250+ REAL UK ROLE MODELS

Abi stopped heat-styling her hair during lockdown and realised she had naturally wavy hair. But every product she tried was made for curly or straight hair, and nothing worked. So she spent months researching and testing until she created five lightweight products with a simple five-step system. She launched Merwave from her garage with her husband, and it's now got an over 26,000-strong community of wavy-haired women supporting each other.

Abigail founded Elent to tackle the UK's financial literacy gap. Her platform makes learning about money engaging and easy to understand, helping people build real confidence with their finances. Through interactive tools and clear education, she's on a mission to create a generation that feels in control of their money. Abigail believes everyone deserves the knowledge to make smart financial decisions, regardless of background or experience.

Aimee Smale launched Odd Muse from her bedroom at age 22 while still at university. She spotted a gap for timeless, tailored womenswear that moved young women away from throwaway fast fashion. Starting with a single blazer and building buzz on TikTok, she grew the brand into a global name with a multi-million-pound turnover and a million-strong online community - all without outside investment.

Alex co-founded Hassle.com, a home-cleaning marketplace, and sold it before launching Resi. Frustrated that home renovations felt expensive and confusing, she used technology to simplify the entire architecture process. Resi is now the UK's largest residential architecture practice, helping thousands of homeowners plan extensions at a fraction of the traditional cost.

Alex sold her house, left her engineering career and founded STEMAZING as a social enterprise to inspire more young people to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). She's spoken on big stages, teaches at universities, and realised that without more diversity, innovation suffers. STEMAZING now delivers workshops, training and resources helping young people - especially girls - see themselves in STEM careers.

Alex Longton spent over 15 years building some of the UK's best-known food brands, including Kraft Heinz, Lindt and Plenish, before founding Tiba Tempeh with her husband Ross. The idea was sparked on a trip to Indonesia, where they tasted fresh tempeh in a beachside restaurant and wondered why it was so hard to find in the UK. They set out to make tempeh delicious, accessible and mainstream - and it worked. Tiba Tempeh is now one of Britain's fastest-growing meat-free brands, stocked in Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Lidl, Morrisons and Ocado, and certified as a B-Corp for its commitment to people and planet.

Ali spent over 20 years in fashion, including as Head of Buying at Topshop. On maternity leave in 2017, she spotted a gap: kids' shoes were either good for growing feet or stylish, never both. She teamed up with a foot specialist to create flexible, unisex shoes supporting natural movement. Zig & Star won a Gold Junior Design Award in their first year.

Amanda created Made for Life Organics after discovering that mainstream spa products weren't safe for people going through cancer treatment. A trained therapist, she worked with a Cornish chemist to develop 100% organic formulas - the first brand fully accredited by the Soil Association. She also founded the Made for Life Foundation, which delivers free touch therapy and wellbeing treatments to people living with cancer across the UK.

Sisters Amelia and Lydia left high-flying careers at Goldman Sachs and Deloitte after watching their mum, a talented accountant, struggle to return to work after raising three daughters. They built ivee from their kitchen table to help people learn the AI skills employers actually want. Within 18 months of launching, they walked away from Dragon's Den with four offers, upskilled over 70,000 members, and raised a $1 million seed round. Their platform now helps professionals future-proof their careers in a world where AI is changing every job.

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.

After a life-changing quad bike accident at 19, Amelia was frustrated by uncomfortable hospital crutches. With her mum Clare, she designed silent, customisable crutches that restore independence and confidence. Their products are now sold worldwide, rated 4.9 by customers, and have helped thousands of people feel proud of their mobility aids rather than embarrassed by them. Cool Crutches offers everything from bespoke personalised designs to bold prints.

Amelia founded Klowt to help entrepreneurs and business leaders build standout personal brands on social media. She grew the agency rapidly by practising what she preaches - building a huge LinkedIn following of her own. Klowt has worked with hundreds of clients and Amelia is now a sought-after keynote speaker on branding and entrepreneurship. She proves that your personal brand is the most powerful and underused asset in any founder's toolkit.

Amelia Tombs and Chloe Grant are UK co-founders of Under + Beneath, a fashion-tech startup on a mission to fix the bra industry. Most bras are mass-produced, badly fitting, and terrible for the planet. Amelia and Chloe are changing that by creating sustainable, custom-fit bras designed around real bodies. Amelia learned how big supply chains work at Amazon and Unilever, and Chloe is a sustainable fashion designer who also writes the Making Sustainability Sexy newsletter. Together they are proving fashion can be beautiful and planet-friendly at the same time.

After graduating with a Law degree from the University of Kent, Amy taught herself digital marketing and social media, then co-founded Must Have Ideas with just £1,000 of her own money. She turned a clever range of household and cleaning products into one of the UK's fastest-growing e-commerce retailers, now generating £65 million a year. Amy was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list, made Management Today's 35 Women Under 35, and launched the Must Have Ideas TV shopping channel in 2024.

Andrea co-founded Moo Free with her husband Mike in 2010 after discovering her son had a dairy allergy as a baby. Years of research and recipe-tweaking led to chocolate that people with allergies, intolerances, and ethical concerns could enjoy without compromise. Starting in Devon, they built a multi-award winning brand now sold in supermarkets across Europe. Every bar is free from dairy, gluten, and soya, proving inclusive treats can taste amazing.

Aneisha co-founded Scrumbles to create natural, gut-friendly pet food that is better for animals and the planet. Using sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly packaging, the brand grew from a kitchen startup into a nationwide business stocked in Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Pets at Home. Their recipes are developed with veterinary nutritionists and focus on digestive health. Aneisha is proving that doing good for pets and the environment can also be a brilliant business.

Anna, a maritime lawyer, and Philippa, a charity fundraiser, first met at a baby clinic. When Anna's son tried a Mini Micro scooter on Clapham Common and wouldn't get off, she knew she'd found something special. They started selling scooters at the school gates, and John Lewis became their first major retailer. Over 2 million children now scoot the school run daily.

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.

Anne-Clare swapped spreadsheets at JPMorgan for glitter and glue guns. In 2015, she launched Cotton Twist from home, creating beautifully packaged craft kits and thoughtful gifts for kids. What started as a side project quickly grew into a thriving online brand stocked nationwide. She designs every product herself, focusing on screen-free fun that sparks creativity and keeps things plastic-free wherever possible.

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.

An award-winning architectural designer with over a decade of experience in sustainability, Antoinette founded AGREKA Build to decarbonise the construction industry. Her company transforms agricultural waste wheat straw into WHEATEX, a circular, bio-based insulation board. Based in London and Chester, she is tackling fuel poverty and shaping a healthier built environment through regenerative design and material innovation, supporting farmers while reducing carbon in construction.

Asti started sharing photos of London's best food spots on Instagram while studying for her A-levels - and her page @eatwithast quickly grew to thousands of followers. When brands started reaching out for collaborations, she realised how messy the process was. So she built Invyted, an app that matches top creators with brands in minutes instead of weeks. Now based in London, her platform is making influencer marketing faster and fairer.

Avye was already a coder and maker when she noticed something at every workshop she attended – most of the kids there were boys. At just 11 years old, she decided to change that by launching Girls Into Coding, a series of hands-on tech and robotics events for girls aged 10 to 14. Now a registered social enterprise, it has grown into a movement inspiring thousands of girls to give tech a go.

After a career at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, Ayesha Ofori left the City to tackle the gender investment gap. She founded Propelle, the UK's first female-focused investment platform, combining financial education, community, and practical tools to help women build wealth with confidence. A multi-award-winning entrepreneur featured in Forbes and the Financial Times, Ayesha is on a mission to close the gap between women and investing.

Becca co-founded The Girls' Network in 2013 while working as a secondary school teacher. She saw how girls from less privileged backgrounds missed out on the connections that could change their futures. The charity pairs girls with volunteer mentors, helping them build confidence and unlock opportunities. Becca was awarded an MBE for her work.

A Pembroke College Oxford history graduate and Harvard Kennedy Scholar, Beth faced significant accessibility barriers throughout her career. She founded Patchwork Hub - a disabled-led social enterprise offering consultancy, training and a jobs board connecting talented disabled and neurodivergent professionals with inclusive employers. Listed on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 as a cross-sector advocate, Beth is proving that expertise and grit can shatter any ceiling.

