The new fund, launched by childcare minister Sam Gyimah last month, is designed to encourage the corporate sector to invest in the childcare market.
It is open to established early years providers and social enterprises to help them to expand their businesses.
The £500,000 Childcare Investment Readiness Fund from the Department for Education is modelled on a business support fund run by the Cabinet Office, which has helped around 50 charities and social enterprises win deals worth several million pounds.
Successful applicants will receive business and financial support to help them prepare business cases to make them more attractive to investors.
Applications for grants from the fund are being managed by Social Investment Business, which has previously supported charities and social enterprises to raise new social investment.
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