Lloyds Banking Group’s Launch Innovation Programme 2026 is Open for Applications

Lloyds Banking Group has opened applications for its 2026 Launch Innovation Programme, inviting start-ups, scale-ups, ambitious companies and individuals to develop solutions addressing key customer and business challenges.

Applications are open until Wednesday 30 September 2026, with this year’s programme focusing on opportunities across homes, mortgage broking, connected customer services and wealth.

The Launch Innovation Programme is designed to provide a faster route to experimentation between Lloyds Banking Group and potential partners. Through the programme, successful applicants will work with a dedicated team to define and scope experiments, validate value propositions and tackle strategic challenges.

The most successful ideas could progress to a commercial proof of concept, with the potential to develop into a longer-term partnership.

Four challenges for 2026

Applicants are being asked to demonstrate how their technology or proposition could address one of four key challenge areas.

Homes: Solutions that help customers get more from their journey to home ownership and beyond, supporting smarter decisions, simpler experiences and personalised support across the home lifecycle. This could include using better data and digital experiences to help people find, buy, manage, improve and protect their homes.

Mortgage Brokers: Solutions that enable brokers and Lloyds Banking Group to spend less time on administration and more time supporting customers. The challenge focuses on streamlining data capture, improving system interoperability, automating manual processes and providing real-time visibility throughout the mortgage journey.

Ecosystems: Solutions that help customers better manage the essential services, experiences and subscriptions that support their daily lives. This includes creating seamless digital journeys across areas such as travel, mobility, home energy and digital connectivity.

Wealth: Solutions that help customers move from saving to investing with greater confidence. Lloyds Banking Group is looking for propositions that make it easier for customers to build, understand and manage investment portfolios through personalised guidance, market insight and portfolio health intelligence.

Wildcard applications also welcomed

Alongside the four core challenges, Lloyds Banking Group is accepting applications through a Wildcard challenge.

This is open to propositions that do not directly fit within the four challenge areas but which applicants believe could help Lloyds Banking Group achieve its strategy.

Wildcard applications will be reviewed separately, with Lloyds Banking Group stating that applicants will be contacted by the end of 2026 if their propositions are of interest.

Who can apply?

The programme is open to ambitious companies, start-ups, scale-ups and individuals with solutions capable of addressing one of Lloyds Banking Group’s business challenges, regardless of industry.

Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposition addresses a Launch 2026 challenge and advances Lloyds Banking Group’s goals, as well as what differentiates the solution and the value it could create for customers.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to demonstrations and Q&A sessions during the weeks commencing 12 and 19 October, with the 2026 cohort due to be announced later in October.

Find out more and apply here