If you spend any time around founders or investors, you'll hear the word "moat" thrown around constantly: that defensible edge that protects your business from competitors. For years in edtech, that moat was often the technology itself. In other words, if you build something that is genuinely hard to build, you're protected. But that assumption is shifting fast, and June gave me plenty to think about. June was all about edtech for me — London EdTech Week, plus new projects with old colleagues that brought me back to the world I know best. And the conversations happening in that world are changing, just as everything else is, because of AI. I spoke with a multi-academy trust in the north of England that had identified a problem affecting all of its schools. Rather than buying existing edtech to solve it, they used AI to build their own solution — and it's genuinely fit for purpose, with real potential to be shared, or even sold, to schools outside the trust. That got me thinking: if anyone can use AI to build their own edtech solution, is there still a need for edtech companies at all? Or, asked more broadly: If technology is no longer your moat, what is? I had the chance to explore that question in two conversations on stages at London Edtech Week. The first was a fireside chat I hosted as part of the UCL EdTech Labs global minisummit, with Ekaterina Almasque, a deep-tech investor. When I raised the multi-academy trust example, she pointed out that the real moat for that product is the dataset the trust builds over time to train the AI. That data becomes genuinely unique to the product — something a competitor can't easily replicate, no matter how good their technology is. The second was a panel discussion with the Edtech Evidence Board at the BESA x BETT event, held at the beautiful London offices of Cooley LLP. Alongside Dr Neelam Parmar FCCT, Kristy Evers, and Laurie Forcier, we discussed the growing importance of evidence in edtech: not just proof that your product does what you say it does, but a clear understanding of the contextual conditions needed to achieve real outcomes. That evidence is unique to your product, your environment, and your practice, and as your evidence base grows, so does its value in the sales process. So we have two answers to the same question: data and evidence. Both are things you build over time, through use and through trust, which is, fittingly, also true of the third theme running through this newsletter. Moats aren't only built through data or evidence. They're also built through relationships — the kind that come from genuinely knowing your community, your peers, and the people who've walked the path before you. That's exactly what this month's networking update is about. What connection sounds like We're loving how our women in edtech online networking, in coordination with SHINE, is taking shape. We've had great attendance at each of the two events so far, and we're already hearing some wonderful success stories as a result of connections made on the calls. On our June call, we asked women to share a highlight from the past month — and two attendees said that our networking events themselves were the highlight. One had made a connection in the May call that led to an opportunity to publish an article on a blog, a reminder that she is capable of producing writing other people want to read, and a real confidence boost. The other was a first-time joiner in June, in the process of leaving a big corporate job to become a founder. She had questions (which were answered) and, for the first time, was able to speak about her leap into entrepreneurship — to women who understood exactly what that meant. Laurie, Kate Lee Carey, and I have been taking feedback from the group on what they'd like to see from this community, and we'll be using it to shape our autumn events. If you want to receive this monthly update as a newsletter, sign up for it on LinkedIn or follow Breakthrough Labs there. See you again in September!

Kofo Mary Are describes London as "the best city in the world," but it was a stark reality about London that sparked her latest venture. While working on a product for a life insurance company, Kofo Mary discovered something shocking: location dictates longevity. Specifically, West Londoners have an 18-year advantage in healthy life expectancy compared to other parts of the city. "I wanted to understand how to close that gap," Kofo Mary says.   With over 20 years of experience as a Strategic Marketing Executive, Kofo Mary has led go-to-market strategies for startups and established enterprises, launching operations worth over £20M. But her transition to founder wasn't a leap of faith—it was data-driven. She personally conducted over 200 customer interviews to validate product-market fit for THIER, her digital health startup focused on lifestyle disease prevention. Her background gives her a unique perspective. With studies towards an EMBA from Bayes Business School, a degree in Chemistry, and a Masters in marketing, Kofo loves operating at the intersection of science and business. It's this combination that led her to spot an opportunity others might have missed.   