AboutThis transformative six week accelerator aims to support women founders and entrepreneurs to strengthen their business skills and grow their sustainability startup. FormatFree accelerator programme, delivered through a series of online workshops, twice a week, with an average time commitment of 2-4 hours per week. Participants will also be invited to attend an in person kick-off session and completion reception in Cambridge. |
Who should apply?Women founders of innovative startups that tackle systemic sustainability challenges. Key dates
Applications for this programme are now closed.Stay updated on future accelerator programmes and announcements from CISL's Canopy by clicking here. |
About the accelerator
Celebrating women pioneering sustainability innovation, this programme is designed to equip female founders with the skills, confidence and networks to accelerate positive change.
Women remain underrepresented in business and entrepreneurship - and especially so in technology and innovation. As it stands, female-owned companies account for just 32% of SMEs in the UK, while a mere 24% of the overall UK STEM workforce identifies as female.
What’s more, research shows that higher representation of women in leadership roles and at Board level leads to stronger sustainability policy and decision making, where economic growth goes hand in hand with social progress and environmental protection.
The CISL Accelerator exists to support and connect diverse groups of founders and entrepreneurs as they push boundaries in sustainability. By joining this programme you will:
- Explore cross sector social and environmental challenges
- Test your commercialisation plans and learn how to mitigate risks in your startup journey
- Gain storytelling skills and insights
- Learn from leading women in business and entrepreneurship through our innovation showroom
- Benefit from tailored coaching on how to build personal resilience
- Hone your negotiation skills to help navigate some of the most challenging industries.
- Perfect your pitch and gain insight on access to funding
- Join a network of likeminded innovators to support your startup journey
- Benefit from 1-2-1 mentor support fitted to your business needs
Programme Schedule
Programme lauch – Join an in person reception in Cambridge to meet your peers
Week one –Test your sustainability value proposition and develop your sustainability compass
Week two – Share experiences with successful innovators breaking new ground in the industry and explore how to use the Lean Startup approach to mitigate your start-up risks.
Week three – Finance your startup
Week four – Hardwiring personal resilience and sustainable storytelling
Week five – Sustainability systems and negotiating skills
Week six - Pitching – do’s and don’ts and practice, with expert panel feedback.
Week seven – Round off the programme with an in person completion reception at CISL’s new incubator, the Canopy, in Cambridge
Contributors
Clare Shine
CEO and Director, CISL
Laetitia Girolami-Boyer
Sustainable Finance Markets Director, BNP Paribas
Viola Jardon
Senior Programme Manager, CISL
Emma Fromberg
Course Director, CISL
Margarita Skarkou
Venture capital investor, 2150
Angela Honegger
PhD Candidate, University of St. Gallen and External Consultant, Ashoka
Anna Stetter
Strategy & Business Development, Fenx AG
Shaunie Brett
Director, Come Across
Ian Robinson
Head of Product and Design, Cazoo
Freddie Birley
Founder, Pop
Lennaert Jonkers
Venture Partner and Entrepreneur, Social Impact Capital and DevelopMinded
Irene Maffini
Accelerator Portfolio Director, Sustainable Ventures
Alina Klarner
Head of Ventures, Impact Shakers
Dama Sathianathan
Partner, Communities and Networks, Bethnal Green Ventures
Roderick Beer
Managing Director, UK Business Angels Association
Ncheta Dasilva
Founder, Zola Eve
Paul Rous
Managing Director, Regenerate Ventures
Showcased Innovators
Elsa Marie D’Silva
Founder / President, Red Dot Foundation & Safecity
Thaslima Begum
Founder, TEEK TAKA
Isabelle Gough
Co-founder and CEO, Cercula
Josephine Philips
Founder and CEO, SOJO
Who should apply?
Women founders of innovative startups that tackle systemic sustainability challenges. Applications are also open to trans and non-binary candidates.
Applicants must be based in England and be available to attend the full six week programme. The online sessions will mostly be delivered on a Tuesday and Thursday, between 13 June – 21 July 2022. There is an approximate time commitment of 2-4 hours per week.
This programme is part funded by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund, and is available for free to SMEs based in England, with priority given to those in parts of the East of England.
Application process
Applications closed on Wednesday 11 May 2022.
