Enterprising Women 5.0 Turn your idea into a business
Enterprising Women is a free, six-month programme for women founders in the West of England who are ready to turn an idea into a real business. Learn alongside a cohort of 24 women, work to a personal 90-day plan, and pitch your business at our Demo Night in July 2027.
Who it's for
Enterprising Women is for you if...
- You are a woman founder, or part of a founding team that is at least 50% women
- Your business is based in the West of England (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire)
- You have an idea or early-stage business you are committed to, but haven't yet nailed your customer, your offer or your business model
- You can commit to the workshops and to working on your business between sessions
No business plan needed
You don't need a registered company, revenue or a business plan to apply. We welcome founders from all backgrounds, and if you need any adjustments to take part, just let us know in your application.
What you get
Practical support, a plan and a community
Everything is designed around this cohort and fits around real lives.
Eight practical workshops
Designed for this cohort, taking you from finding your customers to choosing how to fund your growth.
A personal 90-day plan
Then a second one at the halfway point, so you always know your next steps.
A dedicated mentor
Meeting monthly throughout the programme.
A monthly peer group
Work through real challenges with other founders in the cohort.
Pitch practice at every workshop
Building to a pitch at our Demo Night.
Expert advice
From our Advisers in Residence, including lawyers, marketers and accountants, when you need it.
Online learning
To dip into between sessions.
A community
Of women founders, plus invitations to SETsquared Bristol events and PR through our channels.
The programme
Six months, two phases, eight workshops
A workshop roughly every three weeks, with breaks for school holidays.
Find your customers and shape your business
- 1
Founder mindset and your first pitch
Build confidence, meet your cohort and pitch from day one.
- 2
Find the demand
Talk to customers and prove there's a real problem to solve.
- 3
Value proposition, business model and pricing
Shape what you sell, who pays and how much.
- 4
Setting up properly
Company structure, director duties, founder agreements and protecting your ideas.
Win customers and plan your growth
- 5
First customers and sales
Turn conversations into paying customers.
- 6
Getting seen on a budget
Marketing that works without a big spend, including AI tools.
- 7
Cash, forecasting and funding
Manage your cash and choose between grants, investment and growing from revenue.
- 8
Pitch refinement and Demo Night rehearsal
Polish the pitch you've built over six months.
How to apply
Three simple steps
Come to a Discovery workshop
A free, two-hour session where we explain the programme, what it involves and the commitment it needs. It's the best way to decide if Enterprising Women is right for you.
Complete the application
Tell us about you and your business idea. It takes about 20 minutes, and your answers also help shape your 90-day plan if you join.
Hear from us
We'll let all applicants know by 31 December 2026.
Key dates
| Discovery workshops | Wednesday 18 November, 3pm to 5pm Tuesday 1 December, 11am to 1pm Thursday 10 December, 10am to 12pm |
| Applications close | Friday 18 December 2026 |
| Decisions | By Thursday 31 December 2026 |
| Onboarding session | January 2027 (date to be confirmed) |
| Demo Night | July 2027 |
In their words
What our founders say
Alumni
Our Enterprising Women alumni
Since 2019, four cohorts of Enterprising Women have built businesses in health, sustainability, technology, education and the creative industries.
3.0 cohort
Black Girl Convention is a movement to ensure that all womxn* of African and Caribbean heritage have a sense of home by sharing, shaping and owning the black girl experience.
Circe is an inclusive career support platform built on expertise and connection. Circe was created to help women nurture their careers and professional spaces via meaningful, progressive and powerful expert help.
Complexical provide bespoke, ethical consultancy on technical topics such as artificial intelligence and data strategy. Our approach is always human-centric and inclusive, privacy preserving, and considerate of sustainability and environmental impact.
Eleria has developed a portable cleaning and sterilising case for the menstrual cup to help increase the uptake of the more sustainable period products, making the cleaning and sterilising processes quicker and more discreet.
Expordite is a tradetech HMRC-recognised company helping British traders and freight forwarders with export compliance and risk assessment.
Fam Films Productions bring together the Black community in spaces where they can celebrate, create and be inspired by black content from the UK and beyond and for the wider community to enjoy.
ivas promotes sustainable partnerships globally through stimulating meaningful encounters and project-based collaborations.
Jack Fertility is developing the world's first postal sperm test, making it easy and convenient to get reliable results about the status of your fertility from the comfort of your own home.
Laguna Lashes is an eco-friendly eyelash brand on a mission to end plastic pollution in the beauty industry.
Netangel are dynamic content creators with a unique mission – to educate parents and guardians about the potential dangers lurking within trending apps, games, and social media.
self agency are specialist neurodiversity consultants paving new opportunities for every mind.
