Beyond the Pitch: Smart Funding Choices for Female Founders
*Note: This event is for women entrepreneurs.
Most conversations about startup funding start — and end — with investment. But giving away equity isn't the only way to fund a business, and for many founders, it isn't the right way at all.
In this one-hour masterclass, Breakthrough Labs founder Dr Kristen Weatherby cuts through the noise to give female founders a clear, practical map of the funding options that don't require you to give away a share of your company — and the foundations you need to pursue any of them with confidence.
Drawing on insights from finance experts, grant specialists, and lenders, this session covers what most founders wish someone had told them earlier: how to think about funding as a tool that serves your vision (not the other way around), why getting to early revenue is the most powerful thing you can do before approaching any funder, and how to navigate loans, grants, and non-dilutive finance without expensive mistakes.
You'll leave with:
A clear framework for choosing the right type of funding for your stage and ambition
A practical understanding of loan options — from government-backed schemes to community lenders — and how to compare them properly
A map of the grant landscape, from national programmes to international funds, plus how to access grant databases for free
A pre-application checklist to get your finances and documents in order
Confidence to have funding conversations on your own terms
This masterclass is for you if:
You're an early-stage founder weighing up your funding options
You've been told equity is the only route and you're not sure that's true
You've looked at loans or grants but found the landscape confusing or intimidating
You want to understand what funders actually look for — before you approach them
No jargon. No assumptions about your background. Just honest, expert-informed guidance to help you fund your business on your terms.