Bethan spent a decade in the wine industry before creating Mother Root during her first pregnancy. Missing the ritual of a proper drink, she developed a ginger-based non-alcoholic aperitif using fresh ginger, apple cider vinegar and natural botanicals. After appearing on Dragons' Den, the brand is now stocked across the UK.

Bharti spent over 15 years in hospitality finance with brands like Jamie Oliver's Restaurant Group and The Draft House before launching BloomsYard in 2020 - right in the middle of the pandemic. Drawing on her background in finance and operations, she grew it from a single site into six venues across London, serving artisan coffee, natural wine, and community. She is also a speaker, mentor, and advocate for racial and gender equity in the hospitality industry.

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.

Caitlin Gould is the visionary founder of TECgirls and TECwomen CIC, with over 15 years of experience in the tech sector. She set up TECgirls in 2019 to tackle the lack of women in technology, engineering, and creative industries - starting in rural Cornwall where career connections are even harder to find. Since then she has worked with thousands of girls, showing them that tech is absolutely a girl thing. Caitlin is passionate about AI, gender equality in tech, and creating environments where girls feel confident about their digital futures.

At 22, Calypso accidentally started her first business - Clippykit handbags, made at her kitchen table. It became Selfridges' best-selling Christmas item and was used by 30 London schools to spark conversations about issues affecting teens. She then founded The Indytute, championing independent experience providers for over a decade. Now with OffScript, she's building a platform helping young people navigate AI and non-linear futures with confidence.

Carly founded MAGI to create a wellbeing platform that works for neurodivergent women. Her AI-powered app adapts to mood, cycle, energy and individual needs, offering personalised tools without shame or overwhelm. She saw mainstream wellness was not built for minds that work differently, so she built something that finally fits.

Cassandra founded PROPER Snacks, the company behind PROPERCORN and PROPERCHIPS, and grew it into Europe's largest independent snacking brand with over £100 million in sales. Her products are now stocked in every major UK retailer and sold in more than 20 countries. PROPER Snacks was the first ever B Corp-certified snacks company. In 2020, Cassandra was awarded an MBE for services to the food industry.

Catherine Ann founded doqit after feeling overwhelmed by household paperwork while caring for her daughter with additional needs. She channelled 30 years of sales and marketing experience into building an app that simplifies life admin for busy families. Featured on billboards at Liverpool Street Station for International Women's Day.

Celia is a multi-award winning Government Special Advisor, lobbyist, researcher, policy designer and legal expert advocating for disability equity. As a disabled woman herself, she brings lived experience to her work with national and international governments. Listed on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 and featured by the BBC, she champions systemic change to ensure accessibility is at the heart of legislation and business decisions.

Chamiah founded DEWEY after years of struggling to find clothes that fit her petite frame. As a London College of Fashion graduate, she spotted a huge gap - nearly 80 per cent of shoppers struggle with fit. Named in Drapers 30 Under 30 and a 15-time award winner, Chamiah is proving inclusive sizing is smart business.

With 17 years in sports media, Charlene produced live content for Sky Sports, including the BAFTA-winning Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. Crowned Sport Businesswoman of the Year and named on the Premier League Football Black List, her George Floyd film was used in schools nationwide. Through her award-winning creative agency Ink Media, she pushes boundaries in sports production with diversity at the forefront.

Charlie founded Müll Club after her South London refill shop slowed post-lockdown. Instead of giving up, she pivoted: if she couldn't change shopping habits, she'd change the recycling system. Only 17 per cent of plastic collected in the UK is truly recycled - Müll Club collects waste directly from homes and transforms it into beautiful products at their Margate studio.

Charlotte founded Loved Before after volunteering in a charity shop and seeing perfectly good soft toys thrown away because shops couldn't clean or restore them. She created a toy adoption agency where donated teddies get a full spa treatment – cleaned, repaired, and rehomed with their original story intact. Now stocked in Selfridges and expanding to the USA, Charlotte was mentioned in Parliament and won a Prime Minister's Points of Light Award. Profits support Make-A-Wish UK.

Frustrated by mountains of barely-worn children's clothes, Charlotte Morley launched thelittleloop to give kidswear a longer life. Evolving from a rental subscription into a secondhand platform, it now offers an effortless way to buy and sell quality clothing and powers takeback schemes for the UK's best brands. The model keeps clothes in circulation, cuts waste and saves parents money - proving sustainability and convenience can go hand-in-hand.

Charlotte joined Intel's graduate programme without a degree, driven by curiosity and determination. She spent six years at Arm working at the forefront of AI. In 2021, her father suddenly passed away and her family lost access to years of digital memories - photos and videos capturing her childhood. That experience changed everything. Charlotte founded Memorify to help people curate, protect, and pass on their most meaningful digital memories using AI.

Chloe started Clomaná Beauty at 21 with just £530 borrowed from her grandmother, selling lash and beauty products from her bedroom in Liverpool. Through viral TikTok content and relentless hustle, she grew the brand to seven figures and secured a spot in Sephora. Now with her own flagship store, a loyal community across all age groups, and millions of social media followers, Chloe is proving that starting small is no barrier to building big.

Chrissie worked as a fashion journalist at Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and GQ before spotting a gap in the market for stylish, affordable white homeware. In 1994, she launched The White Company with just £6,000 as a mail-order catalogue from her flat. Starting with bed linens, it grew into a beloved lifestyle brand with stores across the UK and the US. She was awarded an OBE for services to retail.

With a Master's in Chemistry and a passion for haircare, Cicely Coops launched Selkie in 2021 from Amersham, Buckinghamshire. She set out to solve two problems at once: products that perform beautifully and packaging that treads lightly on the planet. Selkie's powder-to-liquid shampoo and conditioner cuts out single-use plastic and water-heavy shipping by letting customers just add water at home. In 2026 she pitched on Dragons' Den and secured investment from four Dragons, turning her kitchen-table formulation project into one of the UK's most talked-about sustainable beauty brands.

Cien founded LaunchLemonade to make AI accessible to everyone, not just engineers. Her no-code platform lets non-technical teams build intelligent AI agents that automate real business tasks. A young Filipina founder based in London, she raised $480,000 in an oversubscribed pre-seed round and has been celebrated as one of the most exciting new voices in UK AI. Cien is proving you don't need a technical background to build powerful technology.

Claire founded Equipmii from personal experience of how difficult it can be to find products that suit individual physical needs. Her platform helps retailers understand how their products work for people with different impairments, highlights design improvements, and provides tailored product information to consumers. Winner of the 2025 Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award, she is proving that inclusive design is not just ethical - it is a real business opportunity.

Claire Owen founded PupilPower to close the education gap using immersive technology. The platform brings curriculum-aligned VR experiences into classrooms, letting pupils explore the solar system, dive beneath oceans and visit ancient civilisations. Backed by Innovate UK and Microsoft for Startups, PupilPower also uses AI-driven biometric data to provide early indication of learning needs - supporting children before they struggle, not after.

Clare co-founded YeahNice Studio in 2023, a creative branding agency in Shoreditch built for brands that refuse to play it safe. The studio works with startups and established businesses alike, developing bold visual identities, creative campaigns and brand strategies that stand out in crowded markets. YeahNice has quickly built a reputation for fearless, standout work and attracts clients who believe branding should be brave, fun and unapologetically different.

Clarice Ng founded MUI Diamonds at 23 to challenge everything she didn't see herself in within the traditional fine jewellery world. Starting from sketches and prototypes while on the King's College London start-up accelerator, she built a fine jewellery house specialising in bespoke, made-to-order pieces using ethically sourced lab-grown diamonds and gems. Her mission is to make luxury jewellery bold, attainable and modern - pieces designed for everyday life, not just special occasions, while taking the ethical and environmental concerns out of fine jewellery.

Claudia launched Imperial Candles in 2013, combining her love of fragrance with a brilliant twist: hidden jewellery inside every natural soy wax candle. The concept landed her a spot on Dragons' Den. She grew the brand from her kitchen table into a nationally recognised business. Now she's building Tallyvo, a tech platform helping e-commerce brands track true profitability across manufacturing, shipping, marketing and stock in one place.

