The We in Social Tech is a London-based accelerator created to support ambitious entrepreneurs like you, who are passionate about making a positive impact with your business.
We in Social Tech launched in October 2018, to help grow three cohorts of 20 women-led technology businesses with a social purpose over two-years. It is FREE to participate in, and, unlike many others will not take any equity in return.
The accelerator is delivered by Nwes, the largest not-for-private-profit enterprise agency in the UK, in collaboration with founding partner Deutsche Bank, through its social enterprise programme Made for Good.
Read more about us here>>
Accelerator aim
We in Social Tech support women-led technology businesses with a social purpose. Specifically, this accelerator aims to help you:
- Make a step-change in your business.
- Overcome a specific challenge or reach a specific milestone.
- Build your confidence, knowledge and the skills you need to spearhead your business to the next level.
- Develop your professional networks.
- Grow your social tech businesses that has a positive impact on society.
We accept applications at any stage of your business development and growth, including pre-starts.
Accelerator offer
The accelerator has been designed to address the specific challenges that hold female social tech founders back from achieving their ambitions, and help each business reach its full potential.
Over the course of two years, there will be three six-month accelerator intakes, each with 20 participants per cohort.
Each successful applicant will get access to:
- The We in Social Tech business growth programme
Organised workshops, talks, seminars, speakers, training and expert visits will take place at Wood Green Works on a weekly basis, every Wednesday. We will also address specific topics of interest, as identified by participants.
The programme will include, but will not be limited to the following topics:
- Business modelling
- Strategic planning
- Business finance
- Raising finance
- Legal and IP
- Market research
- Customer profiling
- User-centred design
- Product analysis
- Marketing
- Sales
- Social Impact Measurement
- Leadership
- Confidence and Wellbeing
- Business consultancy support
You will work with a dedicated business consultant, who will support you around your specific issues and challenges.
- Growth mentoring by two mentors
Based on your challenges, we will match you with one mentor from the business, creative or tech industry, and another from Deutsche Bank.
- Finance and investment readiness
We will help you get ready to raise the finance your business requires. This could be loan finance, angel/VC investment, social investment, crowdfunding or grants.
- Co-working space at Wood Green Works
You and your team will have a base from which you can work, network, learn and grow (max 3 people per business).
- Peer learning groups
By joining the accelerator you will become part of a vibrant and supportive peer network, as well as dynamic peer-learning groups.
- Networking
We will organise events and facilitate opportunities to help to grow your professional network.
- Celebration and Demo Day
At the end of each six-month programme we will organise a celebration and demo day to showcase your business and product.
We in Social Tech is funded by Deutsche Bank, through its enterprise programme Made for Good, and therefore completely FREE to participate in. No equity, fees or IP will be taken.
Application timeline
We will announce three Open Calls for applications over two years.
Open Call 3 is now closed for applications.
Successful applicants will be notified by no later than 6 December 2019.
You will need to confirm your place by no later than 10 December 2019.
The accelerator starts on Wednesday 15 January 2020.
For more information, download Application Guidelines and Application Questions.
Eligibility criteria
We invite founders who meet the following criteria to apply to the programme:
Essential
Your business:
- is a technology business which is female-led. Female-led is defined as a company, business or social enterprise in which at least 50% of the owners, partners or directors are female.
- has a clear social aim or purpose, and is using technology to address social challenges.
- is UK registered. If not yet registered, the founder(s) must be UK residents.
You, the founder(s):
- have ambition to grow the business, increase turnover and develop a successful team.
- are working full time in the business, or have an intention to be full time within a year.
- are prepared to engage with the accelerator programme in London for a period of six months.
- must have a specific challenge to overcome, a milestone or goal to reach during the length of the programme.
- are willing to actively share your own knowledge and skills with other participants, and contribute to building a vibrant peer-network
- are willing to provide monthly information about your progress to help us monitor and improve the programme
- are willing to actively promote We in Social Tech, and act in the spirit of the programme to support and drive positive change for all female entrepreneurs operating in the sector
- are able to start the accelerator programme on 15 January 2020, and are prepared to engage with the programme for six months – this includes attending Business Growth Programme events at Wood Green Works every Wednesday
Desirable:
- Your business has a minimal viable product and early traction
