What would you do if someone gave you £10,000 worth of support for your business?
It's pretty rare that a company will reach $1 billion without listing themselves on the stock market, and that figure is the dream of any tech startup - it’s why we refer to them as Unicorn companies.
But what's even rarer than a Unicorn, is a female-founded Unicorn.
It’s why Bruntwood SciTech, one of Leeds’ most exciting tech hubs, is paving the way for female founders to access the support they deserve - and they’re offering a whopping giveaway worth over £50,000 to help you get your business off the ground with an accelerator-style support programme.
For women, it appears that one of the best ways to accelerate potential and growth is through a business accelerator.
Only 38% of all UK accelerator attendees have a female founder. / Image: Platform, Bruntwood SciTech
According to a recent review of female entrepreneurship, fully female-founded High Growth Enterprises are most likely to have grown through an accelerator, and this is the only method of growth to have more representation of women entrepreneurs.
It's all about support, innovation and growth amongst like-minded individuals and businesses, and it can do wonders for female-founded companies.
Women are also more likely to seek this support on their journey, just over a quarter of fully male-founded companies have attended an accelerator meeting whilst 56% of fully female-founded companies have attended an accelerator programme.
According to company insight platform Crunchbase, just 12% of Unicorns in 2021 had either female founders or co-founders.
Whilst we don't all need to be Unicorns, when there's endless opportunities for startups in the UK, it just doesn't make sense that women are under represented - especially when female-led businesses are proven time and time again to generate higher revenues, outperform their male counterparts, and have significantly lower failure rates, according to recent MIT research.
At the moment, eight of the top 10 accelerators for female entrepreneurs are headquartered in London, but there's no reason why Leeds' can't be a secondary business hub to the capital.
In recent years alone the city has flourished with fintech and business investment from international companies big and small, and we're sure that this is only the beginning for our beloved city.
But innovation needn't be limited by location nor gender, it should be about nurturing great ideas and business growth.
Platform is ‘the home of tech’ in Leeds. / Image: Bruntwood SciTech
Deb Hetherington, Head of Innovation Services at Bruntwood SciTech believes that it's a collective responsibility to bring powerful female figures to the front of the business, science and technology world:
"In order to support the next generation of female founders, leaders and entrepreneurs, we all have a part to play. From local councils, successful founders, large corporates, and educators."
"Investors argue there aren’t enough female founders to invest in, central government sings a similar tune, but all entities are looking for fully formed successful female founders. This is the problem; we need to go back several steps to design a pipeline, a defined pathway for female founders to try, and fail, and to try again."
“In order to support the next generation of female founders, leaders and entrepreneurs, we all have a part to play. From local councils, successful founders, large corporations, and educators. That’s why we have recently designed a Female Founders Incubator, launching during Leeds Digital Festival in September at the home of tech in Leeds, Platform.”
The Female Founders Incubator programme
To support the next generation, Bruntwood SciTech is looking to support five female business owners, entrepreneurs and founders through their The Female Founders Incubator programme.
This specially-designed programme has been built to provide female entrepreneurs across West Yorkshire with tailored, expert support to grow, expand and scale according to your own business and personal needs.
Bruntwood is offering the ultimate support package for Female-led businesses. / Image: Bruntwood SciTech
The five successful candidates will be given access to the following from Bruntwood free of charge:
1:1 mentoring with successful CEOs
Access to professional services experts across marketing, legal, accounting and funding support
Peer-2-peer sessions
6 months FREE desk space, plus 50% off for the following 6 months
To enter Bruntwood's Female Founders Incubator programme with support worth more than £10,000 per person,click here.
Spend six months at Leeds’ tech hub, Platform. / Image: Bruntwood SciTech
And that's just the beginning...
Bruntwood is a collaborative workspace that allows like minded individuals to come together at both formal networking events and informal coffee mornings. By working at Platform, you'll receive exclusive access to at least 24 events and dedicated 1:1 support from professional services experts and Bruntwood SciTech's extensive partner network.
The programme is supported by successful founders and CEOs who will mentor five early stage female founders throughout the six month incubation period including award winning CEOs Zandra Moore and Anna Sutton from local scaling tech companies.
Partners including Law Firm Berwin Digital, Marketing specialists Social, and female focussed funding specialists Fund Her North will provide bespoke advice and support, and Bruntwood SciTech will facilitate the programme, coordinating all activity and providing free desk space to the successful entrepreneurs.
Sarah Hex, Member of Fund her North said: "Fund Her North wants to improve access to funding for female-led businesses in the North of England through start-up, scale and exit. The Bruntwood SciTech Female Founders Incubator is exactly the kind of programme we want to support. In order to create a successful pipeline of investable female founders, we need an increase in this kind of activity."
How to apply for the Female Founders Incubator programme
In order to be in with the chance of being one of the five recipients of the support and mentoring from Bruntwood SciTech's Female Founder Incubator programme, all you need to do is head to the dedicated Female Founder Incubator website and fill in a few questions about your business and tell the judges why would you (and your business) be a good addition to the Tech Hub community at Bruntwood SciTech.
Applications will close on Thursday 8th September, so make sure you get your application in quickly for review.
To enter Bruntwood SciTech's Female Founders Incubator programme with support worth up to £10,000,click here.
Apply now to secure your entry for the Female Founders Incubator programme. / Image: Bruntwood SciTech
Bruntwood SciTech is asking that all applicants are available for a virtual interview on Monday 12 September in the afternoon and those that are successful in receiving one of the five spaces on the Female Founders Incubator will be invited to a launch event and lunch on Tuesday 27 September 2022.
The program and access to desk space will begin from Monday 3 October.
