Young Lives Innovation Lab

Today in the UK, 12 families will find out their child has cancer

Young Lives vs Cancer wants every child and young person with cancer to have the support they need to thrive — from diagnosis, through treatment and into their future.

That’s why we’re working to develop sustainable solutions that can transform the lives of children and young people with cancer, by investing in, and supporting, exciting innovations and technologies.

At the heart of this work are our children and young people, their families and our expert practitioners. We are now excited to be working with pioneering companies and experts in technology and healthcare to bring this vision to life.

Launching our Impact Investment Portfolio

Our Impact Investment Portfolio is a new way to support pioneering startups improving cancer care for children and young people.

Aligned with our sector’s North Star Vision, we’re working alongside young cancer patients, families, the NHS, and forward-thinking partners in healthcare and technology to transform support for young people facing cancer.

By investing in these ventures, Young Lives vs Cancer will play a role in actively shaping and supporting innovations with the potential to transform the lives of children and young people with cancer, sharing our expertise and access.

Young Lives vs Cancer is now looking to make its first investments into startups that are having an impact in the following areas:

mental wellbeing
financial hardship
employment and education
personalised care pathways
experiences of diagnosis.

How to apply

We are a strategic investor accelerating pioneering companies improving cancer care for children and young people.

We invest early, at pre-seed-seed stage across our five impact areas (mental wellbeing, financial hardship, education and employment outcomes, personalised care pathways and experience of diagnosis).

We are now accepting applications on a rolling basis. Our application process involves an initial screening from the details you share before progressing to conversations with the team ahead of a final Impact Investment Committee decision. We aim to get back to applicants with an initial update within 1 week. Thank you.
If you have any questions please email investment@younglivesvscancer.org.uk

Apply for Investment from Young Lives vs Cancer

Innovation Partnerships

Help us change the story for children and young people with Cancer

At the Young Lives Innovation Lab, we’re on a mission to improve the experience and outcomes of cancer care for children, teenagers and young adults.

To do that, we’re looking to partner with companies who share our passion for innovation and who are ready to make a real difference.

We offer something rare: access to rich, real-world data; collaboration with the incredible practitioners who are on the frontlines of care every day; and – most importantly – direct insight from young people and their families who know what really matters.

If your company is working on bold new ideas that could transform cancer care, and you’re excited by the chance to co-create with those who’ve lived it, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply please click on the button below and complete the form.

Innovation Partnership Application