A new accelerator programme to help support 100 business founders and entrepreneurs from under-represented groups across London including Ealing are being invited to apply to join Empower 100.
Through Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit incubator for UK business founders, Empower 100 will support 100 female, ethnic minority and disabled founders and aims to help maximise their chances of success.
The two month programme, which has got funding from the Greater London Authority via the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund, aims to help entrepreneurs grow their venture.
Applications are now open for the first cohort, which starts 3 August 2023. To be eligible to apply, founders must have turnover of more than £50,000 per year, employ at least two people and been in operation for 18 months or more. The two-month programme will run until the end of 2024 allowing more people to take part when they feel they are ready to submit an application during this time.
Linda Grant, chair at Virgin StartUp said: “Systemic inequalities and biases continue to be a barrier for under-represented founders of early-stage businesses. Empower 100 is about taking a step towards addressing some of these issues and encouraging a vibrant and diverse start-up community. We want all founders to have the knowledge, connections and confidence to reach their full growth potential.”
Ms Grant added: “We are proud to be running Empower 100 alongside Virgin StartUp’s existing 50/50 pledge to equally fund women and men business founders. Our long-term ambition is to extend Empower 100 to other regions across the UK.”
Among what is being offered on the programme is support covering a wide range of topics both in group workshops and also one-to-one sessions. The areas include: growth strategy, leadership skills and investment readiness.