SignEd by VisitMôr is an educational signage platform helping natural heritage providers tell their own stories and inspire conservation stewardship at scale.
2.0 cohort
Meet these founders: watch the recording of their showcase and pitching event.
Anxiety Friendly Dentist is developing a VR headset featuring relaxation scenarios, bespoke for dental use, plus a platform and accreditation scheme for support and treatment of dental phobia.
Better Together delivers workshops which encourage parents and carers to choose the online safety tools and techniques that align with their parenting style and personality and the child(ren) they are supporting.
Creative Tuition Collective is an educational organisation providing tuition, mental health support, mentorship and extracurricular workshops to marginalised communities in Bristol.
Global Goals Centre is an education charity creating exciting engaging experiences that inspire learning and action on climate and equality in our everyday lives.
Grand Bequest is the world’s first AI-driven platform for vacant buildings to be redeveloped and put back into use.
KnoWaste is a SaaS based pre-order system and educational platform that enhances the diner experience and reduces food waste in the catering sector.
MeiXter is a peer-to-peer live tutoring app and web platform for all types of skills at all levels.
The Microfibre Consortium are leading the textile industry in reducing microfibre release to protect our environment.
Nommm streamlines the entire sustainable eating process - taking the user from recipe search to acquiring localised food with recipes that focus on nutritional value and climate impact.
Pretty Digital is developing an online space for families to have fun together, with games, animations, books and toys based on engaging characters.
Representation Matters supports leadership teams and organisations to create an inclusive culture. “Until society recognises everyone, the question will always be, do I belong.”
Share Bristol is a library of things to make it easier for all in Bristol to borrow or repair things they need to live their lives, to better our homes, our wallets and our planet.
SoleSense offers the first truly customisable rehabilitation solution using audiovisual biofeedback technology that brings self-management to the fore.
Unbaggaged is a traveltech company that connects travellers who want to be free of their bags with businesses who can store them and drivers who can provide transportation.
Unisalad is a student-to-student community app to connect, buy, sell, find and share with others from your university.
UpStitch is an online platform connecting sustainably-minded customers with local tailors and seamstresses to repair and upcycle clothing.
Zebera inspires young people to become the innovators and inventors of the future.
1.0 cohort
Meet these founders: watch the recording of their showcase and pitching event.
A&K's Playground delivers live experiences and events to connect people with intergenerational play.
BCohCo is building cohesive communities using a grassroots, systems thinking approach, to promote the cross-pollination of ideas on DICE (Diversity, Inclusion, Cohesion, Equality) matters.
Bonnie Binary exists to help people with physical and cognitive challenges to interact in new ways with domestic technology through beautifully-designed functional controls.
Buttercup Learning is a content and design studio that produces family friendly content across augmented reality books, apps and online courses.
Engineer2Engineer (E2E) is an engineering skills platform aimed to build an active and co-operative learning environment for engineers across multiple disciplines.
Eco Innovative System (EIS) designs hydroponic systems for customers who are interested in indoor gardening to grow fresh, organic and high quality vegetables and herbs.
Ferryx is developing safe and effective live bacterial therapeutics for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Gritty Talent connects emerging creative talent from under-represented backgrounds in film, TV and digital platforms with decision makers responsible for commissioning and producing content.
Hedira allows people to care for their indoor plants via smart notifications.
Invented Futures is a growth programme that enables and stimulates smaller niches and gaps in design thinking and strategy, prototyping and product iteration.
Kaedim enables 3D creators to spend more time doing what they love by automating repetitive tasks using AI, turning sketches into digital 3D models in seconds.
KOKU Health is a disruptive technology designed to increase access, uptake and engagement to evidence based falls prevention exercises and increase awareness of healthy ageing practises.
LatchAid is an innovative breastfeeding/early-parenthood support app utilising 3D interactive technology, AI powered virtual breastfeeding support groups, and a personalised virtual supporter to help women learn breastfeeding skills and access 24/7 support, expertise, and companionship.
Mindstyling is a down-to-earth podcast that showcases leaders who aren't afraid to push the boundaries and gives you the tools to start "MindStyling" for yourself.
Satis is a female-first innovative model for female urination. The model will enable women to not only be safe but also be efficient without having to waste time queueing.
Yello Butterfly aims to create a new approach to the way in which we communicate with those in society who cannot or can no longer use the pen and paper method of communication and for those who have barriers.
FAQs
Your questions answered
Ready to take your idea further?
Applications for Enterprising Women 5.0 close on 18 December 2026. Book a Discovery workshop to find out more, or apply now.