Working with consumer food startup Pollen & Grace gave Kofo Mary insight into the wellness and 'free-from' markets. But the real breakthrough came during her time at FluxInsights, where she came across research showing two crucial things: the crippling cost of obesity for companies offering private healthcare, and the ability of Machine Learning to predict lifestyle diseases up to 5 years early.   "I realised I could combine these insights to build a preventative solution," she explains. That solution became THIER—an AI-enabled mobile platform focused on preventing obesity and type II diabetes. The platform provides tools to identify, track, monitor, and prevent lifestyle diseases in employee communities, using machine learning algorithms, community support, and personalized healthcare interventions.   Kofo Mary is particularly passionate about leveraging AI to accelerate development. She recently used tools like Perplexity to speed up prototype development, and relies on various AI research tools daily.   "I rely on tools like Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to satisfy my curiosity," she says. "They act as my 'second brain' and help me process information at the speed of my thoughts."   When she's not building prototypes in Figma or scouting for partners and investors, Kofo Mary enjoys running, walking, going to concerts, watching documentaries, and meditating to keep herself grounded.   Now, Kofo Mary is looking for the bridge between 'validated concept' and 'funded company.' She has joined Breakthrough Labs to refine her investment case and technical roadmap. She's also building THIER's User Product Advisory Panel to ensure development remains deeply user-centric, and seeking partners for a major initiative focused on longevity and employee wellbeing.   For Kofo Mary, meaningful conversation is everything. "Whether it's customer discovery interviews or chatting with peers, I thrive on deep connections rather than small talk." Find her on LinkedIn to make a connection.   We're excited to have her in the Breakthrough Labs community and look forward to supporting her as she transforms workplace health.   Welcome to Breakthrough Labs, Kofo Mary!

Sarah Roberts has spent over a decade in product management, building platforms that connect people and solve practical problems within the tech-for-good sector. Leading product teams in the sharing-economy space, she became fascinated by how marketplaces can enable travel, community, and resource-sharing in smarter ways. But it was a 12-month sabbatical with her husband that sparked the idea for her latest venture. During their sabbatical, Sarah and her husband used traditional work-for-accommodation platforms. What they found was eye-opening: clunky interfaces, unvetted hosts, inconsistent reviews, and no structure to ensure fair exchanges. The user experience was broken. Yet simultaneously, Sarah stayed with hosts who genuinely relied on volunteers and had incredible properties sitting empty for much of the year. She realized the potential was huge, but the category had never been modernized. "I came home convinced that this niche deserved a safer, better-designed, and more trustworthy alternative," Sarah explains. "Something built for today's travellers, not the backpacking landscape of the early 2000s." That conviction became the foundation for Far From, a travel marketplace that enables meaningful, affordable travel through work-for-accommodation exchanges. The platform connects property owners who have spare private accommodation with travellers willing to contribute a few hours of help each day in exchange for a comfortable place to stay.   "The existing platforms are outdated, unsafe, and built for backpackers," Sarah says. "Far From is designed for a different audience entirely."   The purpose is to raise the quality bar for an underdeveloped but fast-growing niche, but even more, to make work-for-accommodation a recognised and trusted category within tourism. Based in Norwich, Norfolk, Sarah joined Breakthrough Labs at a pivotal moment - as Far From moves toward launch and prepares for its first investment round. She's looking for advice and strategic mentorship around education, positioning, marketplace dynamics, fundraising preparation, and investor storytelling.   "Far From is creating a new category of travel, and with that comes challenges," Sarah notes. "Breakthrough Labs feels like the right environment to refine our growth strategy, tighten our go-to-market approach, and stress-test the assumptions behind our early traction. I'm also looking to connect with founders and mentors who understand marketplace complexity, travel, and trust-based platforms." Sarah also organises the Norfolk Product Tank, bringing like-minded product development enthusiasts together. Outside of work, she's a true outdoors enthusiast who enjoys running, cycling, and general outdoorsy pursuits like camping, paddle-boarding, and hiking.   Welcome to Breakthrough Labs, Sarah! We're excited to support you as Far From transforms the work-for-accommodation landscape.

