CatalyseHer UK is sponsored by INCO Group. Accelerator programme for early-stage women-led businesses with a focus on social and environmental impact in the UK.

CatalyseHer UK | Empowering Women-Led Impact Startups Level up your business with CatalyseHer Do you want to grow your business in 2026? CatalyseHer, powered by INCO and supported by Visa Foundation, accelerates the growth of early-stage women-led businesses with a focus on social and environmental impact in the UK, through expert guidance and cash microgrants to unlock new opportunities.

Next Cohort starting in September 2026 For women founders or CEOs of businesses registered* in the UK Less than £2M in revenue 1. 5 hours of online live session per week 10 hours total for self-paced online learning Applications will open in the summer *You will be required to show proof registration with Company House or HMRC in the case of Sole Traders.

You’ll work through short, practical modules each week, designed to help you apply new ideas directly to your business. Choose the track most relevant to you and complete the sessions in your own time, then build on the content in live workshops through peer discussion and expert facilitation.

Live facilitated sessions You’ll join live, facilitated sessions where you’ll work alongside other founders to put the modules into practice. These sessions are interactive and discussion-led, giving you the space to explore challenges, share perspectives, and make progress on your business with support from peers and expert facilitators.

Connect with ambitious women entrepreneurs, share experiences, celebrate wins, and tackle challenges together. Plus, tap into INCO’s alumni network for ongoing support and opportunities. Showcase your business in our video pitch competition for a chance to win cash microgrants of up to £5,000.

We’ll provide a pitch training session so you can learn to confidently communicate your business impact. For businesses with revenue under £50k wanting to refine their business model. This track is designed for founders who are in the early stages of building their business and are now asking: “How can I develop a clear, customer-focused business model that’s ready to grow?

” Value proposition development For early-stage businesses ready to embed sustainability and impact into their strategy and storytelling. This track is designed for founders who are beyond the initial idea stage and are now asking: "How can I strategically integrate sustainability and impact into my business?"

Impact model identification For pre-seed businesses ready to take on investment: Basics of equity investments See what our participants share about their experiences “Use this space to share reviews from customers about the products or services offered. ” “The CatalyseHer program was a transformative part of my founder journey.

It didn’t just offer tools, it gave me clarity, confidence, and the structure I needed to build a sustainable, impact-driven business. The sessions were so engaging that the hour always flew by. I also loved being part of the WhatsApp group.

It was a great addition, and it was inspiring to see how willing everyone was to support each other. I'm truly grateful for the experience and excited to share our story with the CatalyseHer community” "It's been a true honour to be part of the CatalyseHer accelerator! The programme has empowered our brand to clearly and powerfully articulate our vision for positive impact.

Even more inspiring has been connecting with an incredible community of like-minded, purpose-driven entrepreneurs - all working to create real, meaningful change in the world." "This course gave me more than tools. It gave me clarity, confidence, and community.

It helped me recognise where I could collaborate, how I could reach families more effectively, and most importantly how to keep my mission and vision at the heart of everything I do. It reminded me that I’m not alone in this, and that the work we do at Neurostars Tutors is part of something much bigger."

“CatalyseHer’s immersive programme combining bespoke mentorship, high‑impact pitch workshops, and in‑depth modules on business modelling, value creation, go‑to‑market strategy, and revenue optimisation has supercharged Alle‑AI’s growth trajectory.

In the wake of our participation, we’ve rolled out powerful new capabilities such as video streaming, advanced audio analysis, and developer APIs—that open up exciting revenue channels, all while cultivating a powerful, inspiring network of visionary women led founders” Chief Product Technology and Strategy Officer/Co-Founder Alle-Ai If you have registered your interest already, you’ll receive a link to apply via email once applications re-open.

Applications are reviewed as they come in. We’ll assess eligibility and notify you on a rolling basis once a decision is made. If selected, you’ll receive an offer by email.

Once confirmed, we’ll share onboarding details and next steps. INCO and Visa Foundation share a mission to empower and invest in small and micro businesses, in particular women-led small businesses. Investing in women helps create a positive multiplier effect in their communities and the economies they operate in, and we are proud to support their growth.

What happens when you’ve got three minutes to explain what you’re building and why it matters? Condensing your vision, mission, and the impact you’re aiming for into a short video pitch isn’t easy. It forces focus.

You have to decide what really matters: what problem you’re solving, who it’s for, and why it deserves attention. But for founders driving social change, the pitch is less about the "presentation" and more about the clarity it demands. What Our Founders Experienced INCO Entrepreneurs Feb 11 2 min read If you're building a business with social or environmental purpose at its core, impact can't be an afterthought.

