Start with the evidence
Assessors reward teams that can point to real-world validation. Capture proof of concept data, customer pilots and independent testing—even if small scale—so you can show traction beyond a pitch deck.
Document technical risks openly. When you include mitigation steps, the review panel can see that you’ve thought through failure modes rather than ignoring them.
- Summarise lab or pilot data in one-page fact sheets
- Collect letters of support from credible partners
- Identify critical IP or regulatory milestones early
Build the right delivery spine
Every strong proposal follows a simple thread: objectives → work packages → measurable outcomes. Sketch this on a single slide before you open a form. If it doesn’t make sense at a glance, iterate until it does.
Once the structure is nailed, you can assign partner responsibilities and budget to each work package.
Create momentum
Funders pick up on bid teams that are scrambling at the last minute. A rhythm of weekly check-ins, transparent actions and a shared tracker keeps everyone honest and dramatically improves the final read.
Pair that with clear go/no-go gates and you’ll avoid writing bids that should never have started.