How to apply for just IMAGINE if... 2026

We invite alumni and current students of the University of Reading aged 18 and over from around the world to apply for the grant. Your application should include:

• a written idea outline in no more than 1,000 words that demonstrates the idea has a sustainable business model, both scalable and self-supporting.
• a short video (no more than two minutes) filmed, with a spoken pitch explaining how your idea will make a difference to society and what impact the grant award will make.

Applications for the grant will undergo initial checks against selection criteria to verify that all necessary information has been received and that the applicant is eligible. Applications that pass these initial checks will be assessed by the Proposal Committee.

The timeline for the 2026 award:

• Tuesday 31 March: launch of just IMAGINE if... 2026 and call for applications
• Sunday 31 May: applications close
• Monday 22 June: finalists announced
• Tuesday 23 June to Tuesday 22 September: incubation period to work with mentors, academics and incubation supporters
• Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September: award event at the University of Reading’s Greenlands campus, just outside Henley on Thames.