WE Innovate
6 months, 3 phases and £30,000 up for grabs!
WE Innovate champions women-led teams with an entrepreneurial idea to explore.
Applications for the 2023 programme are now closed.
Registration for the WE Innovate 2023 Grand Final is now open!
Join us on Thursday 22 June 2023, 6pm-9pm at Imperial College, South Kensington.
Watch our final 5 teams present their innovations for a chance to win a share of the £30,000 prize fund.
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 6-month programme running from January to May. 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
Meet the 2023 Cohort
Want to 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 secure your first customer
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
Identify the best funding opportunities and build your network
Entry requirements
- Your team lead must identify as a woman (your team can identify as other genders or none). 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 2020).
- 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.
Programme Schedule
PHASE 1
WEEK 1
Launch event – a welcome & introduction to the programme: 7 February, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Business coaching to establish your KTH Innovation Readiness Level: 45-minute Daytime slots running 6 – 10 February
WEEK 2
Customer discovery masterclass & cohort networking: 14 February, 5:30 – 8:00pm
45-minute Business Coaching sessions: Daytime slots running 13 – 17 February
WEEK 3
Introduction to prototyping masterclass & cohort networking: 21 February, 5:30 – 8:00pm
20-minute programme check-in: Daytime slots running 20 – 24 February
WEEK 4
How to build a deck masterclass: Tuesday 28 February, 5:30-8:00pm
WEEK 5
Pitch performance masterclass & cohort networking: 7 March, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Applications for Phase 2 open: 10 March
WEEK 6
IP masterclass & cohort networking: 13 March, 1:00 – 2:00pm
45-minute business coaching sessions: Daytime slots running 13 – 17 March
WEEK 7
Leadership masterclass & cohort networking: 21 March, 5:30 – 8:00pm
20-minute programme check-in: Daytime slots running 20 – 24 March
WEEK 8
Applications for phase 2 close: 29 March
WEEK 9
Investment Masterclass & Cohort Networking: 4 April, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Cohort for phase 2 announcement: 5 April (10 teams selected)
WEEK 10
College closure for Easter
PHASE 2
Week 11
Phase 2 launch – Introduction to phase 2 & networking with Peer Mentors: 19 April 2023, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Pitch coaching: 1-to-1 Day time slots running 17 – 21 April
20-minute programme progress check-in: Daytime slots running 17 – 21 April
Phase 1 exit coaching for teams unsuccessful in entering Phase 2: 17-21 April
Week 12
45-minute business coaching sessions: 1-to-1 daytime slots running 24 – 28 April
Investor pitches: 27 – 28 April 2023
Week 13
30-minute IP Coaching: 1-to-1 Daytime slots running 1-5 May
Feedback calls for teams unsuccessful in entering Phase 2: 1-to-1 Daytime slots running 1-5 May
Finance Masterclass & Cohort Networking: 03 May, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Week 14
Group pitch practice: 9 May, 12:00 – 2:00pm
Peer mentoring (teams set a time to speak with their peer mentor): 8 – 12 May
Week 15
Pitch with industry panel & team selection for phase 3: 17 – 18 May 2023
Cohort announcement for Phase 3: 19 May 2023 (5 teams selected)
Week 16
Phase 2 exit coaching and feedback calls for teams unsuccessful entering Phase 3: 22 – 26 May
PHASE 3
Week 17
20-minute programme progress check-in: Daytime slots running 29 – 2 June
Week 18
45-minute pitch practice sessions: 1-to-1 daytime slots running from 5 – 9 June
Peer mentoring sessions with teams: 5 – 9 June
Week 19
Pitch Deck Design: 1-to-1 daytime slots running from 12 – 16 June
Week 20
Pitch practice in E-Lab: 19 June
Final dress rehearsal: 20 June
WE Innovate Final: 22 June
Week 21
26-30 June 2023: Phase 3 Exit Coaching and Feedback Calls
FAQs
Can I talk to someone about my application?
Yes, we have special Idea Surgery slots specifically for you to talk to us about your application. Book 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 Friday 23 December 2022.
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 pressed submit after the last question.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
You can find the programme Terms and Conditions here.
Meet the Alumni
SURU Together
SURU Together have developed People Supported Intelligence (PSi), an online platform for civic organisations to engage their whole community in deliberative participatory decision-making.
TOMMY
TOMMY is a non-invasive, affordable device for the continuous monitoring of glucose to improve the management of diabetes.
Hippocampus
Hippocampus is an immersive virtual reality solution for those who need help with their long-term memory.
Cadget
Cadget is revolutionising the healing process with a cast technology that is light, breathable and washable.
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 2023 programme are now closed! You can also get support with your idea or venture through booking an Idea Surgery and attending our events.