Breakthrough Labs is a global community for female founders of technology start-ups. We are a founders network of ambitious, driven women entreprenuers and offer networking events, coaching and access to investors for start-ups seeking funding... Community - Expertise - Opportunities For Female Tech Founders Breakthrough Labs is an empowering community for female founders in technology, fostering connections and support through business and learning-focused events. For too long, great ideas invented by women have been wasted - allowed to die because female founders were denied access to opportunities, expertise, finance and unbiased consideration. Barriers into business for women are, unfortunately, no thing of the past. In 2023, women accounted for just 13.2% of all startup founders. Women-led tech start-ups also receive significantly less funding than their male counterparts. Our mission is to create a future where female-led businesses have equal opportunities to thrive. At the heart of our work is a vibrant, uplifting community of ambitious women who empower one another, share their expertise, and drive each other forward. Furthermore, we connect female founders seeking funding with engaged investors, ensuring they have the support they need to succeed. Join us and you'll never have more fun taking yourself seriously! Our Community Bringing together ambitious women Our Events Learning and growing together Our Expertise Providing founders what they need Who We're For Our community welcomes female founders right at the beginning of their business journey as well as those further along. Some members are working towards an MVP whereas others have revenue and are looking to scale. There are no rules for where you need to be in your venture and this enriches our membership. Whilst some women are drawn to Breakthrough Labs because of our ability to introduce them to investors and assist with access to funding opportunities, others value the community and the learning and development programmes, as well as access to our founder Dr Kristen Weatherby . We offer FREE monthly learning events and networking opportunities , all of which can be accessed online, from whereever you happen to be. We understand how busy women founder are, so all events are recorded and can be accessed when it's convenient for you with our Learning Library Pass . Our Community Breakthrough Labs launched in 2023 as an accelerator supporting female tech founders pitching for pre-seed funding. It became a global online membership community in 2025, supporting women anywhere in the world. Now, we offer free learning and networking to women founders in any industry and any location. Our Events Our Founder Dr Kristen Weatherby Kristen is a mother, a teacher, a researcher, an angel investor and venture partner, and an edtech industry expert. She has spent most of her career in the edtech sector in the US, UK and France, including 14 years at one of the largest global software companies in the industry. She has developed and run four accelerators for start-up founders and has consulted with start-ups throughout Europe and the Americas. She believes strongly in social equality and breaking down the barriers that women entrepreneurs face in bringing their great ideas to market. Work with Kristen FREE Funding For Female Founders Our 22-page guide, created by Breakthrough Labs, includes advice from a panel of investment experts and is ideal for any founder thinking about funding for their business. We explore various approaches, from bootstrapping to equity funding, and share with you all the pros and cons, as well as top tips for success. Download Breakthrough Labs has been a game changer for me on my journey as a founder. The network that Kristen has is deep and varied, making the resources, the experts and the seasoned founders she brings together really special and incredibly beneficial. I have learned how to think about my work through a business lens, with the right vocabulary and frames of thinking. From the coaching, to the pitch practice, to the conversations around financial awareness, legal structures and storytelling - my whole outlook on my value proposition has changed fundamentally. But above all, the community that Kristen has built and curated is on point, genuine, authentic and so incredibly generous. Anyone that is part of meaningful communities knows that these are not easy to build - I feel privileged to be part of it! Dr Hanaa Almoaibed Founder and CEO, Wonder Inc.; Managing Director, Prolegomena and co-host of The TWENTY30 Podcast Upcoming Events Shine and Breakthrough Labs women-in-edtech networking Wed 23 Sept Webinar More info RSVP Women in edtech networking - with SHINE Tue 20 Oct Webinar More info RSVP Shine and Breakthrough Labs women-in-edtech networking Tue 17 Nov Webinar More info RSVP Latest Articles Your proof, your people and your moat If you spend any time around founders or investors, you'll hear the word "moat" thrown around constantly: that defensible edge that protects your business from competitors. For years in edtech, that moat was often the technology itself. In other words, if you build something that is genuinely hard to build, you're protected. But that assumption is shifting fast, and June gave me plenty to think about. June was all about edtech for me — London EdTech Week, plus new projects Jul 9 Featured Member - Kofo Mary Are Kofo Mary Are describes London as "the best city in the world," but it was a stark reality about London that sparked her latest venture. While working on a product for a life insurance company, Kofo Mary discovered something shocking: location dictates longevity. Specifically, West Londoners have an 18-year advantage in healthy life expectancy compared to other parts of the city. "I wanted to understand how to close that gap," Kofo Mary says. With over 20 years of experienc Jan 6 Welcome to the community, Sarah Roberts Sarah Roberts has spent over a decade in product management, building platforms that connect people and solve practical problems within the tech-for-good sector. Leading product teams in the sharing-economy space, she became fascinated by how marketplaces can enable travel, community, and resource-sharing in smarter ways. But it was a 12-month sabbatical with her husband that sparked the idea for her latest venture. During their sabbatical, Sarah and her husband used traditio Dec 7, 2025 See more

