strategic ambitions.

Her extensive business experience means she understands how founders and leadership teams evaluate investment decisions, manage risk, and plan sustainable expansion. Shelley has a strong ability to quickly understand complex innovations and connect businesses with the funding opportunities that best support their development.

At GrantUp, Shelley supports innovative companies at the early stages of their funding journey, helping them explore project eligibility, understand available opportunities, and develop a clear path forward for securing grant funding. Her practical experience and supportive approach help ambitious organisations confidently take the next step in funding their innovation.

Nathan is a grant consultant with a strong technical background in life sciences and data-driven research, supporting innovative organisations to develop robust, evidence-led funding applications. He holds a PhD in Neuropathology, where his research focused on protein aggregation and the development of diagnostic approaches for neurodegenerative disease.

With over a decade of research experience spanning laboratory science, bioinformatics, and applied machine learning, Nathan is well equipped to work with highly technical and complex innovations. He frequently supports projects at the intersection of life sciences, healthtech, diagnostics, and data-enabled innovation, helping teams clearly communicate scientific credibility, novelty, and real-world impact.

Nathan has contributed to the development of successful grant-funded research projects and funding applications, helping organisations secure funding that accelerates both innovation and commercial progress. At GrantUp, he applies a rigorous and analytical approach to grant writing, translating complex science into clear, compelling applications that align with funder expectations and contribute to the team’s wider success in securing over £185 Million in non-dilutive funding for clients.

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Daniel is an experienced grants writer and analyst who takes pride in helping companies align their innovations with the structural and technical requirements of funding bodies. His communication-led approach draws on deep exposure to assessor scoring and feedback, particularly within Innovate UK schemes, enabling him to shape credible, rubric-aligned applications.

Daniel has worked with companies across a wide range of sectors, including FinTech, healthcare, manufacturing, and green energy, alongside digital technologies more broadly. With several years’ professional experience working alongside leading companies in the EdTech industry, he has supported entities looking to fund next-generation education technologies.

Daniel holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Birmingham, through which he developed the strong analytical and writerly skills that underpin the funding applications he works on. His research has been published by entities including Cambridge University Press, and he has recently produced a scholarly monograph on satire and middlebrow literature of the early-to-mid twentieth century. Dan uses these skills to synthesise client information and funder needs, crafting applications that accentuate the credibility and merit of every project.

Anjuli is an experienced grant consultant with a strong track record supporting innovation-led projects from application through to delivery. She works closely with clients to shape compelling funding bids and provide practical, hands-on support throughout the lifecycle of funded projects.

She has extensive experience across Innovate UK programmes, including consortium development, grant writing, submissions via the Innovation Funding Service (IFS), project coordination, claims management, reporting and project close-out. Anjuli has supported projects both as a lead grant writer and as part of wider consortia, helping teams navigate complex funding requirements with confidence.

Anjuli has contributed to the successful award and delivery of grants ranging from £100,000 to £1 million across a variety of innovation programmes, as well as additional public-sector funding. Her approach combines attention to detail with a clear understanding of funder expectations, ensuring projects remain compliant, well-managed and positioned for success.

Alongside her wider funding and delivery experience, Anjuli brings a strong background in agriculture and farming, with hands-on involvement in innovation-led and on-farm R&D projects. She stays engaged with emerging funding opportunities and collaborative networks in sustainable innovation, including European programmes and cross-border partnerships.

Rebecca has extensive experience supporting innovative businesses in accessing funding through innovation grants, technical project development, and R&D tax relief. She has worked with organisations across sectors including Software, Manufacturing, DeepTech, and MedTech, helping them identify opportunities that support innovation and long-term growth.

Her background includes senior roles in consultancy and stakeholder engagement, where she worked closely with leadership teams to interpret complex technical information, assess project potential, and guide organisations through detailed funding and compliance processes. This experience gives her a strong understanding of how businesses plan, develop, and position their innovation activities for funding.

At GrantUp, Rebecca supports early-stage project discussions, helping businesses shape their innovation plans and align them with relevant funding opportunities. Through her work with the team, she has contributed to the development of successful funding applications that form part of the £185 million in non-dilutive funding secured for GrantUp clients.

Rebecca takes a collaborative and strategic approach to working with innovative companies, ensuring projects are clearly defined and positioned for competitive funding programmes. Her ability to bridge commercial goals with technical innovation helps businesses confidently move from early-stage concepts to well-structured projects ready for grant investment.

Kevin is a highly experienced international bid and grant specialist based in the UK, with over 20 years of experience securing funding for innovative organisations. Throughout his career, he has supported SMEs, universities, NHS organisations, and local government, helping them win competitive grants and deliver complex, multi-partner innovation projects.