It needs to be designed from the start. Even if you’re still early in your journey, this track is perfect for learning how to integrate impact gradually and make it a central part of your strategy. INCO Entrepreneurs Jan 27 3 min read Deep Dive: Business Fundamentals Track This track is for founders who need to get clear on the core mechanics of their business: how it works, who it serves and whether the numbers add up.

Whether you're pre-revenue or already selling, the Business Fundamentals Track helps you answer the questions that matter most at early stages. INCO Entrepreneurs Jan 27 4 min read Meet Pulpatronics, a tech startup designing for and with nature For Chloe So, Co-Founder and CEO of Pulpatronics , joining CatalyseHer was a no-brainer: She was drawn to the program’s toolkits for...

INCO Entrepreneurs Aug 28, 2025 3 min read Meet the first CatalyseHer microgrant winners! Winners of the first CatalyseHer pitch competition, a celebration of bold ideas, early-stage innovation, and women creating local and global impact.

INCO Entrepreneurs Jun 5, 2025 2 min read Meet our first Pitch Winners Stay stuned to our updates Deep Dive: Business Fundamentals Track Meet Pulpatronics, a tech startup designing for and with nature Meet the first CatalyseHer microgrant winners! Is there a cost to participate? Thanks to our partners at Visa Foundation, this program is completely free!

You can access all tracks, resources, and pitch for micro-grants. What is the time commitment? We understand how busy entrepreneurs can be, so the program is designed to fit alongside your schedule.

Each week, you’ll spend 1. 5 hours in a live facilitated session and 45-60 minutes completing the corresponding online learning module. How does the track selection work?

During the application, you’ll be asked to choose the track that best fits your interests and needs so you can access the content most relevant to you. Business Fundamentals Track: Ideal if you want to refine your business strategy, clarifying elements such as your value proposition, target audience, and revenue model.

Impact Track: Designed for those who want to deepen their understanding of impact, learning how to embed it into their operations and measure it effectively. How do we define ‘businesses with an interest in social and environmental impact’?

Many early stage businesses are still refining their business and impact model, therefore, we will consider all participants who have an intention to create positive social and environmental impact through the operation of their business, whether they have already started that journey or are still figuring out the details. That’s where we can help!

Women founders, co-founders, CEOs UK-registered businesses and HMRC sole traders Less than £2M revenue We welcome businesses from all sectors and industries, with particular interest in those who are digitally-enabled and have a social and environmental impact. When is the application deadline? Applications for Cohort 3 are now closed.

The call for Cohort 4 will open in the summer. In the meantime, you can register your interest, and we’ll let you know as soon as applications open. What happens after I apply?

Once you complete your application: You'll receive an immediate confirmation of application email with your program details If accepted, you will receive an email with access to our learning platform & our WhatsApp community Catalyse Circles.

You can begin exploring the platform and preparing for your April start date Your personalised dashboard will show your selected track(s) and upcoming modules Finally we’ll send access to our community space where you can meet fellow participants and join our community. What support will I receive?

Self-paced learning modules and templates Access to a founder community and INCO’s alumni network Opportunity to pitch for micro grants Do I need to be a registered UK company or sole trader? Yes, this cohort is open to businesses registered in the UK or HMRC-registered sole traders.

During the application, we’ll ask you to provide a document that confirms your registration, such as a company registration certificate, HMRC registration letter, or other official proof of your business or sole trader status. Can I apply for multiple tracks? Not at the same time, however, you are welcome to enroll in another track in a future cohort.

This will ensure you have time to fully engage and gain the most value from the program. How do the microgrants work? At the end of each cohort, we will host an online pitch competition where participants will submit a short video about their business to compete for microgrants of £5,000.

The grant must be used operationally to support the business to grow and cannot be used towards staff wages. We will also be running a larger-scale enterprise competition with bigger grants that participants from any cohort can participate in at a later date. How much funding is available through the microgrants?

Over the course of the program there will be $300k USD available in direct cash grants for women entrepreneurs in the UK. Yes, all sessions are delivered online, allowing for you to participate from anywhere in the UK. I’m not available during the training dates.

Will there be future cohorts? Yes! We will be running another 4 cohorts over the next 3 years.

You can register your interest for future dates on our website. Feel free to reach out to us at catalyseher@learning. inco-group.

co . We’re happy to help!