Th Data & AI Launchpad

Funded support to explore high-value Data & AI use cases on Databricks

You know there is value in your data. The challenge is knowing where to start, which use cases are worth pursuing, and what it would take to scale them.

The fund helps your organisation move from ideas to evidence, with a focus on real business outcomes across the value chain from demand, planning and commerce through to supply, operations, fulfilment and service.

£100k

FY27 innovation funding pot for selected organisations exploring practical Data & AI use cases on Databricks.

Credited against approved InspireXT professional services

Can support agreed Databricks consumption

Designed around value discovery, validation and scale planning

What is The Data & AI Launchpad?

The Data & AI Launchpad is a £100,000 FY27 innovation funding pot for organisations that want to explore practical Data & AI use cases on Databricks.

Find the right use case

Identify where Data & AI can improve performance across your connected business processes.

Test the value

Validate the business outcome, data readiness and technical feasibility before committing to a larger programme.

Build the scale blueprint

Understand what it would take to scale the use case into measurable value.

Use case discovery

Value discovery

Data readiness

Databricks scoping

Proof of concept

Validation

Scale blueprint

Who is the fund for?

The fund is for your organisation if you want to use Data & AI to improve performance across connected business processes.

What types of use cases are a good fit?

Good use cases are practical, measurable and connected to business value. The fund is best suited to use cases where the outcome can be tested, measured and scaled.

How does the programme work?

Each funded engagement follows a simple path from qualification through to validation and scale planning.

Qualify

We review your opportunity, business value, Databricks fit, data readiness and sponsorship.

Discover

We work with your business and technical teams to understand the problem, process, data and value case.

Scope

We define a focused engagement with clear success criteria, outputs and responsibilities.

Build and validate

We develop and test the agreed use case, then assess feasibility, value and scale potential.

Playback and blueprint

We share findings and provide a practical blueprint for scaling the use case.

How much funding is available?

A total of £100,000 is available through The Data & AI Launchpad for FY27.

The level of funding available to your organisation will depend on the use case, eligibility, expected value, readiness and customer commitment.

What will you receive?

If your application is successful, you can expect a structured engagement that may include a prioritised use case, value hypothesis, Databricks-aligned solution scope, validation findings and a practical roadmap for next steps.

What makes your organisation eligible?

You do not need to have everything fully defined before applying. The fund is designed to help shape the opportunity. But there does need to be a real business problem worth solving.

Why work with InspireXT?

InspireXT helps you connect strategy, process, data and technology across the value chain.

Our focus is not just building Data & AI prototypes. It is helping you understand how those use cases can improve the way work gets done — across planning, commerce, operations, fulfilment, service and performance management.

1. Outcome

What business outcome are you trying to improve?

2. Capability

What data and technology capability do you need?

3. Scale

What would it take to scale this into measurable value?

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers for organisations considering the fund.

What is The Data & AI Launchpad?

The Data & AI Launchpad is a £100,000 FY27 funding programme that helps your organisation explore and validate Data & AI use cases on Databricks. 

Funding can be credited against approved InspireXT professional services and Databricks consumption linked to use case discovery, scoping, development, validation and scale planning.

Your organisation may be eligible if you have a relevant Data & AI opportunity, a clear business problem, access to appropriate stakeholders, and a credible path to value realisation.

Suitable use cases include supply chain intelligence, planning optimisation, commerce-to-operations visibility, manufacturing analytics, service performance, AI assistants, data platform modernisation and generative AI use cases.

No. The fund is suitable if you already use Databricks or if you are exploring whether Databricks is the right platform for your Data & AI use cases.

We will review your use case, eligibility and readiness. If there is a good fit, we will agree the right engagement scope and funding level.

Register your interest

You can now register your interest in The Data & AI Launchpad. Funding is limited and will be allocated based on eligibility, use case fit and readiness to engage.