Digital Planning stakes £50,000 to fund AI pilots for 10 East Midlands firms
What's the deal? Digital transformation specialist Digital PlanningDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has launched a £50,000 fund to help 10 East Midlands businesses adopt practical AI automation. The Agentic AI Pilot Fund gives each successful applicant up to £5,000 in fully funded implementation support to build and test a working automation around one operational problem.
Who qualifies? Applicants need annual turnover of £1 million or more, or at least 25 employees. They must also identify a repetitive manual process that could save £50,000 a year through automation and provide access to the relevant systems and data.
Why now? Co-founder James Ferraby said many leaders know they need to act on AI but "do not know where to start — or which process will deliver the greatest return." The fund targets firms that can name one specific, costly problem rather than those seeking AI in general.
What's the endgame? Places are awarded on potential business impact, not first-come, first-served. Each firm receives a working AI system for one defined problem before deciding on wider investment, and agrees to share the pilot as a case study, which can be anonymised.
The fund is backed by Digital Planning's own money and supported through its partnership with East Midlands ChamberDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. "We're backing this with our own money because we're confident in the return businesses will see," said co-founder Mark Underwood.
The signal: By funding live pilots rather than pitching theory, Digital Planning is betting that proof — not promise — is what converts cautious mid-sized firms into AI adopters. Applications for Round 1 close on September 25, 2026.
Read more: eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk
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