After lockdown left her with damaged lashes and a cut-short university degree, Daisy Kelly spotted a gap for an affordable, effective lash serum that wasn't oil-based or full of harmful hormones. She invested the rest of her student loan into formulating her first product, borrowing the cost of her first manufacturing order from her mum - and paid it back from the profits of batch one. Glow For It has since grown from a single lash serum into a fast-growing UK beauty brand with a loyal community, championing natural beauty for everyone.

Danielle founded Flockhere to tackle the isolation that comes with working from home. Her platform connects female founders and remote workers with curated co-working spaces and micro-communities where they can work alongside like-minded people. After crowdfunding over 114 per cent of her target, she proved there is real demand for flexible working that doesn't mean working alone. Danielle is building the future of connection-first, community-driven work.

Danika and Arshia launched Bhangra Blends to celebrate the bold, vibrant flavours of South Asian culture through ready-to-drink cocktails and mocktails. As the UK's first brand of its kind, they blend heritage spices and ingredients into drinks that are fun, flavourful and accessible. Both left corporate careers - Arshia from Microsoft - to build a brand rooted in culture, not trends, proving there's space on shelves for drinks that tell a different story.

Darina co-founded Ooni with her husband Kristian after he became obsessed with making restaurant-quality pizza at home. What started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 became the world's leading pizza oven brand, selling millions of ovens across more than 40 countries. As Co-CEO, Darina has built a global community of pizza enthusiasts and led the company to certified B Corp status, proving that passion projects can become world-changing businesses.

Debbie has built and sold three businesses as founder CEO - Mantra, Love Home Swap and AllBright. She co-chairs the UK government's Invest in Women Taskforce, appointed by the Chancellor, which has raised £250 million to support female-powered businesses. Now as Executive Chair of The Better Menopause, she's championing women's health through science-backed products. She was awarded an OBE and is a Non-Executive Director of Channel 4.

Destiny was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis during her first year at university and hated wearing a clinical-looking compression glove. She redesigned it - then kept going, creating stylish covers for hearing aids and stoma bags too. Featured in Vogue, BBC, and Dazed, her brand proves medical devices can be beautiful.

Dimple is a multi-exited founder and CEO of NatureMetrics, the leading provider of nature data intelligence. The company uses environmental DNA and AI to generate biodiversity insights for businesses and governments globally. Recognised as a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer and Earthshot Prize Finalist in 2024, Dimple previously founded Trouva, which ranked number one in the Startups 100 list and operated across 50 markets before exit.

Dominika and Elsie built BYBI Beauty into a leading sustainable skincare brand before exiting in 2024. As mothers, they spotted a new problem - everyday routines like applying suncream or soothing eczema were a daily battle. They launched Rayro to create refillable, toy-like personal care products that make self-care fun for children. They built a community on TikTok as @twotiredmums before the brand even launched.

Dr Katie King founded BioOrbit to do something the pharma industry called impossible - make drugs in space. With co-founder Dr Leonor Teles, she uses microgravity in Low-Earth Orbit to grow crystals of biological drugs that can be reformulated as self-injectable treatments, moving cancer care out of hospitals and into patients' homes. In 2026, BioOrbit raised £9.8 million - the world's largest seed round for in-space manufacturing - co-led by LocalGlobe and Breega.

Dr Megan Rossi is a dietitian and research fellow at King's College London, known online as The Gut Health Doctor. Frustrated that solid science wasn't reaching everyday shoppers - and turning down offers to endorse other companies' products - she decided to build the food she actually wanted people to eat. In 2019 she co-founded Bio&Me with food industry expert Jon Walsh, creating gut-friendly granolas, porridges, mueslis and live yoghurts now sold in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Waitrose.

Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE founded WeAreTheCity and WeAreTechWomen, helping to upskill over 250,000 women and recognising more than 2,000 women through her awards programmes. She was honoured with an OBE and a Doctorate of Science from the University of Warwick. Vanessa wrote the bestselling book Heels of Steel, and her new book 404: Women Not Found is due out on 1st October.

Elin co-founded Better Nature in 2019 to bring tempeh - a protein-packed fermented soybean - to British plates. Named Forbes 30 Under 30, she grew it into the UK's fastest-growing chilled meat-free brand. Their tempeh is minimally processed, high in fibre and counts as one of your five a day. Elin champions sustainable food that's genuinely good for people and the planet.

Ella Jones was just 18 when she dreamed up Ancora Equestrian from her bedroom. A show jumper herself, she was frustrated that stylish riding wear was either too expensive or poor quality. She launched an affordable, fashionable equine clothing range for ladies and children, running pop-up shops at prestigious events including the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the International Horse of the Year Show. Her rapid growth made her a finalist in the 2023 Business Champion Awards Young Entrepreneur category.

Ella founded Fatso in 2022 because she loved dark chocolate but thought it took itself too seriously. She wanted to make bold, chunky dark chocolate bars that were actually fun. Run by an all-female team, Fatso is now stocked in over 350 stores including Liberty and Harvey Nichols, and has built a loyal following with its rebellious branding and seriously good taste.

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.

Ellie spent over a decade in go-to-market, general management and operations roles - including GM Europe at Lemonade and strategy consulting at Deloitte - before spotting a problem she couldn't ignore: women were being left out of the AI conversation. In 2024 she founded MOXIE, an AI club for women building big careers. Members get weekly live AI sessions (all recorded), a groupchat full of honest recommendations and warm intros, and real-life meetups and dinners. With members from companies like Google, Netflix and Wise, MOXIE is on a mission to make AI the biggest career lever for women - with zero tech-bro energy.

Eloise started Elandr after years of watching teammates quit netball because of ankle injuries. She knew ankle braces were uncomfortable and expensive, so she set out to build a shoe with real protection built right in. Backed by England Roses captain Serena Guthrie MBE as special advisor, Elandr has already won multiple awards for innovation in sportswear.

Inspired by her grandmother, Emma started making natural soaps at her Cotswolds kitchen table in 2008, selling them at local farmers' markets. Within six months she was in supermarkets. Now a proud B Corp and winner of The Queen's Award for Enterprise, Little Soap Company is stocked in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Boots and more. Emma navigates the world through the lens of autism and ADHD, and believes thinking differently is her greatest strength.

Emma and her partner Scott started making washing-up liquid in their shared garage while studying at university. They delivered orders before and after work, signing up 300 independent shops within six months. By 2023 Miniml had a 15,000 sq ft Yorkshire warehouse, a team of 40, and over 3,500 stockists. Their pioneering closed-loop system lets customers return empty containers to be cleaned and reused, saving over 3.2 million bottles from landfill.

Emma left her job around 2017 to start a kombucha brand in Manchester, even though her mum had no idea what she was talking about. Hip Pop evolved from kombucha into prebiotic sodas - low calorie, full of real fruit and genuinely good for your gut. Now named the UK's best carbonated soft drink, Hip Pop is stocked in Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer and more, proving healthy pop can taste amazing.

After scaling and selling multiple businesses in digital marketing and tech, Emmie turned her expertise to helping other women succeed. Female Founders Rise grew into a community of over 10,000 female entrepreneurs, running programmes, hosting events, and connecting founders with investors to close the funding gap. Emmie is proof that the best founders lift others up on their way.

Eni Awoyemi is a serial creative turned entrepreneur who founded feYi Flowers - named after her daughter, meaning 'my joy'. Combining her East London roots and Nigerian heritage, Eni spotted a gap in the floral industry: no brand was speaking to Gen Z or centring Black women in its campaigns. feYi delivers fresh, stylish bouquets wrapped in unique designs that reflect individual style. As seen in Vogue, Eni is on a mission to modernise an outdated, gatekept industry and prove that floristry can be bold, inclusive, and culturally fluent.

Eniye founded Beame in 2025 to fix a broken habit: SPF reapplication. Her hero product, Something You Mist SPF 30 Face Mist, makes reapplying sun protection easy and enjoyable with mood-boosting natural scents. She also created UV Detection Stickers that show when your SPF has worn off. Backed by L'Oréal's Women in Tech & Beauty Fund and Adobe Express x Steven Bartlett's Manifesto competition, Eniye leads product development, brand strategy and retail partnerships.

A former investment analyst, Eshita was inspired to tackle fashion waste after witnessing textile pollution first-hand during her honeymoon in Rajasthan, India. She built By Rotation as a peer-to-peer fashion rental app where anyone can lend and rent designer pieces from each other's wardrobes. The app has saved thousands of garments from landfill and built a community of style-conscious women proving that sustainable fashion can be accessible, affordable and genuinely exciting.

