20 UK Female Founders to Follow in 2026: Real Women, Real Businesses | We Can Be

A child prodigy who passed her A-level computing exam at just 11 years old, Anne-Marie co-founded Stemettes after noticing she was one of only three girls in a university class of 70 students. Now an MBE and honorary doctor, she has built an award-winning social enterprise that has inspired over 60,000 young people across the UK and Ireland to explore science, technology, engineering and maths careers through workshops, events and mentoring.

A former McKinsey consultant and government policy advisor, Rachel founded Koru Kids after struggling to find reliable childcare for her own children. She built a platform matching families with vetted nannies and childminders, creating flexible, well-paid work for carers while giving parents peace of mind. Koru Kids has helped thousands of families across London and raised significant venture funding to expand its mission of making quality childcare accessible to every family.

Anne spent 30 years in banking before founding Starling Bank at 54, proving it is never too late to start something new. She built the UK's first mobile-only bank, challenging the biggest high street names with better technology and fairer fees. Starling became profitable in 2020 and now serves millions of customers, reshaping how people think about banking.

Inspired by her autistic, non-verbal son Walter, Pamela founded MIXD Reality and created the Just Like Me books - interactive stories using augmented reality so every child can see themselves in the pages. As a multi-award-winning Great British Entrepreneur, she has expanded her Just Like Me range to include books featuring children with various disabilities, skin tones, and backgrounds. Pamela is proof that the best business ideas come from wanting better for your children.

With 14 years as a garment technologist for brands like Victoria Beckham and AllSaints, Victoria faced her own accessibility barriers and founded the UK's first adaptive fashion brand to join the British Fashion Council. A disability campaigner and author, she appeared on Dragon's Den and was named one of Vogue's 25 most influential women in 2023. She's proving fashion can be revolutionary when designed for everyone.

After 20 years as a barrister, Nisha left law to share the authentic flavours of her mother's kitchen with the nation. She founded Mowgli Street Food to showcase real Indian home cooking - not the heavy curry house staples most Brits were used to. Now with restaurants across the UK and an MBE for services to the food industry, Nisha is proving that authentic, lighter Indian cuisine has massive mainstream appeal.

A former chef who fell in love with the quality of Spanish jarred beans while working abroad, Amelia brought that passion home and launched Bold Beans. Now a Sunday Times Bestselling cookbook author, she secured investment from Deborah Meaden on Dragon's Den and has expanded the range into supermarkets nationwide. Her mission is to make everyone obsessed with beans as a delicious, sustainable source of protein that deserves a starring role on every plate.

Brie launched Snag Tights after years of frustration with tights that didn't fit diverse body types. Starting from her kitchen with just £100,000, she built one of the UK's fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, now selling millions of pairs globally with sizes from 4 to 36+. Her focus on real customer feedback and inclusive, built-for-life products has created fiercely loyal fans worldwide.

Holly co-founded notonthehighstreet.com in 2006 from her kitchen table, creating a marketplace that now connects over 5,000 small creative businesses with millions of customers looking for unique, thoughtful products. Awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to enterprise, she went on to launch Holly & Co, a platform championing small business owners through resources, events, podcasts and community. Holly is one of the UK's most passionate advocates for independent makers.

Jo founded Scamp & Dude after surviving a brain haemorrhage, determined to spread joy and comfort through fashion. The brand's signature Super Scarves are designed to provide a hug when life gets tough, with thousands donated to people in hospital through their Superpower Initiative. From lightning bolt prints to leopard spots, the brand has grown into a multi-million pound business proving that fashion with purpose and heart can thrive commercially.

Lottie co-founded MyoMaster and used everyday items to test an early massage tool prototype. The business has since expanded into saunas, ice baths and compression boots. MyoMaster products are used by Premier League teams and Olympic athletes around the world.

Pip saw that LinkedIn simply didn't work for creative professionals - portfolios, not CVs, are how they show what they can do. She built The Dots as a visual-first professional network where designers, artists and makers connect with employers and collaborators. Backed by major investors and personally championed by Sir Richard Branson, the platform has grown to hundreds of thousands of members and is reshaping how creative talent finds meaningful work.

Sara founded Crafter's Companion in 2005 while still a student at York University. What started as a university project grew into a global business employing over 200 people, with products sold in 40 countries. She joined the BBC's Dragon's Den panel in 2019 and was awarded an MBE for services to the economy. Sara also runs Crafter's TV, broadcasting live crafting shows to a loyal community.

Martha co-founded Lastminute.com in 1998 when most people barely used the internet. She built one of the UK's first major online travel businesses, eventually selling it for £577 million. After a serious car accident, she channelled her recovery into public service, becoming the UK's Digital Champion and a Baroness in the House of Lords.

After struggling to transfer her own pension, Romi spotted a problem affecting millions. She founded PensionBee in 2014 to let people combine old pensions into one simple plan. The company is now listed on the stock exchange and helps over a million customers manage their retirement savings.

Juliet founded Good Energy in 1999 when renewables were dismissed as idealistic. She built Britain's first 100% renewable electricity supplier, growing it to serve over 250,000 homes and businesses. Awarded an OBE for services to renewables, she pioneered community energy projects and proved that a business built on environmental values could thrive commercially. Juliet is now a champion for women in clean energy leadership.

Sharmadean started WAH Nails as a cult East London nail art salon that became a cultural phenomenon. After fifteen-plus years creating women's communities across business and self-development, she brought it all together under The Stack World - a platform for the women's creator economy to buy, sell, coach and connect. Awarded an MBE, she's on a mission to increase the global GDP of the women's economy by giving members the tools to earn more.

Grace founded three companies by the age of 27: TALA, a sustainable activewear brand; Shreddy, a fitness tech company; and The Productivity Method, helping people get organised. First in Forbes' 30 Under 30 for retail at just 23, her book Working Hard, Hardly Working became an instant Sunday Times number one bestseller and her podcast has reached over 25 million listeners. With over 3 million followers, she champions purpose-driven business.

Ella started a food blog in 2012 after being diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome, a rare illness that led her to completely overhaul her diet. Her simple, plant-based recipes struck a chord with millions of readers. She turned her blog into bestselling cookbooks, a food product range stocked in major supermarkets, and a popular London restaurant. Ella proves that sharing your personal story authentically can build a multi-million pound business.

Priya founded Century Tech after witnessing educational inequality while volunteering in Africa. She built an AI-powered platform that personalises learning for every student, identifying knowledge gaps in real time and adapting lessons to each child's pace and style. Century is now used in thousands of schools across the UK and internationally. Priya was awarded an OBE for services to education, proving that technology can make world-class learning accessible to every child.