WE Innovate
5 months, 3 phases and £30,000 up for grabs!
WE Innovate champions women-led teams with an entrepreneurial idea to explore.
Applications are now open and close on Sunday 24 November 2024.
What is WE Innovate?
We think great things can only happen when everyone has a seat at the table, which is why WE Innovate was created. To inspire, empower and increase the number of women-led start ups!
WE Innovate is a 5-month programme running from January to June. The programme supports the development of up to 25 teams through masterclasses, business coaching, 1-to-1 expert support, peer mentoring and much more. There are 3 phases during which 25 teams become a final 5 who then compete for a chance to win a share of the £30,000 prize fund.
The Prizes
All prizes will be chosen by our judging panel at the WE Innovate Final!
A share of the £30K prize fund
Engineers in Business Award
Lauren Dennis in Memoriam Award
Learning outcomes
By the end of this programme you’ll have learnt how to:
Understand the needs of, and how to talk to your customers
Create a compelling pitch deck and deliver with confidence
Understand what IP is and how to protect yours
Build a successful team, culture and business
Understand different funding needs and opportunities and expand your network
Entry requirements
- Your team lead must identify as a woman (your team can identify as other genders or none) or non-binary. We use an inclusive definition of ‘woman’ and ‘women’, welcoming, but not limited to, trans women.
- Your team lead must be a current undergraduate, post-graduate student or Early Career Researcher at Imperial College London OR must’ve graduated within the last 3 years (since October 2021).
- If you’ve previously been accepted and participated in the WE Innovate or Althea-Imperial Programme, you won’t be able to apply again as a team lead. Please note that if you’ve previously applied but not been successful, you can apply again.
- WE Innovate alumni who join or support teams participating in the programme will not be permitted to pitch at the WE Innovate Final should their team be selected as a finalist.
Key Dates
WE Innovate launches in late January 2025
WE Innovate is split into 3 phases. Phase 1 consists of 8 weeks of masterclasses and coaching sessions to help teams prepare for Phase 2 applications. There will also be regular programme check-ins.
Phase 2 introduces mentoring sessions alongside the coaching and masterclasses ahead of applications for Phase 3: where we’ll focus on pitch preparation ahead of the Grand Final. The Grand Final will take place on Wednesday 4 June 2025.
Applications
1 October – Applications open
24 November – Application close
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in mid-December
Phase One
30 January – WE Innovate Launch | In-person
28 February – Phase 2 Applications open
27 March – Phase 2 Applications close
21 March – Phase 2 teams announced
Phase Two
24 March – Phase 2 commences
2 – 4 April – Founder Retreat | In-person
10 April – Meet the Peer Mentors Networking Event | In-person
17 -22 April – Easter break, College Closure
1 May – Investor Pitch Panel | In-person
8 May – Semifinal Pitch Panel | In-person
9 May – Phase 3 teams announced
Phase Three
12 May – Phase 3 commences
20 May, 27 May, 29 May – Pitch Practise | In-person
2 June – Pitch Practise | In-person
3 June – Grand Final Dress Rehearsal
5 June – Grand Final Pitch Showcase
FAQs
Can I talk to someone about my application?
Absolutely! You can chat to us by booking onto an information session. You can watch our How To: Make Your WE Innovate Application Stand Out masterclass recording here.
Can I submit several projects?
Yes! As long as you’ve done the required research on all of them (see our Entry Requirements 👆) you can submit several ideas.
When can I expect a reply regarding my application?
We aim to notify all applicants of their status by 5pm on Friday 13 December 2024
I’ve submitted my application, but haven't received a confirmation email. Should I have?
A confirmation message should appear once you have reviewed and submitted your application. If you do not see the message please double check that you have reached the end of the application form after the last question.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
You can find the programme Terms and Conditions here.
Meet the Alumni
PSi (SURU Together)
An online platform for civic organisations to engage their whole community in deliberative participatory decision-making.
Testimonials
“Being part of WE Innovate has been an amazing experience. Every week, I looked forward to attending WE Innovate as I know I will see friendly faces, both students and staff, as well as learn an invaluable skill that I have never been taught in my academic training.”
How to apply
Applications for the 2025 programme are now open, and close on Sunday 24 November.
You can also get support with your idea or venture through booking an Idea Surgery and attending our events.
Watch our How To Make Your WE Innovate Application Stand Out masterclass to get our top tips and tricks when applying.
Our Sponsor
Are you interested in supporting Imperial’s entrepreneurial women?
For the first time in five years we are looking for the next WE Innovate sponsor. Email Sarah Ranchev-Hale for more information: [email protected]
10 Years of WE Innovate
In 2014, Imperial launched the first women’s entrepreneurship competition at a UK university with one clear objective: to address the stark inequalities faced by female founders. Ten years on, the programme has supported over 500 women who have gone on to raise more than £37.5 million for their ventures.