After finding a tired bee in 2018 and struggling to locate flowers nearby, Faye and her partner Jacob gave it a sugar water solution and watched it fly away. That moment sparked an idea – the Bee Revival Kit, a keyring containing bee-friendly syrup for rescuing exhausted bees. They started selling at local markets in Devon and grew the business from their kitchen table to a fully operational studio with a team of six. Their products are now stocked by the RSPB, WWF, Kew Gardens, and wildlife trusts across the UK, and they pitched on Dragons' Den where Deborah Meaden made them an offer.

After years leading major confectionery brands at Mondelēz, Fliss saw a gap in the market - children's sweets were either packed with artificial junk or tasted boring. She launched Wild Thingz with a mission of Less Junk, More Punk. Her half the sugar, natural sweets use real fruit juice and natural ingredients, with no artificial colours or flavours. The brand landed in major UK retailers within months of launching, proving healthy treats can be seriously exciting.

Fran launched Grace & Green to prove period care could be sustainable without compromise. Her organic cotton and bamboo products are chlorine-free, fragrance-free and wrapped in fully biodegradable packaging. The brand became the top-scoring B Corp in its category, won an Innovate UK Smart Grant and got picked for the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator. In 2025, she raised £1.3m to fund two world-first patented innovations.

After years championing founders through the Great British Entrepreneur Awards and UK StartUp Awards, Cardiff-based Frankie spotted something missing - entrepreneurs needed real space to connect and think differently, not more Zoom calls. So she created Ideas Fest, a two-day outdoor festival where thousands of founders gather each summer to reset, recharge and spark bold new ideas. Now known as 'the annual pilgrimage for entrepreneurs', it's become the place where real breakthroughs begin.

Gabriela co-founded Good With because she saw millions of people being unfairly turned down for credit due to outdated scoring systems. Her platform uses a clever mix of AI, psychology and real spending data to show lenders who someone actually is – not just what a traditional score says. Backed by Innovate UK, Good With is already working with major UK lenders to make borrowing fairer.

Gemma created Gut Wealth after years of struggling with digestive issues that doctors couldn't diagnose or solve. Determined to find answers, she worked with leading nutritional scientists to develop supplements backed by clinical research that genuinely make a difference. What started as a deeply personal mission became a fast-growing wellness brand stocked in retailers across the UK, helping thousands of people take control of their gut health and feel better every day.

George studied Law at university but kept getting underpaid in her part-time jobs. After one job didn't pay her at all, she decided to fix the problem herself. She built WAC – an app that helps hourly-paid workers track their shifts and make sure they get paid properly. Since launching in 2020, WAC has helped over 500,000 workers reclaim thousands of pounds in lost wages.

Georgina was diagnosed with MS at 26 and later with ADHD. After years of navigating the extra costs that come with disability, she launched Purpl – a platform offering exclusive discounts to disabled people across the UK. What started as a personal mission has grown into a community trusted by thousands, proving that lived experience is one of the most powerful foundations for a business.

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.

Grace founded WorkSpa after seeing how unequal care can be for people navigating mental and physical crises. Now a King's Trust Ambassador and award-winning entrepreneur, she leads a team of psychotherapists and wellbeing specialists delivering holistic programmes to corporations across the UK. Grace is proving that investing in employee wellness is not just good ethics - it is good business.

Grace Hardy launched Hardy Accounting because she saw too many small business owners drowning in spreadsheets and stressing over tax deadlines. She wanted to strip away the jargon and make accounting feel approachable - especially for first-time founders who have no idea where to start. Hardy Accounting helps entrepreneurs stay on top of their numbers so they can focus on actually growing their business. Grace proves you don't need to be boring to be brilliant with numbers.

Hanan founded Intotum after watching her grandfather struggle to find stylish clothing following stoma surgery. A London College of Fashion graduate and Drapers 30 Under 30, she designs adaptive garments that conceal medical devices while reflecting high street trends. Named a NatWest Pitch winner, Hanan is proving adaptive fashion can be beautiful, functional and empowering.

Hannah Cox founded the Better Business Network, the UK's inclusive community for purpose-driven businesses. BBN helps founders grow their impact through community, continuous learning and collective action. It's also home to the Better Business Standard Accreditation, a practical framework helping businesses prove and improve their impact. Over 5,000 people have attended BBN events, 84% of members have collaborated with fellow members, and a quarter have become B Corps.

Hannah Hagon created Unplugged Tots to prove children don't need screens to learn tech skills. Her 'unplugged coding' approach teaches computational thinking through structured play, helping kids as young as three develop problem-solving, logic and engineering skills without touching a device. With workshops and resources for parents and teachers, Hannah is preparing the next generation of inventors, engineers and technologists - one hands-on challenge at a time.

Hannah May co-founded The Cornish Seaweed Bath Co. after discovering the traditional therapeutic benefits of seaweed while surfing and exploring the Cornish coastline. Together with her partner Richard, she combined his background in traditional Chinese medicine with their shared love of the wild Cornish sea to create a unique range of haircare, skincare and bath products. Every product is made by hand in Cornwall using sustainably harvested seaweed, turning a local natural resource into a growing wellness brand.

Hayley built GoCompare from scratch after spotting a gap in the insurance comparison market. Starting from her kitchen table in Newport, Wales, she grew it into one of the UK's most recognised consumer brands, eventually valued at over £450 million. A proud Welsh entrepreneur, she went on to found Buzzvault, a home contents valuation platform, and was awarded an OBE for services to entrepreneurship and the Welsh economy.

Hayley Peacock is a UK education entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster who founded the award-winning Little Barn Owls Early Years Group and, in 2020, launched Atelier 21 Future School - the UK's first Reggio Emilia inspired, enquiry-based independent school for 4-16 year olds. Through Hayley Peacock Education she shares the 'Playoneering' approach, training educators and schools in project-based, real-world learning and metacognitive classroom practice. She was named Gatwick Diamond Business Person of the Year in 2024, is a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 'Purpose' category, and has spoken at the World Education Summit about pioneering 'cool schools'.

Heather spotted that most people were being left behind by AI because the training was too technical and full of jargon. She founded AI for Non-Techies, a learning platform that makes AI accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. Her practical approach has helped generate $75 million in client sales and she now works with global brands including Toyota, Salesforce, and HSBC. An AI advisor to the UK government, she sits on the ISO committee for AI in education and is regularly featured in Forbes as a top global MarTech influencer. She also speaks for the BBC as an AI expert and dedicates 20% of profits to funding social events for isolated elderly people.

Helen took her family firm Agencia and doubled its turnover, winning clients like the UN, NHS and the UK Foreign Office across almost 30 countries. Named Best Small Business at the National Family Business Awards, she earned an MBE in 2022. Now she speaks and trains globally, and her book Go for Goosebumps helps readers turn life's mundane 'porridge moments' into energising, joyful experiences.

Helen Hardy started Foudys as a side hustle in her Gorton bedroom because she couldn't buy a women's football shirt with her favourite player's name on it. With just £200, she built the world's first online retailer dedicated to women's football shirts. The business grew from a bedroom operation into a world-leading sports retailer with a store on Manchester's Deansgate. Alongside Foudys, Helen founded Manchester Laces, the first inclusive women's and non-binary football club, and The Inclusive Football Collective. She was named on the BBC Woman's Hour Power List 2023 and continues to campaign for better visibility and access in women's football.

Helen founded Davy J in Devon after a career in sport and a deep love of the sea. She spotted that most swimwear is made from cheap, planet-damaging plastics, so she started making hers from recycled ghost fishing nets recovered from the ocean. Every piece is designed to last for years, not seasons. Davy J has become a go-to brand for women who want swimwear that looks amazing and does genuine good.

Hero launched Muddy Stilettos as a blog in 2013 after swapping London life for the countryside and struggling to find cool local places. What started as a personal guide quickly grew into the UK's biggest independent lifestyle platform outside the capital, covering food, style, and things to do across multiple counties. Hero has built a loyal community of millions and champions small businesses everywhere she goes.

