WE Innovate
5 months, 3 phases and £30,000 up for grabs!
WE Innovate champions women-led teams with an entrepreneurial idea to explore.
Join us at the WE Innovate Grand Final.
Register for free on Eventbrite and witness ten teams pitch their ground-breaking ideas to win a share of share of the grand final prize.
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 five-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 three phases during which 25 teams become a final five 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
Meet the 2025 Cohort
Find out about the incredible teams on this year’s WE Innovate cohort.
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
Key Dates
WE Innovate launches in late January 2025
WE Innovate is split into three phases. Phase 1 consists of eight 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 Thursday 5 June 2025.
FAQs
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.
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 closed. Interested in applying for WE Innovate 2026?
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.