The full details on how to enter, including all of the small print, can be found on the here.
Feature Image- Bruntwood SciTech
Feature
North Star Coffee is expanding and opening two new sites in Leeds city centre this summer
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding with two city centre openings.
Coffee lovers, you're going to love this one.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And there's just no stopping them, as North Star is expanding into both Great George Street and the historic Victoria Quarter. Hurrah!
The Great George Street site will open as a takeaway-focused kiosk and retail store, designed to slot into your every day morning routine for that quick on-the-go brew.
They'll also be serving up house-made breakfast and lunch sandwiches, bakes, and a curated selection of retail coffee, brewing equipment, and accessories.
The Victoria Quarter location will offer similar, set amongst the Quarter’s tiled arcades and heritage storefronts, the site will reflect a more visible presence for the business within Leeds’ evolving food and drink landscape.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
“While it’s easy to focus on the challenges facing hospitality, we still believe deeply in the role that cafés play in our city's community,” said Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters.
“They are places where people come together, to meet, to pause, to connect. Choosing to invest now is a reflection of our belief in Leeds, and in the long-term value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.”
“These new sites allow us to create meaningful opportunities for both new and existing team members,” Holly added.
“Hospitality is ultimately about people - both those we serve and those who make the experience possible.As a Leeds-born business, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in our city. The support we’ve had from day one is what’s made this growth possible.”
Suburb guide: Ten things to do in Headingley at the weekend
Clementine Hall
From completing the infamous Otley Run to sipping on a glass of natural wine, there's so much to do in the vibrant neighbourhood of Headingley.
Sandwiched between the two largest universities in Leeds, Headingley is known nationally as the playground of the young professionals, and internationally as the place in the North to watch the cricket.
Just minutes away on the bus from Leeds City Centre, Headingley is a great place to visit on the weekend with plenty of brilliant independents to support from coffee shops to restaurants.
So, here's ten things to do in Headingley over the weekend...
Watch a game at Headingley Stadium
St Michael's Lane, Headingley
Home of Yorkshire Country Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos, Headingley stadium is the main reason that this little suburb is known worldwide. In the winter, Leeds Rhinos season will keep you entertained, whilst the summer usually sees international test matches on the pitch.
This is the ultimate crowd-pleasing event for anyone interested in sports, and for those that aren’t- there’s plenty of food, drink and activity options within walking distance instead.
Drink a glass of wine at Bottle Chop
14 Weetwood Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Maybe our favourite wine bar in the whole of Leeds, Bottle Chop is a pastel pink paradise serving up a huge selection of natural wine, craft beer and irresistible deli bits.
Stop by for a couple glasses and dive into a charcuterie board alongside it, it's the perfect afternoon activity if you ask us.
If you're looking for some authentic Japanese cuisine in an elegant yet casual setting, then get yourself to TADA.
It's a fantastic independent restaurant serving up fresh sushi and the most comforting bowls of ramen ever. The staff are always lovely and happy to guide you with what to order on their extensive menu.
Watch a film at Hyde Park Picture House
Brudenell Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now this is a proper bit of Leeds history. The Hyde Park Picture House is a Grade II listed building that dates all the way back to 1914 and is known for being the last gas-lit cinema in the whole of the UK.
They are community focused and are determined on providing an inclusive space for everyone to learn and discover. Showing a selection of bigger as well as indie films, it's a great spot for cinema lovers to stop by and immerse themselves into a flick.
Shop vinyls at Vinyl Whistle
12 Otley Road
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're into vinyls, then Vinyl Whistle is the spot for you. Not only do they stock plenty of records for you to browse, but they also host open decks and gigs for you to get involved with.
Oh and they serve great beer and banging coffee too, what more could you want?
Tuck into traditional Mexican food at Lupe's Cantina
204 Cardigan Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Lupe's Cantina is one of those 'if you know, you know' sort of spots and now thanks to us, you do know.
It's a family-run restaurant that's been feeding the people of Leeds for a decade, using traditional recipes passed down from head chef Rudy's family. Here you'll not only find your classic tacos, margaritas and guacamole but it's the standout dishes like the mussels in a creamy chipotle white wine sauce that'll have you going back time and time again.
Get your caffeine fix at one of the many coffee shops
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Okay we might be cheating with this one, but there's so many great coffee shops in Headingley that we couldn't just choose one.
From the experimental brews at Caffeine Addict to a cosy catchup at Loaf followed by a bagel and brew at Fika North, you're really spoilt for choice if you're looking for that morning pick me up. Trust us, just take a stroll through town and you'll find a cracking coffee in no time.
Enjoy some award-winning food at The Swine Bistro
77A Otley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This beautiful restaurant is loved by Leeds locals and it's not hard to see why, run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers who are basically legends at this point for providing the city with fantastic seasonal food at an affordable price point.
Complete the Otley Run
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Yep, it wouldn't be a Headingley guide without the Otley Run now would it.
It is a true rite of passage to any students who find themselves in Leeds during their studies and a firm favourite for societies and clubs from the various student unions across the city.
Starting at Woodies, the route takes you through fourteen boozers from Far Headingley, into Headingley itself, then towards Hyde Park before heading right into the centre of town – if you get that far.
Officially the route hosts the first eight pubs in Far Headingley and Headingley: Woodies, The Three Horseshoes, New Inn, Headingley Taps, Manahatta, The Box, Skyrack, The Original Oak before runners move onto Hyde Park pubs like The Hyde Park pub, The Library, Pack Horse, The Eldon and The Fenton before arriving at the final pub: The Dry Dock in the city.
Sophie Smith -
25th August 2022 