Hollie couldn't find sun cream she felt safe putting on her boys' skin, so she made her own. After being diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2019, she vowed to grow Sweet Bee Organics and share her passion for natural wellness. Now she handcrafts a certified-organic range of balms, oils and creams in Somerset. Her magnesium butter alone has helped millions sleep better.

Dr Holly Reeve co-founded HydRegen after completing her DPhil in Chemistry at the University of Oxford, where she developed the core technology from lab research to commercial product. HydRegen combines industrial biotechnology with modern chemical manufacturing to create more sustainable processes for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Holly was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal in 2022 for her pioneering work bridging biology and chemistry at scale.

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.

Honor and Cat Black started playing cricket as young girls at their local club in Sussex, often the only girls on the team. The kit was the problem: everything was designed for boys, uncomfortable and ill-fitting, and it nearly put them off the sport altogether. Instead of quitting, they designed their own. They founded Maiden Cricket as teenagers, creating purpose-built clothing, teamwear and equipment for female players, and went on to win £50,000 of investment on Dragons' Den. Their mantra says it all: built for her, not adapted from his.

Ilinca Georgescu founded Trem to tackle Essential Tremor, a neurological condition affecting over 140 million people globally yet chronically under-researched and misdiagnosed. Trem is building the first clinically validated digital tremor scale, capturing objective data through wearables and phone-based tasks. An AI assistant provides personalised insights and therapeutic content. The platform serves patients via charity partnerships and licenses its tremor scale to pharma companies running clinical trials.

Insiya Jafferjee co-founded Shellworks to tackle the global plastic crisis by engineering materials from natural microbes that perform like plastic but biodegrade harmlessly. A design engineer by training, she turned her university research into a growing business now working with major beauty and packaging brands. Insiya is proving sustainability and performance can go hand in hand.

As a graduate student at Harvard, Ira designed and patented the Asan menstrual cup - named the UK's best reusable period cup by The Evening Standard two years running. Asan has helped over 100,000 underserved women and girls worldwide safely attend school and work during periods, and has averted over 200 million plastic pads from landfill. Ira has been awarded the Cartier Women's Initiative Fellowship and the Innovate UK Unlocking Potential Award.

Isobel turned her fascination with skincare into a purpose-driven brand, self-funding everything from day one. She creates waterless, planet-friendly formulas designed to feel indulgent but thoughtful – skincare that's about how it makes you feel, not just how it looks. After navigating a forced rebrand in 2026, she came back stronger with a brand that carries her name, her values, and her belief that small daily rituals can bring calm and confidence to busy lives.

Izzy founded Foundervine to tackle the funding and support gap facing underrepresented entrepreneurs in the UK. Through accelerator programmes and partnerships with major organisations including Lloyds Bank, Barclays and Google, she has helped hundreds of diverse founders launch and grow tech-driven businesses. A passionate advocate for equity in entrepreneurship, Izzy is proving that when you remove barriers and provide the right support, brilliant businesses emerge from every community.

Jade Hildreth launched Dancing Leopard driven by a love of bold prints and a desire to create fashion that makes women feel confident and joyful. Starting from scratch, she built the brand into a recognisable name in UK fashion, known for its colourful designs and inclusive sizing. Her journey proves that staying true to your creative vision can build a loyal following.

Jamelia launched Treasure Tress in 2017 after struggling to find quality products for her natural hair. What started as a subscription box grew into a platform celebrating Black hair culture and connecting women with curated products. Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30, she's made waves in the beauty industry by putting underserved customers first.

Jane is CEO of Rookwood Operations, transforming how we handle phosphate in wastewater. Their patented technology removes phosphorus pollution from water treatment works and converts it into sustainable fertiliser, solving two major environmental problems at once. A Women in Innovation award winner, Jane believes in surrounding yourself with great people and seeking advice. She's proof that deep science can drive both environmental impact and commercial success.

Jasmine and Jo met during their Oxford MBA and saw that teens were getting health information from TikTok misinformation instead of trusted sources. They built Luna, a digital wellbeing companion providing medically-backed advice on puberty, periods and mental health in a safe, judgement-free space. The platform now has over 100,000 members and partners with schools and NHS trusts to ensure every young person has access to reliable health guidance.

Jayde Edwards is the Founder and CEO of Let's Be Real UK Foundation, creating pathways to opportunities for young people aged 16–25 across the UK. Driven by lived experience, she has supported and mobilised hundreds into education, employment and entrepreneurship. She is also the founder of the YEES Youth Digital Hub, connecting opportunities at scale. Her work has been recognised by Forbes, BBC and ITV, positioning her as a leading voice in youth empowerment.

Jayne created Sibstar after seeing her own mother struggle with finances following a dementia diagnosis. She realised there was nothing out there to help families protect their loved ones from financial harm while still letting them keep their independence. Sibstar lets carers set spending limits and get alerts, so people with dementia can still use their own money with dignity.

When Jen, who has Down's syndrome, couldn't find accessible dance training to pursue her dream of becoming a dance leader, her mum Sue helped her co-create DanceSyndrome in 2009. The multi-award-winning charity now delivers inclusive dance workshops and leadership training across the UK, proving that disability is no barrier to leading and inspiring others. Jen has become one of the UK's only professional dance leaders with Down's syndrome.

Jen co-founded DefProc Engineering in Liverpool to bridge the gap between great ideas and real products. The company specialises in innovation project management, helping clients develop connected devices, IoT solutions and hardware prototypes from concept to market. Recognised in The Manufacturer Top 100, Jen leads a team that has delivered projects across healthcare, transport and smart cities. She is passionate about making British manufacturing more innovative and accessible.

Before she ever wrote a line of code, Jen Lothian was a British Army captain serving in Afghanistan. She then worked in big finance at Bank of America and Octopus before spotting a massive gap - there was no simple way to access all your financial data in one place. So she built DataWollet, the UK's first open finance platform that pulls everything together through a single gateway. She raised £1.3 million from female angel investors, proving that backing women-led startups is a seriously smart move.

After being diagnosed with multiple chronic illnesses, Jenni launched Chronically Jenni in 2017 to share the hacks, humour and honesty missing from disability conversations. What started as social media posts grew into a content creation, public speaking and modelling career. She now runs a disabled-owned business directory, models professionally in her wheelchair, and educates millions on accessibility - proving that visibility changes everything.

Jennifer struggled for years to find stylish shoes that actually fitted her bunions. Rather than settling for frumpy medical options, she designed her own range. Calla Shoes creates gorgeous heels, flats and boots using unique lasts shaped specifically for wider feet and common foot conditions like bunions and hammertoes. The brand has built a devoted community of women who finally feel confident and stylish without sacrificing comfort or foot health.

Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek co-founded REFY Beauty in 2020, starting with their iconic Brow Sculpt. Combining Jess's social media influence with Jenna's beauty expertise, they built a brand championing effortless, minimal beauty. Now stocked in Selfridges, Space NK, and Sephora worldwide, REFY has become one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the UK.

Jess founded Halo Global, a creative, future-focused communications agency working with leaders in technology, AI, deep space, fashion tech and social transformation globally. A named BBC Expert Woman and LinkedIn Story of Success, she honed her trade over a decade at The Eden Project and was a key player in building Crowdfunder, the UK's largest rewards-based platform. Jess is passionate about how technology can empower people and protect the planet.

Jo Bird spent over a decade as a creative leader at major brands including Gymshark and Lounge Underwear, where she served as Head of Creative. After being made redundant, she took the leap into self-employment and exceeded her previous salary within three months. A TEDx speaker, Cannes Future Lions judge and two-time bestselling author, Jo built her audience organically on LinkedIn and now helps founders craft brands that feel real.

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.

After 25 years in law, Joanna co-founded City Century to open up the legal profession. She works with over 50 international law firms to create degree apprenticeship routes into law, including a Law Degree and all professional qualifications needed to qualify as a solicitor – removing the need for expensive university degrees. Her work has driven a 240% increase in firms adopting apprenticeship schemes. Joanna was awarded an MBE for services to Education and Skills.

Joanna founded Childs Farm in 2010 after her daughter suffered from dry, sensitive skin. Starting from her kitchen, she created natural, dermatologist-approved products that are now stocked in major retailers. The brand became the UK's fastest-growing children's toiletry range and was acquired by PZ Cussons for £38.6 million in 2022, making it one of the UK's biggest skincare exits.

