Resources
Endorsement
The Innovator Founder endorsement interview: what to expect
A good business plan can be undone in a short conversation. The interview is where an assessor checks that the plan is yours and that you can deliver it.
Updated · 3 min read
Not every endorsing body interviews
Processes differ between endorsing bodies and change over time. Check what yours does. Even if there is no formal interview, prepare as if there will be questions — written or spoken.
Questions to prepare for
- Explain your business in two minutes
- What exactly is new about it, and who are your closest competitors?
- Who are your first customers, and what evidence do you have that they will pay?
- Walk me through your first-year costs and revenue assumptions
- Why are you the right person to build this?
- How will the business grow and create jobs in the UK?
How to prepare
Practise out loud, not just in your head. Ask someone who does not know your business to question you, and record your answers. Where you hesitate, your plan probably needs more work too.
Mistakes that hurt strong plans
- Reading memorised answers
- Not knowing the numbers in your own financial model
- Claiming you have no competitors
- Answers that differ from what is written in the plan
Common questions
- How long is an Innovator Founder interview?
- It varies by endorsing body. Prepare to answer detailed questions on your innovation, market, numbers and role, whatever the length.
- Can my co-founder or adviser answer for me?
- The assessor wants to hear from the founder. Each founder should be able to explain the business confidently in their own words.
- What if I don't know an answer?
- Be honest and explain how you would find out. Guessing a number you cannot support does more damage than admitting a gap.
New to the route? Start with the complete Innovator Founder visa guide.
Written from my own experience of the route and the plans I review. It is business preparation guidance, not immigration legal advice, and rules change — check the official Innovator Founder visa guidance and the current endorsing body list before making decisions.