WE Innovate National to Support 150 Women-Led Teams Annually Through Mentoring and Funding

Imperial College London Leads Initiative to Empower Female Entrepreneurs Across the UK

In a significant step towards fostering female entrepreneurship, Imperial College London is leading a collaboration with five prestigious universities to establish the WE Innovate National network. Designed to support 150 women-led teams annually, this initiative builds upon Imperial’s flagship WE Innovate competition, which has been instrumental in empowering female founders through expert coaching, masterclasses, and peer mentoring. With a £30,000 prize fund available, the programme seeks to accelerate the success of aspiring women entrepreneurs across the UK.

Joining Imperial and Swansea University, the universities participating in the WE Innovate National network include Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Glasgow, and Durham University. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in expanding opportunities for female innovators and enhancing entrepreneurial ecosystems nationwide. Swansea University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Helen Griffiths and Deborah Youngs, emphasised that the partnership aligns with their Enterprise Strategy, ensuring that women entrepreneurs receive accessible support. They highlighted that cross-institutional knowledge sharing will enhance participants' experience, driving innovation with long-term societal and economic benefits.

Echoing this sentiment, Professor Mary Ryan, Imperial’s Vice-Provost, underscored the importance of targeted support in strengthening women-led ventures. She welcomed the national expansion of the programme, stressing that enhanced access to mentoring, funding, and peer networks will be crucial in fostering inclusive, sustainable growth. The universities will collaborate to tailor WE Innovate National to regional needs, ensuring adaptability and effectiveness. Alongside regional finals, an annual national Demo Day will be hosted across different universities, providing winning teams with an invaluable opportunity to showcase their innovations to peers, investors, and industry leaders. Additionally, they will develop the WE Network, a nationwide platform aimed at connecting women founders with startups, mentors, investors, and professionals across the UK.

Originally launched at Imperial in 2014, WE Innovate was created to tackle fundamental barriers faced by women-led businesses, particularly in the early stages, such as limited access to finance, networks, and business support. By expanding this initiative nationally, UK universities are taking a decisive step towards bridging the gap in female entrepreneurship, ensuring that more women-led businesses have the tools and resources needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Editor’s Note:

For too long, women-led businesses have faced systemic challenges, limited access to funding, networks, and tailored business support that have hindered their ability to scale and thrive. The WE Innovate National network represents a decisive step towards changing that narrative. By expanding a proven model of success and fostering collaboration between leading universities, this initiative will not only empower female entrepreneurs but also help reshape the UK’s innovation ecosystem to be more inclusive, diverse, and resilient. Crucially, the commitment of institutions like Imperial College London, Queen’s University Belfast, Swansea University, the University of Glasgow, and Durham University signals a recognition that real change requires structured, long-term investment in talent. With regional support, expert mentoring, and access to funding, this programme has the potential to significantly increase the presence of women-led startups in key industries, driving innovation that benefits both society and the economy.

According to Skoobuzz, by breaking down barriers and ensuring that women founders receive the resources they need, the WE Innovate National network is setting the stage for a future where female-led businesses are not the exception but the norm in Britain’s thriving innovation landscape.