Joanne Lambell's love of houseplants began in 2001 when she carried a 6ft Monstera home on the bus from a Swedish furniture store and decided there had to be a better way to buy plants. That passion grew into Beards & Daisies, founded in 2015 and now home to the UK's largest collection of indoor houseplants, with next-day delivery direct from the nursery. Female-founded and family-run, the business has earned the trust of more than 650,000 plant parents over more than a decade, packaging every plant in-house and treating each one with fanatical care.

Jodie founded Thrive Law after experiencing workplace burnout first-hand as a young solicitor. She built a law firm specialising in employment law with a deep focus on mental health, neurodiversity, and psychologically safe workplaces. A TEDx speaker and published author, Jodie is widely recognised as a leading voice in the future of inclusive, human-centred work.

Jordan co-founded myenergi in 2016 to make renewable energy accessible to everyone. From a small unit in Lincolnshire, she helped grow the company into a global green tech business employing over 350 people. Their zappi charger became the UK's bestselling home EV charger. Jordan champions more women in STEM and sustainability.

Josephine founded SOJO to make sustainable fashion effortless by connecting customers with local tailors for clothing repairs and alterations through a simple app. Collections and deliveries are made by bike, making it as convenient as ordering food delivery. Since launching, SOJO has saved thousands of garments from landfill by extending their lifespan. Josephine is tackling fast fashion's waste problem one repair at a time, proving the circular economy can be genuinely convenient.

Joyeeta co-founded Samudra Oceans after meeting her partner Alex at Cambridge, where they realised seaweed farming could be a powerful climate solution. They built an ocean intelligence platform using AI and robotics to help farmers grow seaweed at scale. Joyeeta is on a mission to prove the ocean holds answers to our biggest environmental challenges.

Julie co-founded Cheeky Panda to prove everyday products can be sustainable without sacrificing quality. Their bamboo tissues, toilet rolls, and wipes are now stocked in major retailers across the UK, saving trees while performing brilliantly. As a certified B Corp, the brand has shown that eco-friendly products can compete with the biggest names and win loyal customers.

Julie launched The Cambridge Satchel Company in 2008 with just £600 from her kitchen table, aiming to fund her children's education. Through clever digital marketing and a focus on quality, the brand grew into a global success with a £10 million turnover and high-profile collaborations. When copycat products appeared, she fought to protect her brand through trade mark strategy. Julie was awarded an OBE for services to business.

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.

Kameese Davis started Nylah's Naturals from her own kitchen, making hair restoration products after struggling to find science-backed solutions for afro and textured hair. What began as a personal mission grew into a 7-figure beauty brand stocked in major retailers including Boots and Superdrug. She appeared on Dragons' Den in 2021 and walked away from an offer because she believed her vision was worth more - a decision that paid off when she won £150,000 in TV advertising through the Channel 4 and Lloyds Bank Black in Business initiative. Today Nylah's Naturals is a purpose-led brand proving that products built for under-served communities can become mainstream successes.

Kamiqua founded COLDR in 2020 – an ambitious, award-winning consultancy built around a diverse team of strategic storytellers. They help brands grow through purposeful inclusion of new, emerging and underrepresented audiences. COLDR gets under the skin of how different people live, love, work and play to breathe authenticity and cultural fluency into communications strategies, earn attention, create hype and drive real impact.

Karen Robinson is a Scottish entrepreneur who founded Three Robins after her middle son developed a lactose intolerance. Unable to find a plant-based milk that met her family's nutritional needs, she created her own fortified oat drinks packed with vitamins and minerals. Named after her three sons - the original 'three robins' - the brand has grown from a kitchen idea into a nationally recognised product stocked across the UK, winning Rising Star recognition in 2024.

Karishma is the 29-year-old founder of KishKin, the skincare brand she launched after discovering a routine that cleared her own acne. Based in Ashford, Surrey, she's the first businesswoman in a family of businessmen - self-funding KishKin from scratch to simplify the trend-driven beauty cycle. In 2026 she won BBC's The Apprentice, securing Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment to scale KishKin globally and build a legacy for her family.

Kate founded Sabzi in Truro after identifying a gap in the market for fresh, vibrant Middle Eastern-inspired food. A former MasterChef quarter-finalist, she combined her Iranian heritage with local Cornish ingredients. Sabzi has since grown into multiple locations, winning awards for its sustainable approach and high-quality takeaways that prove fast food can be incredibly nutritious and flavourful.

Kate founded Gaia Learning after her own family's struggles with the additional needs system showed her how many gaps existed. Gaia provides live online lessons from qualified teachers who understand neurodiversity and school anxiety, working with schools and local authorities to help students get back into learning. Kate also co-founded Bloom, a platform that tracks how students are doing in real time.

Kate and Louise launched Craft & Crumb after bonding over a love of baking and a frustration with complicated recipes. They created beautifully packaged baking kits with pre-measured ingredients, clear instructions and all the decorations included. What started as a side project grew into a thriving business stocked in major retailers, proving that a simple, joyful idea executed brilliantly can scale fast.

Kate founded Learn Happy, an educational and wellbeing club in Hertfordshire that helps primary-age children build confidence. They also work directly with schools. She runs the Game Changers Collective too, bringing together progressive educators who believe the education system needs a shake-up. Through both ventures, Kate connects teachers and families who are passionate about helping children thrive.

Kate founded Ancient + Brave to bridge ancestral health wisdom with modern nutritional science. Their collagen supplements and functional coffees gained a cult following and are now stocked in Selfridges and Planet Organic. The brand leads the UK's clean supplement movement, proving that wellness products rooted in nature and backed by science have serious staying power.

Katie founded Club Peppermint in London in 2023 after years working as a freelance social media manager. Instead of keeping the journey behind closed doors, she built the brand in public - sharing the wins, the mistakes and the money side of starting a fashion label with a LinkedIn community that has grown to more than 130,000 followers. Club Peppermint creates heavyweight, 80s-inspired unisex basics, knitwear and outerwear, all made in Portugal, and the brand earned a spot on the FEBE Growth 100 watch list of the UK's fastest-growing founder-led businesses.

Katie founded Sustained Futures in 2023 to close the 'future skills' gap sitting at the intersection of AI and sustainability - helping organisations quantify, upskill and certify the capabilities their people actually need. She brings six seasons at McLaren F1 (first in AI partnerships, then building its first sustainability function) and decarbonisation work at Capgemini Invent. She was named a 2024 Barclays Outstanding Entrepreneur and Sustained Futures is an official 2026 Earthshot Prize nominee.

After struggling to find skincare designed for the whole body - including intimate areas - Katy Cottam launched Luna Daily in 2020 to fill the gap. With a background in beauty product development, she built a science-led, dermatologically tested range that's now sold in Sephora, Boots, Selfridges and Space NK across the UK, US and Europe. Luna Daily has become a movement, breaking taboos and giving women the language and products to look after every part of themselves.

Katy started Creative Boom as a side project while working as a freelance journalist. She wanted to create a space where creative people could find real inspiration and practical advice. Over time it grew into one of the most-read creative industry publications in the UK, covering everything from graphic design to photography, and giving a platform to emerging talent.

Kerry was a Virgin Atlantic cabin crew member when the pandemic hit. She spent £250 to start making bracelets with personalised poems on her lounge floor, wanting to create affordable keepsakes people could post to loved ones. Letterbox Love has since sold over half a million bracelets, turned over £1 million, and is stocked in over 500 stores worldwide, all without outside investors.

Khalia launched Jamii at just 22, creating the UK's first discount card for Black British brands. Her sister Courtney joined as co-founder, bringing content and e-commerce expertise to help grow the platform. Together they built a thriving marketplace and community that champions Black-owned businesses across beauty, fashion, food and lifestyle. Featured in Forbes, Buzzfeed and the BBC, the sisters have partnered with major organisations and helped thousands of customers discover and support incredible independent brands.

Kim started Humble Crumble at a farmers' market in 2018 aged 23, with no formal training. She spent two years running stalls alone before landing Spitalfields Market, which went into lockdown three days later. Her pumpkin crumble went viral on TikTok, turning everything around. Now with a team of over 50 and bakeries in Borough Market and Camden, she sells around 1,500 crumbles a day.