In recent years alone, Kevin has helped secure over £37.2 million in grant funding, contributing to the wider success of organisations pursuing ambitious innovation programmes. His experience also includes working alongside UK Government departments, supporting bids for multi-million-pound Treasury funding and serving as an assessor for major grant programmes, giving him valuable insight into how funding decisions are made.

Kevin has played an important role in supporting innovation ecosystems, contributing to initiatives such as One Health Enterprise Networks, business cluster development, the Wessex Academic Health Science Network, and the NHS Innovation Accelerator. Through these programmes he has helped connect organisations, researchers, and industry partners to funding opportunities that accelerate innovation and impact.

A qualified senior project and programme manager, Kevin has extensive experience guiding complex projects involving multiple partners and stakeholders. Through his work with GrantUp and wider innovation networks, he has helped organisations secure significant grant funding and deliver projects that contribute to the £185 million in non-dilutive funding secured for innovative businesses and research organisations.

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Lisa is an innovation consultant with experience supporting organisations to secure and deliver grant funding across complex, multi-year programmes. She has been a key part of the team who have secured £185 Million in non-dilutive funding, bringing a strategic and structured approach to funding planning, bid development, and opportunity identification.

Before joining GrantUp, Lisa worked in both the non-profit and innovation consultancy sectors, managing international and UK funding programmes and supporting organisations through the full funding lifecycle. Her experience includes building long-term funding pipelines, developing robust budgets and costings, and delivering high-quality grant applications.

She has worked with multinational companies and SMEs across sectors including digital technology, health and advanced manufacturing, with particular expertise in UK innovation funding and the Modern Industrial Strategy. Lisa has supported applications to a wide range of national and international programmes, including Innovate UK, DASA and UN-backed initiatives.

At GrantUp, Lisa focuses on funding strategy, opportunity scouting and grant writing, helping clients identify the right opportunities and develop clear, competitive applications that support long-term innovation goals.

Lucy is GrantUp’s Operations Manager, ensuring the business runs smoothly behind the scenes while the team focuses on delivering high-quality funding applications for innovative clients. She oversees operational processes across administration, finance, legal, and internal systems, helping maintain the structure and efficiency that supports the company’s work with ambitious organisations.

With a strong track record of streamlining processes and improving operational efficiency, Lucy plays a key role in keeping projects organised and ensuring internal workflows run reliably across departments. Her attention to detail and ability to coordinate multiple moving parts helps the team operate at a consistently high standard.

Lucy works closely with teams across the business to ensure systems, resources, and processes support the delivery of successful client outcomes. Her structured approach helps create the operational foundation that enables GrantUp to support innovative companies in securing significant levels of non-dilutive funding.

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Carly supports GrantUp’s sales and operations teams, helping to ensure a smooth, well-coordinated experience for clients from first engagement through to delivery. She brings extensive experience working in fast-paced, regulated environments and plays a key role in keeping client relationships, processes and internal workflows running effectively.

She has over six years’ experience working on grant-funded energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes, where she supported compliance, customer liaison and the delivery of high-quality advice. Carly has also held senior roles in case management, scheduling and administration, coordinating nationwide operations, optimising workflows and supporting reporting, recruitment and payroll functions.

Earlier in her career, Carly spent over a decade in financial services, developing strong organisational and client-facing skills across case management, complex enquiries and team support. At GrantUp, she helps maintain momentum across the sales pipeline and supports client development and retention through clear communication, attention to detail and dependable operational support.

Stacy brings a strong scientific background in molecular diagnostics, with experience developing innovative testing panels and working across highly technical research environments. Her expertise also extends into sectors such as medtech, cognitive ai, agritech, education to sport, where her analytical thinking and creative problem-solving skills help organisations translate complex ideas into practical innovation projects.

As an Innovation Success Manager, Stacy plays an important role in guiding clients through funding opportunities and helping them maximise the value of the support available to them. She works closely with innovative businesses to assess project potential, shape development pathways, and ensure their ideas are positioned strongly for competitive grant programmes.

Through her work with the GrantUp team, Stacy has helped clients secure multiple successful funding opportunities, contributing to the team’s broader achievement of over £185 Million in non-dilutive funding secured for innovative organisations. Her collaborative approach helps ensure clients not only access funding, but also make the most of the opportunities available to accelerate their innovation and growth.

Patience leads Growth at GrantUp, helping connect more innovators and R&D leaders with the funding support they need. She drives our commercial strategy, focusing on building strong pipelines, refining our positioning in the market, and scaling acquisition across every stage of the funnel.

With a background in high-growth B2B tech and a strong focus on results, Patience brings deep expertise in go-to-market strategy, channel performance, and lifecycle marketing. Her work supports GrantUp’s mission to increase access to funding for ambitious, high-impact projects.

Since joining the team, she has played a key role in expanding our reach across sectors like AI, Advanced Manufacturing, MedTech, and Net Zero, ensuring more great ideas get the backing they deserve.