Home Events Work with Kristen Funding Blog Learning We know starting a business means wearing many hats and facing unique challenges, especially with a small team. That’s why we’ve curated essential learning materials to equip you with the skills and insights needed to support your entrepreneurial journey. Explore, learn, and grow with us! Search for learning resources Creating Purposeful Marketing Content Download Building your Pitch Deck Download Early-stage founders are often told that “every investor is different” — and that’s true. But after reviewing hundreds of pitch decks and sitting in countless investor conversations, a clear pattern emerges: there is a formula , and there are fundamentals that simply shouldn’t be missing. In this practical, hour-long session, Dr. Kristen Weatherby , founder of Breakthrough Labs, will walk through what makes an effective early-stage pitch deck today. Kristen reviews pitch decks regularly in multiple capacities: as an angel investor , evaluating opportunities for her own portfolio as a scout for an impact-driven VC , assessing founder readiness and clarity as a judge at startup pitching competitions and through her work supporting scores of Breakthrough Labs founders , many of whom are preparing for their first (or next) funding conversations She also works closely with investors through Breakthrough Labs’ investor sessions, hearing first-hand what investors are responding to — and where founders are consistently losing them. This session will cover: the core structure investors expect to see in an early-stage pitch deck the slides that are often missing or underdeveloped common mistakes that weaken otherwise strong ideas how to balance storytelling with evidence what matters most right now in early-stage funding conversations There will be time for questions, and you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to approach your pitch deck — whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing version. This session is ideal for: early-stage women founders building or revising their first pitch deck founders preparing for angel, pre-seed, or seed conversations anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what investors actually want Come along, ask your questions, and start your pitch deck process on solid footing. Product positioning Download Product marketing expert Craig Brown of Troubadour speaks to founders about how to position their product for their particular target audience segment. Protecting your brand Download How can you protect your brand with a trade mark so that your competitors don't benefits from the investments you've made in your business. Marcela Carvalho, trade mark attorney from international firm Marks & Clerk speaks to founders about what they need to consider to protect their brands and avoid infringing on others. Meet the Investor: Resolution Ventures Download Director of Ventures for Resolution Ventures, Louise Marston speaks to founders about the kinds of workertech solutions they invest in, why impact is so important to them, and how any early-stage founder can think about measuring impact. This webinar is full of practical advice for founders seeking investment, so it's worth a listen even if your startup doesn't fall into this thesis. 2-hour intensive coaching session: Overwhelm Download This is a portion of Breakthrough Labs Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho's special intensive session for founders on overwhelm, where she discusses how to use her Opus 8 principles to restore energy and balance. Sales Masterclass - GTM Download These are the slides -- and extra resources! - used and mentioned by Meg Roundell Greene in the Sales Masterclass on planning your go-to-market strategy. Understanding Grants, Loans and Alternative finance options Download In the second webinar in our Fund Her Future Webinar from Breakthrough Labs, supported by the British Business Bank, we speak with panellists about how early-stage female founders can secure external funding to grow their businesses without giving away equity. Panellists include: Sharon Cook, from Choice Business Loans Lisa Young, from Let's Do Business Finance Nicola Wiley, from InnovateUK Business Growth Meet the Investor: Jem Stein of Daring Capital Download Meet Jem Stein, the founder of Daring Capital. Jem speaks to founders about social investment, how Daring Capital invests, how they support their portfolio companies, and how they find investors who find social impact just as important (or more important) than making money. Pitching - part 1 Download The first Masterclass in our Pitching series of 2025, we covered defining your problem, describing your solution, and understanding your audience. Protecting your brand Download This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: Protecting your brand - Essential steps every business should take. Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century. Legal considerations for early-stage businesses Download We are so lucky to have TWO expert attorneys from UK Law Firm Mills & Reeve covering the commercial and corporate legal considerations you need to keep in mind as you are in the early stages of your start-up. Sophie Burton-Jones is a partner in the commercial team at Mills & Reeve. She is a technology law specialist and supports multiple technology companies, from start-ups to listed companies on all areas of commercial law including IP assignments, development of standard terms, customer/supplier negotiations and privacy policies and documentation. Katharine Robinson is a principal associate in the corporate team at Mills & Reeve who supports founders and businesses with their corporate transactional needs from incorporation and spin-out, through multiple fundraisings (seed, series A and beyond) to exit. She also frequently acts for investors and has a particular interest working with companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. Moderated by Breakthrough Labs founder Dr Kristen Weatherby, our conversation covered these common issues - and more! How do you avoid giving away equity (when engaging with early advisors, for example)? What kinds of early T&Cs do you need to consider putting in place for your website or customers? What do you need to think of if you’re bringing on a co-founder? What needs to be in your data room? Coaching Conversation: Overwhelm Download Stop feeling overwhelmed: Build your dream business without burning out. Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho gives founders strategies to manage busy times while maintaining balance. Coaching Conversation: Fear and your business Download Is fear driving or stalling your business? We all have fears - rational or not - and we may not know or acknowledge how they impact our business. Today's conversation with Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho is all about facing those fears. What fears are you facing? Which ones are holding you back? How can we reframe fear, making our fears our friends so that they don't stall our business' progress? Bootstrapping your way to success Download In this webinar, Lee Lam of Your Startup Partner will be sharing the benefits of bootstrapping your business and why increasingly, the best path to a successful fund raise is to show financial responsibility and prudent decision making. You will have a better understanding of: - what bootstrapping is and its place in any business strategy - the link between bootstrapping and fundraising - the foundational principles of bootstrapping Coaching conversation: Sep24 Download Do you know how to figure out what you truly want from your business? Breakthrough Labs' Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho is here to help! British Business Bank Download Slides from the Masterclass on Non-equity Finance Options from the British Business Bank Meet the Investor: SouthEast Angels Download Jake Fox, Assistant Director of UK angel syndicate SouthEast Angels talks about angel investing and what his organisation's angels look for in their investments. He describes the process of submitting your pitch to SouthEast Angels and takes questions from founders. How to find your story Download Everyone has a story, and you have many stories that will be useful to your business. This is the first in a three-part series of articles from storytelling experts Narativ on how you can find your story. Business storytelling: Where do I start, Part 2 Download The second part of our podcast on Business Storytelling. Dan and Jane talk about telling Origin Stories, Milestone Stories, Impact Stories and Future Stories for your business. Types of funding for start-ups Download What types of funding are available to start-ups? Do you always have to give away equity? What kind of funding should you be looking for? Check out this handy infographic for the answers to all of your questions! The empowered sales process Download A 6-step process to guide your sales calls so that you can connect with customers and convert to sales. Designing a logo that lasts Download The final article in the series on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico Evaluating your brand's impact Download Part 6 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico. Developing your brand voice Download Part 3 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico What to put in your data room? Download Evidence-based guidelines on what should go in your data room and how to structure it. Beyond the Pitch: Smart funding choices for founders Download Product Positioning Masterclass Download Here are the slides from Craig Brown's Product Positioning Masterclass in November 2025. These include the appendix, with tons of extra resources mentioned in the Masterclass. Meet the Investor: Sie Ventures Download Sie Ventures COO Jess McCarten speaks to founders about the programmes, support and investment they offer female co-founded businesses at pre-seed and seed stages. Getting that first investor meeting Download In this Masterclass, multi-exited founder Emma Rees talks to our members about data-driven approaches she has used to: Secure and track investor meetings Prepare for investor meetings Craft the best answers to investor questions Do due diligence on investors This is not a session to miss! Meet the Investor: Carmel Rafaeli Download Serial entrepreneur, Zinc fellow, angel investor and founder of the Table, Carmel Rafaeli speaks to founders about her journey, what she looks for in a start-up and mistakes she has made as a founder. She Built This: Sarah Mintey Download Hear from award-winning female entrepreneur Sarah Mintey, MBE, CEO and founder of Developing Experts, an edtech startup she founded after a full career as an education and charity leader. Developing Experts has expanded beyond education and beyond the UK - and Sarah's journey is incredibly inspiring! Sales - planning your go-to-market strategy Download Sales Coach Meg Roundell-Greene's session was