Kira Matthews is a pitch coach, speaker and founder of Pitch School, where she helps entrepreneurs craft pitches that win funding, partnerships and press. A former TV producer turned communications expert, Kira has worked with hundreds of founders to sharpen their story, build confidence on stage and turn nerves into power. She champions underrepresented founders and is on a mission to make sure great ideas get heard - no matter who's behind them.

Kirsty started her food business as a teenager after her young son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies and she couldn't find meals he could safely eat. She appeared on Dragons' Den at just 25 and secured investment from Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne. She built Kirsty's into one of the UK's leading free-from food brands, stocking allergy-friendly ready meals in major supermarkets and proving inclusive food can taste brilliant.

With a background at Google, Slack, LinkedIn and Microsoft, Lara co-founded XRAI Glass with her husband Dan after seeing how his deaf grandfather struggled in conversations. Their award-winning app converts speech into real-time subtitles on augmented reality smart glasses, transforming how deaf and hard-of-hearing people engage with the world. The technology has been recognised globally for making everyday conversations accessible.

Laura left her corporate career after discovering that most kitchen sponges are made from plastic that sheds harmful microplastics into waterways. She founded Seep to create effective, plastic-free cleaning products that people actually want to use. Starting from her kitchen table, she built the brand into a certified B Corp now stocked in Waitrose, Ocado and independent stores. Seep proves that simple product swaps can drive meaningful environmental change.

Former lawyer Laura Pomfret teamed up with her sister Holly Holland to launch Financielle after seeing how many women lacked confidence around money. Their app combines budgeting tools with financial education, helping users build savings habits and tackle debt. Named in the Startups 100, Financielle is changing the conversation around women and wealth.

Laura founded KnitRegen after researching how textiles can help the body heal. Her company developed a patented wearable device called the PowerBead that uses smart fabric to stimulate muscles and help people recover movement after a stroke. It works alongside daily life - no bulky equipment needed.

Lauren created Oatsu to bring excitement to healthy breakfasts, developing unique flavour combinations that make overnight oats genuinely delicious. From her kitchen experiments to supermarket shelves, she's proved that nutritious food can be something to look forward to. Each pot is ready to eat with no prep needed, packed with protein and plant-based goodness. The brand continues to grow with loyal fans who love convenient, healthy mornings.

Lea built The Holt after becoming one of LinkedIn's most followed voices on entrepreneurship and personal branding. A single mum who started from scratch, she turned her no-nonsense content into a thriving membership community helping business owners grow their revenue and online presence. Her authentic, honest approach has attracted thousands of members who value real, practical advice over polished corporate speak. Lea proves that building in public creates genuine trust.

Leanne founded ADHD Works after being diagnosed with ADHD herself and realising how little support existed in the workplace. She turned her personal experience into a business that helps both individuals and employers understand ADHD. Through coaching, workshops and her bestselling book, Leanne has become one of the UK's leading voices on neurodiversity at work, proving that thinking differently is a superpower.

After years performing as a singer and dancer in Los Angeles, Lemon returned to London and launched Lemonade Dolls as an Instagram community to help women feel confident and empowered. It evolved into one of the UK's most inclusive lingerie brands, celebrating curves, scars and real bodies with bold, vibrant designs. The range includes a gender-affirming collection, proving that lingerie can be a force for self-love and radical body acceptance.

Lisa and Saskia built The Biskery from a kitchen table, creating a wide range of hand-made biscuits, from intricately iced designs to fondant and jam-filled varieties, for clients including Meta, BBC and Fendi. What sets them apart is their flexible, school-hours-friendly approach to work, which naturally attracts mothers looking to balance career and family life, showing that a family-first business model can truly scale. Their biscuits are enjoyed across the UK, and the brand has grown into a six-figure business built on kindness, craft and flexibility.

Lottie built Up World, a community of over 1,100 start-up marketers who support each other through weekly huddles, mentor matching and courses. Up Talent connects start-ups with top marketing leaders, helping them build teams from scratch or strengthen existing ones. Brand Hackers provides part-time marketing teams for ambitious brands, using their Progress Loops process to get results faster than an agency or small in-house team could.

Co-founded with her husband, pro-rugby player Joe Gray. Their first prototype was a drill and stool leg! They secured a deal from Gary Neville and Sara Davies on Dragon's Den and have since expanded from massage guns into saunas, ice baths and compression boots. Now MyoMaster products are used by Premier League teams and Olympic athletes around the world, with over 10,000 five-star reviews.

Louisa co-founded Kunda Kids with her husband Oladele to create diverse, inclusive children's content that celebrates African culture and global citizenship. Their preschool animation Kunda and Friends has reached families worldwide. With Ugandan roots and raised in the UK, Louisa was named in Africa's Business Heroes Top 20 in 2025, proving that representation in children's media matters.

Louise co-founded GoHenry after realising there was no simple way to teach her own children about money in a cashless world. The app gives kids a prepaid debit card and parents the tools to set tasks, allowances and spending controls. It grew to over two million members and was acquired by Acorns in 2023, proving the demand for financial education that starts young.

Aged 21, Lucie started making pre-wash hair treatments after years of bleaching left her locks damaged. She mixed oils in her student kitchen and the results were incredible. During lockdown she posted a tutorial on TikTok with under five followers and it got over 500,000 views. People begged her to sell the product, and Hair Syrup was born. Now stocked in Boots and ASOS.

Lucy launched Country & Townhouse as a digital-first luxury lifestyle magazine bridging the gap between country and city living. As a journalist and editor, she spotted that no one was speaking to modern women who love both worlds. She built a media brand covering style, travel, interiors and culture with a fresh, accessible voice that has attracted a loyal and growing audience.

Lucy noticed something missing – there was no real community for people who worked in social media. So she created SocialDay, a huge conference and online platform where marketers could learn and connect. Then she launched Digital Women to help women build careers in digital. Now she's added AIday too, helping people figure out how to use AI in their work. She's been on BBC Radio, Sky TV and in The Telegraph, and works with brands like Adobe and Canva.

Lucy invented MarinaTex as a university student, creating a compostable alternative to single-use plastic using fish waste and red algae. Her innovation won the international James Dyson Award and has been recognised globally as a breakthrough in sustainable materials. Lucy is proving that the answer to our plastic problem might already exist in what we throw away.

Lucy spent years sharing her heirloom growing journey on Instagram when a chat with her friend Kate sparked an idea - the thing holding people back from growing their own food was not knowing where to start. They joined forces to create She Grows Veg, a seed company dedicated to making unusual and beautiful heirloom varieties accessible to growers across the UK. Today they offer over 250 carefully sourced seed varieties from around the world.

Lucy started making bridal accessories in her spare room in 2019 after learning on YouTube how to craft hair vines for her own wedding. A former marketing director, she spotted a gap and began selling on Etsy, getting an instant response from brides. Six Stories has since grown into an internationally recognised brand, hitting £10 million in sales and earning a place on The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private businesses list two years running.

Maahika started Empower Sounds Media as a teenager, determined to give young people a platform to share stories that mainstream media overlooked. What began as a small podcast grew into a full creative media company producing events, content and campaigns. Maahika has built a community of young creators and changemakers, proving that age is no barrier to making a real impact in the media industry.

Mariam founded Menza in 2023 to help consumer brands see what they need to know, when they need to know it. Her AI platform monitors business data around the clock and delivers actionable insights automatically, replacing hours of manual analysis. Backed by Y Combinator - one of the world's most prestigious startup accelerators - she is making data-driven decision-making accessible to brands of every size, not just those with big analytics teams.

Marisa grew up in New York and discovered matcha at university when coffee was making her anxiety worse. When she moved to the UK in 2020, she couldn't find good matcha anywhere – so she launched PerfectTed with her husband and brother-in-law within 45 days. What started as kitchen experiments is now Europe's biggest matcha brand, sold in supermarkets and cafés across the country.

In 2013, Martha left a senior role in healthcare to launch Martha Brook, a personalised stationery company. She grew it from scratch into a feel-good global brand, winning Great Britain's Consumer Goods Businesswoman of the Year in 2023. A passionate champion of small businesses and the creative industries, she set up Business Secrets Club in 2024 to help other entrepreneurs, quickly building a community of over 100,000 business owners. She also speaks at events, writes about entrepreneurship, and advises businesses at every stage of growth.

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.

Maya Raichoora is on a mission to build the Nike of mental fitness. She founded Remap after using visualisation to overcome Ulcerative Colitis as a teenager, turning a personal health challenge into a growing business. She became Nike's first mental fitness trainer, works with elite athletes and leaders, and has delivered TEDx talks on the power of the mind. Through coaching, immersive events and her book VISUALISE, she helps people retrain their thoughts so they can perform at their best.

Melissa started her first company aged 23. The idea for Nourished came in 2018 when she dropped vitamin pills at airport security and thought there had to be a better way. Plant-based since her teens, she created 3D-printed personalised vitamin stacks tailored to each person's needs. Nourished is now stocked in Boots and over 500 Holland & Barrett stores nationwide.

Millie launched Human Beauty to challenge unrealistic beauty standards, creating skincare and makeup that celebrates real skin. Her brand focuses on inclusivity and transparency, championing the idea that beauty should make you feel more like yourself, not less. Through honest content and community-driven products, she's building a movement around self-acceptance.

Millie Haywood is the founder of Mentally Unstitched, a UK clothing brand created from her own journey navigating anxiety, sensory overwhelm and autism. After spending years not knowing she was autistic, she designed clothes that prioritise comfort, mental wellbeing and self-expression - including sensory-friendly hoodies and soft, seam-conscious pieces. Featured by the BBC, CBS News and Enterprise Nation, she is proving that fashion can be a powerful tool for inclusion, representation and starting conversations about mental health.

Milly founded Generalist World to challenge the idea that you need to specialise to succeed. Through her community, content, and coaching, she helps people embrace their varied interests and build fulfilling careers that draw on all their skills. Her platform has grown into a global movement celebrating curiosity, adaptability, and the strength of being a jack-of-all-trades.

An architect and Associate Professor at The Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL, Mollie co-founded Automated Architecture to solve the housing crisis through technology. Using a network of robotic micro-factories, the company builds sustainable timber housing modules at 30 to 40 per cent lower cost than traditional methods. Their approach reduces construction waste and speeds up delivery. Mollie is reimagining how we build homes, making quality housing affordable and environmentally responsible.

Morgan and Rima met at Imperial College, where they ran the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Club together. Watching friends and family start their parenthood journeys, they spotted an industry nobody had bothered to modernise: nappies. In March 2021 they founded Peachies and spent two years learning everything about nappies before redesigning them from the inside out - better fit, better materials, better for parents. Along the way they built a loyal community of parents and caregivers who wanted something better than the stale supermarket status quo.

Natalie Handside created GirlBe because she wanted to help young girls build real confidence before the pressures of teenage life kick in. Each monthly box is packed with activities, challenges and inspiring content designed to boost self-belief and inner strength. Recommended by paediatricians, psychologists and teachers, GirlBe uses the power of regular reinforcement to champion individuality. It's big life lessons wrapped up in something that feels like a treat.

Natasha Orumbie grew up surrounded by Caribbean cooking and dreamed of sharing those bold flavours with the world - but in a way that was kinder to the planet. She created The Vegan Patty Lady, making handmade vegan Jamaican patties and Caribbean-inspired dishes that taste just as good as the originals. From market stalls to catering events, Natasha has built a loyal following by proving that plant-based food can be exciting, flavourful and full of soul.

Neo started her brand to find a natural solution for her daughter's eczema, drawing on her grandmother's traditional South African remedies. What began as a personal mission grew into a full skincare range rooted in botanical wisdom. Now she also runs the Cosmetic Formulation Academy, empowering women to create their own skincare lines and build sustainable businesses from scratch.

As Director at Labskin, Nicola leads the creation of lab-grown human skin models that allow companies to test cosmetics, medicines and skincare without any animal testing. Her technology produces more accurate, reliable results than traditional methods while being completely ethical. Labskin's models are used by major beauty and pharmaceutical brands worldwide, revolutionising how products reach the market. Nicola is proving that better science and better ethics go hand in hand.

Nicole is CEO of IAMPOSSIBLE Consultancy, championing disability inclusion across sport, tech and healthcare. She then created LimbMatch, the first community-led platform where people with limb differences can find trusted reviews of prosthetics and clinics. Born from her own experience of being fitted with a prosthetic arm at six months old, LimbMatch puts disabled voices front and centre.

Nino created Young Minds App after talking to hundreds of parents worried about their children's online safety. As a mum of two, she wanted more than just blocking content. Her app uses AI to detect harmful material and teaches kids why certain things are risky. Parents can set screen time limits and custom modes. Selected for TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield.

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.

Olamide started All Things Money in 2020 after teaching herself to invest during lockdown and realising nobody had ever taught her about personal finance. She built an online platform making budgeting, saving, and investing easy to understand for young adults. Featured in BBC News, The Financial Times, and Elle, she's helping a generation feel confident and in control of their money.

Sisters Olivia and Tanyka launched Cubbi in 2024 after Olivia discovered how expensive life becomes on maternity leave. Even small treats like a coffee felt loaded with guilt. So they built a discount platform just for new and expecting parents - like a student discount card, but for mums and dads. Cubbi has already helped thousands of families save money, and the sisters even pitched on Dragons' Den in 2026.

Olivia left her media job during the pandemic and launched D. Louise - named after her mum Deborah Louise, who she lost to cancer. Frustrated by jewellery that tarnished within weeks, she created waterproof, tarnish-free pieces designed to last through real life. Starting from scratch with no jewellery experience, she built the brand into one of the UK's fastest-growing founder-led businesses and became the official jewellery partner of Chelsea FC Women.

Olivia spent years in brand marketing before realising online shopping was broken - endless scrolling, impulse buys, and wardrobes full of things that don't go together. She built Persi, an AI-powered platform that learns your personal style and helps you shop smarter by matching new pieces to what you already own. The result is less waste, fewer regretted purchases, and a wardrobe that actually works.

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.

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.

In 2013, Pip was training for marathons but couldn't find a nut butter without sugar, palm oil or additives. She started blitzing her own using just nuts and sea salt. After selling out at Maltby Street Market, she quit her job and launched Pip & Nut in 2015. Now a certified B Corp with around 30 products sold in shops nationwide, she's never compromised on ingredients.

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.

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.

Rachel learned to make macarons at the Alain Ducasse Cooking School in Paris while working as an au pair. Back in Scotland, she won £250 in a pitch competition and started selling at Edinburgh food markets. She grew Mademoiselle Macaron into a thriving online brand rated 4.9 on Trustpilot with over 7,000 reviews. Rachel has lived with epilepsy since childhood and says it has made her more determined.

As a teacher, Rachel saw first-hand the effects of poor nutrition on her pupils. She spotted a gap: healthy spreads for kids beyond the baby years. Fearne & Rosie makes reduced-sugar jams with no hidden nasties. Now stocked in over 5,000 retailers, she's proving healthier options can taste just as good.

As a single mum to a daughter with multiple food allergies, Rachel was fed up that allergen-free treats never tasted as good. She came up with the idea for The Rebel Baker in the bath, and within two months she was up and running. She appeared on Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars, secured a start-up loan just in time to save the business, and now supplies over 20 cafés plus national partners – all free from the 14 major allergens.

Rebecca Congreve started Cash Academy because she believed kids deserved to learn about money before they were thrown into the deep end as adults. Her workshops put children in charge of their own 'adult life' - earning a salary, paying bills, budgeting and making real financial decisions through role play. It's curriculum-aligned, teacher-recommended, and way more fun than a textbook. Rebecca is on a mission to make sure every child leaves school knowing how money actually works.

With a PhD in Materials Science, Renee founded Science Owl to make climate and environmental learning fun, creative and hopeful. Through hands-on workshops and STEM products, she combines environmental education with creativity to help build the green workforce of the future. Renee is driven by the belief that making climate learning playful and solution-focused can inspire young people to become curious, capable and climate-conscious citizens.

A textiles specialist and printmaker, Renuka discovered the potential of onion skins while using them for traditional fabric dyes. She founded HUID (Dutch for 'skin') in Oban, Scotland, to transform this food waste into packaging materials - a cardboard alternative and a plastic wrap replacement, both with natural properties that extend food shelf life. Winner of the Innovate UK Young Innovator Award.