jam-packed with practical tips and strategies for creating a sensible go-to-market strategy for your business and developing the messaging that allows you to reach your intended customers and convert their interest to your sales! Navigating Angels, VCs and Due Diligence Download Welcome to the final webinar in the series Fund Her Future: A Female Founder's Guide to Growth, brought to you by the British Business Bank and Breakthrough The series is for female founders who are exploring funding options to grow their businesses. The three webinars take founders through the decision-making process, from determining whether you need external funding, to exploring non-dilutive funding options, to equity investment. This webinar Navigating Angels, VCs and Due Diligence is designed specifically for early-stage female founders navigating the complex world of equity investment. The objective of this webinar is to help female founders understand their options and make informed choices when contemplating fundraising from early-stage investors. We will hear from a panel of experts who will share perspectives on what angel investors look for, their investment criteria, and the differences between syndicate and individual investments. You'll also hear from an early-stage VC who will outline what kind of business profile is necessary when seeking venture capital funding. Panellists also discussed crucial preparation steps for raising a funding round and key considerations for the due diligence process. The panel of experts includes: Vanesa Pazos, Founding Partner at NoBa Capital: Vanesa is the Founding Partner of NoBa Capital, an early-stage venture firm backing tech-driven solutions for the future of work - from HR tech and worker tech to talent marketplaces. More than just an investor, Vanesa is the driving force behind NoBa’s mission - ensuring that work isn’t just about a pay check, but about fulfilment, transparency, and opportunity. She believes in the power of technology to create fairer, more accessible workplaces, and through her advisory roles, she actively supports underrepresented founders and fosters a more inclusive future. Malin Svanberg-Larsson, Partner at Freeths Lawyers: Malin specialises in advising businesses on a wide range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, management buy-ins and buy-outs, corporate reorganisations and restructurings, and early stage investment. She acts for clients across a range of sectors including technology, manufacturing and consultancy. Malin is a corporate lawyer, well regarded for her highly attentive and solutions-orientated approach. Louise Harvey, UK Lead at HearstLab. Louise is the UK lead for global corporate venture fund HearstLab. Prior to joining the fund a year ago, she was an Associate at Access VC, the purpose-driven CVC of global CPG giant Reckitt Benckiser investing in Series A+ consumer health & wellness brands, with a particular focus on companies and founders from underserved categories/backgrounds. After starting her career at a global consulting firm, she spent 6 years helping lead the Institutional Investment team at Seedrs, the UK’s largest investment platform. She has been named twice in the Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist; once as a 'Rising Star' and once as an 'Investor'. The panel was moderated by Dr Kristen Weatherby, founder of the Breakthrough Labs community and accelerator for female founders. Meet the Investor: HearstLab Download Join Louise Harvey from HearstLab UK as she talks to members about how HearstLab invests and the support that Hearst Corporation provides for companies in its portfolio. Bootstrap, borrow or raise? Download Welcome to the first webinar in the series Fund Her Future: A Female Founder's Guide to Growth , brought to you by the British Business Bank and Breakthrough Labs. The series is for female founders who are exploring funding options to grow their businesses. The three webinars take founders through the decision-making process, from determining whether you need external funding, to exploring non-dilutive funding options, to equity investment. The First Decision: Bootstrap, Borrow or Raise. How do you decide? helps female founders make decisions about how they will fund their business. The panel of experts includes: Susan Elliott, British Business Bank: Sue is an experienced commercial professional working with British Business Bank stakeholders, intermediaries, and delivery partners to help smaller businesses access finance for growth. Her knowledge and connections in the funding and business support community were gained from co-foundering and running her own advisory and consulting business for 10 years. Wendy Tindsley, Oxford Innovation: An experience business support professional, Wendy has a scientific background and experience of running several businesses. She has a wealth of experience in obtaining funding for R&D and capital investment. With extensive knowledge of innovative technologies across different sectors, Wendy's passion is helping ambitions businesses to achieve rapid and sustainable growth. Lee Lam, Startup advisor: Lee has a depth of experience and knowledge in financial services technology due to COO/Chief of Staff roles across her career, spanning over 24 years. She is now founder of Your Startup Partner, a startup strategy advisory service. Lee's mission is to build a strong startup democracy. She breaks down barriers to starting and growing a business and growing into successful organisations of the future. The panel was moderated by Dr Kristen Weatherby, founder of the Breakthrough Labs community and accelerator for female founders. Creating a strong brand Download This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: How to create a brand. Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century. Meet the Investor: Maze Impact Download Join Alice Segre, Associate from European impact investor Maze Impact as she and Kristen discuss how Maze Impact invests and what they look for in a startup. Alice also describes the ways in which Maze Impact supports founders in their portfolio and takes questions from Breakthrough Labs members. Best of Breakthrough Labs - 11/24 Download Our first Best of Breakthrough Labs session covers the best tips, tricks and advice from all our Meet the Investor, Masterclass and Coaching conversation sessions from July through October 2024. Meet the Investor: Octopus Ventures Download Octopus Ventures invests in start-ups at many levels, but did you know they also have a separate fund for early-stage businesses? Join this fireside chat with Octopus Ventures First Cheque Fund's Tilly Fleming to learn all about how Octopus invests at an early stage, as the first cheque! Meet the Investor: Noba Capital Download NoBa Capital partner Vanesa Pazos talks about how they invest in start-ups providing innovative solutions around the future of work. Your story, your brand Download Learn how your stories can inspire, inform, and enrich your brand identity with storytelling experts Jane and Dan from Narativ London. Non-equity funding options Download There are lots of different non-equity funding options available for start-ups who don't want -- or don't need -- to go the traditional angel/VC/PE route. The British Business Bank goes through what options might be available for founders or businesses based in the UK. Start-up to Scale-up stories Download Part 3 in the three-part series of articles from the storytelling experts at Narativ. Start-ups have stories that help build momentum and express the big idea and passion of founders. As your company grows, how do you share that story with new employees? What is your new story? All things SEO: Fundamentals and strategies Download Packed with practical advice and immediate actions that any founder with a website can take to improve SEO and drive more traffic to your site. SEO guru Anthony Barone of StudioHawk (visit them in our Trusted Supplier Directory) delivers a Masterclass on SEO that has enables any founder to make changes to improve SEO and get your site higher up in the list of Google search results. This one is not to miss! Business storytelling: Where do I start? Part 1 Download Storytelling gurus Jane and Dan of Narativ talk about how to find and tell the story for your business. (Available wherever you listen to podcasts.) Part 1 of 2 Investor Landscape Download What's the difference between different types of investors: Angels, VC, Private equity? How do they invest, and what are they looking for? This handy information sheet answers all of your questions. Sales: Goals & success planning Download Obstacle Planning is an exercise you can use to understand the potential roadblocks in your way. Colour psychology in branding Download Part 8 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico. Engaging your audience Download Part 5 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico. Creating a visual identity Download Part 2 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico. Planning your technology pilot Download How to think about planning your technology pilot so that it gives you the information you need to improve your product. From MVP to Meaningful impact Download This one-hour masterclass is for early-stage founders who want more clarity about how their product creates value for users — and how new features are supposed to contribute to that change. You’ll be introduced to a simple way of thinking about your product as a theory of change : What behaviour or capability are you asking users to change? Why should your product be the thing that enables that change? What assumptions are you making as you add new features? We’ll use a logic model framework (often used in evidence-based fields) to help you: Connect features to user behaviour and outcomes Spot gaps between what you’re building and what you want to change Make better decisions about what to prioritise next This isn’t about adding process or slowing down. It’s about making sure your product will make the impact you want it to make. Segment qualification matrix Download Use this matrix from Craig Brown, who gave our Product Positioning Masterclass, to compare the strengths and weaknesses of target buyer segments. With founder Chantal Epp of ClicknClear Download Award-winning founder and international cheerleader Chantal Epp speaks to our founders about her work founding ClicknClear, a pioneering music rights tech and licensing company specialising in choreographed sports such as dance, gymnastics, figureskating and cheerleading. Learn about her journey securing deals with all the major players in the music industry -- as well as global sports federations -- and delivering the tech and solution they need. Meet the Investor: UFI Ventures Download In this Meet the Investor session, UFI Ventures Director of Ventures Helen Gironi offered specific advice to all attendees and gave insider information about how to make a successful pitch to UFI Ventures and to early-stage investors in general. Slides from 2-hour coaching on overwhelm Download These are the slides Janine Matho used in her June 2025 2-hour intensive coaching session on overwhelm Best of Breakthrough - June 2025 Download Our second Best of Breakthrough Labs webinar covers content from January through early May 2025. If you're new to the community or you just want a recap, watch the recording to get a great summary of these sessions: Sales Masterclass Pitching Masterclass Legal Q&A Legal guidance for early-stage start-ups Meet the Investor: Daring Capital Meet the Investor: HearstLab Meet the Investor: Maze Impact Pitch Deck Panel (Accelerator) Download Join investors from TwinklHive, Ascension Ventures and an angel investor for this 90-minute panel discussion on what they look for in a pitch deck. What makes them say yes and what is an automatic no? What should be in every deck? This was one of our highest-rated sessions in the Breakthrough Labs accelerator Pitching, Part 2 Download In Part 2 of our Pitching Masterclass series, we work with founders on how to use stories in their pitch, we brainstorm the kinds of stories that are helpful, and we start to look at the structure of the pitch deck. Pitching - part 1: slides Download These are the slides that were used in the Pitching Masterclass on 6 March 2025. Brand security, part 2 Download This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: Protecting your brand - Latest counterfeiting trends and how to fight back. Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century. Brand security Download This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: Why a strong brand is your business' greatest asset. Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century. Legal Q&A Download Founders brought their legal questions to Malin Svanberg Larson, Partner at Freeths LLC. During the session, founders asked questions about a range of legal issues, including: Contracts with service providers Co-founders and co-founder agreements Shareholder agreements, anti-dilution clauses Making mistakes with investors Trademarks and IP Impact funders Downloading core legal agreements (T&Cs/contracts) from the web vs speaking to an attorney As well as specific questions about their businesses. Meet the Investor: Alma Angels Download Meet the co-founder of Alma Angels and learn what they look for in their investments. Messaging and content Download In this interactive workshop, building on our Masterclasses on Branding and Storytelling, we work together to create and plan consistent messaging that conveys how your business addresses client pain points. Coaching Conversation - Sep24 Download How do you figure out what you really want from your business? This was the topic of September 2024's Coaching conversation. If you missed it, watch the recording and use this worksheet to help you think through the impact you want your business to make on your life. Your first steps in the community Download Welcome video with founder Dr Kristen Weatherby welcomes you to the community and shows you how to set up your profile, notifications and more. Building your brand from scratch Download In this hands-on workshop, you learn how to create a killer brand, from developing a mission and vision to creating a logo, to planning your colour scheme. There's something for everyone! Where stories come into pitching Download Part 2 in the three-part series of articles from the storytelling experts at Narativ. This article talks about how stories come into the pitching process. Understanding and overcoming digital speed bumps . Download If you have created a website or any other technology that your users interact with, chances are they will encounter technical issues that could negatively impact their impression of your company or product. This how-to guide helps you understand what these issues are and gives you practical solutions to address them. Conducting Interviews Download Interviews are incredibly useful data collection methods, and here's how to get reliable, usable data from them. This guide tells you how to interview customers or key stakeholders or conduct research-based focus groups to learn more about how your product is being used or what your customers needs are. Start-up Funding Map Download Seed, pre-seed, Series A - what does it all mean? What level should your start-up be fundraising at, and what kinds of organisations provide funding at that level? This handy information sheet answers all of your questions! How to conduct a survey Download How to create useful surveys that give you the data you need to improve your product or communicate to stakeholders. The power of brand guidelines Download Part 7 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico. Building a strong online presence Download Part 4 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico. Defining your brand Download Part 1 in the series of articles on branding from branding and marketing expert The Copper Portico.

Access our library of on-demand webinar recordings and resources for female entrepreneurs Learning Library High-quality learning shouldn’t depend on being able to attend at a specific time. The Breakthrough Labs Learning Library is now available for free! Access all of our past Masterclasses, Meet the Investor sessions and She Found This talks with successful women founders. ABSOLUTELY FREE. We don't want to keep all these learnings to ourselves. We want as many women to benefit as possible. Make sure to check out our live events each month! * Read our member T&Cs . Go to Library What's in the Library? What’s Included The Breakthrough Labs Learning Library includes 75+ recorded workshops and masterclasses, including: pitching and pitch decks fundraising and investor readiness founder wellbeing and sustainability strategy, product, and early growth Talks and Q&As with experienced founders and investors Practical resources, such as: planning templates worksheets and guides curated tools and recommendations New content added over time All content is on-demand, so you can learn at your own pace and return to sessions whenever you need them. Go to Library Upcoming Events Shine and Breakthrough Labs women-in-edtech networking Wed 23 Sept Webinar RSVP Women in edtech networking - with SHINE Tue 20 Oct Webinar RSVP Shine and Breakthrough Labs women-in-edtech networking Tue 17 Nov Webinar RSVP