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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 February Coffee Break Wed 25 Feb Online More info RSVP From MVP to Meaningful Impact: Designing products that actually change user behaviour Tue 17 Mar Webinar More info RSVP March Coffee Break Thu 26 Mar Webinar More info RSVP Latest Articles 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 5 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 Welcome to the community, Amanda Bell Amanda Bell spent most of her career as a divorce lawyer at one of London's leading family law firms. She saw firsthand how emotionally, financially, and practically complicated divorce can be - and how expensive legal support has become. But it wasn't just her professional experience that opened her eyes to the access-to-justice crisis facing separating families. Amanda also witnessed people close to her navigate divorce without proper legal support, and the reality was gr Nov 16, 2025 See more

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 Pass gives you exclusive, on-demand access to a growing collection of workshops, talks, and resources created specifically for early-stage women founders. This pass is designed for founders who want practical insight, investor-aware guidance, and thoughtful discussion — without the pressure of ongoing community participation. Don't forget to join our live, FREE webinars each month, accessible from our Events page . * Read our member T&Cs . Buy a Pass Get your Library Pass What’s Included With a Learning Library Pass, you’ll get access to: 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. Pricing Monthly Pass : £12 per month Annual Pass : £99 per year You can cancel at any time. Buy a Pass Upcoming Events February Coffee Break Wed 25 Feb Online RSVP From MVP to Meaningful Impact: Designing products that actually change user behaviour Tue 17 Mar Webinar RSVP March Coffee Break Thu 26 Mar Webinar RSVP

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Learning Library Pass On-demand learning and practical support for early-stage women founders. Annual Pass £ 99 99£ Save by purchasing an annual pass to our Learning Library and get unlimited access to our growing on-demand resources for an entire year! Valid for 12 months Select Monthly pass £ 12 12£ Access all of our on-demand resources, webinars and Masterclass recordings for one month. Valid for one month Select

Funding for female founders is a priority of Breakthrough Labs. Our female founder membership community enjoy Meet The Investor Sessions as well as pitching masterclasses for entrepreneurs to assist in startup funding access... Funding For Female Founders Not only are there far fewer female-led startups than those founded by men, accounting for just 13.2% in 2023, but tech businesses founded by women also receive significantly less funding . Just 1.8% of capital invested in venture-backed startups in 2023 in Europe went to female-founded companies. Perhaps our male counterparts are better connected, perhaps they’re more likely to go down the investment route rather than opt to grow organically without capital, or maybe they’re more likely to be offered funding than female entrepreneurs. Whatever the reason, we have to even the playing field and the only way to do this is to open up more opportunities for female startup founders to raise investment. Breakthrough Labs attempts to address this issue in several ways - By building and nurturing our empowering community of female founders Offering regular masterclasses, workshops and pitching practice sessions to build upon skills and confidence Hosting regular ‘Meet the Investor’ and other networking events that connect female entrepreneurs with investors - Download our 22-page expert guide on accessing funding for your business - FREE FUNDING GUIDE FOR FEMALE FOUNDERS Download Guide Meet The Investor Our Meet The Investor sessions are extremely popular. Each month, we introduce founders to a different early-stage investor committed to investing in women. These small sessions not only provide members with practical insights into what different investors are looking for, but founders are able to make real connections with investors. These conversations have proven much more valuable to our members than brief introductions at in-person networking events or cold outreach emails on LinkedIn. Investors also share with our community all we need to know about types of investment and how raising capital works - from seed funding to scaling up. Furthermore, these sessions aid us in honing our pitching techniques and increasing both opportunities and chances of success in securing investment. The Accelerator Our four-month accelerator path is designed to equip female tech founders with the practical skills and confidence needed to secure pre-seed investment. Through expert-led workshops, mentorship, and strategic guidance, those on the accelerator programme will refine their pitch, strengthen their business model, and prepare to impress investors. The program culminates in a demo day, where participants will have the opportunity to showcase their startup’s progress to potential backers. If you're ready to take your startup to the next level, contact us to express your interest and we’ll be in touch to share start date options and further information. Investing In Female-Led Tech Startups Are you an investor seeking your next opportunity? Or perhaps you’d like to be a part of increasing access to investment for women in business? Breakthrough Labs is always looking for partners in our mission to support female tech founders. If you would like to join us as a guest speaker at an event or offer our members the opportunity to pitch to you or your company, then please get in touch today.

Claim your free guide to funding your business. This free guide explores equity investment, non-dilutive investment - from applying for grants to pitching to angel investors, we have you covered with advice from experts and funding options fully explained... Get Your Free Funding Guide For Female Founders Our FREE 22-page guide, created by Breakthrough Labs, includes advice from a panel of investment experts. 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. What The Guide Covers Part One - Thinking About funding Here we get you thinking about whether funding is necessary for your business. Bringing investors on board is a big deal, so we tackle the tough questions and help you work out whether the benefits outweigh the risks - for you. Part Two - Non-Dilutive Funding Wondering if you can raise funding for your business without giving up equity? In part two, we address various non-dilutive funding options and the pros and cons of each, before moving on to practical advice on how to apply and then assess any offers. Part Three - Equity Investment With priceless wisdom from our panel of investment experts, we delve into equity investment - whether it's the right choice for you, the benefits and the challenges and what will be expected of you if you opt for equity funding. Then, we walk you through the process and share essential insights on how to succeed. Why Are We Giving This Away? Because our mission is to break down barriers and help female founders succeed. You don't need to be a Breakthrough Labs member to access this guide, but we hope that it will give you a glimpse into the kind of expertise our community benefits from on a regular basis. When you download this guide, you'll also be signing up to receive ad-hoc emails that include links to our latest blogs, events and other resources for female founders in tech. Fill out the adjacent form, and you'll receive an email with a link to download the guide. Download Your Free Funding Guide First name* Last name* Email* I agree to be subscribed to Breakthrough Labs' newsletter and receive ad-hoc emails from the community. We will not share your details with third parties and will keep your information secure. * Submit

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Work with me From our founder, Dr Kristen Weatherby I work with early-stage women founders who want thoughtful, practical support as they build, fund, and grow their companies. My background spans research, big tech, investing, and hands-on work with founders. I’ve been an entrepreneur, an angel investor, a scout for an impact-driven VC, and a frequent judge at startup pitching competitions. I also work closely with investors through workshops and investor sessions, which gives me a clear view of what founders are being asked — and what’s resonating — right now. I don’t offer hype or one-size-fits-all advice. Instead, I bring experience, connections, strategic thinking, and honest feedback, grounded in decades of experience. I love working with women founders. Here are some ways I can help. Ways we can work together 01. Pitch Deck & Pitch Review 60 minutes | £100 Raising capital requires clarity, structure, and a compelling narrative — but it’s often hard to know what investors are really looking for. This session is designed for founders who want informed, practical feedback on both their pitch deck and spoken pitch ahead of funding conversations, competitions, or investor meetings. How it works: You send your pitch deck in advance You share background on: who you’re pitching to what you’re raising and when the pitch is taking place I review your materials ahead of time In our 60-minute session, we: walk through the deck together discuss your verbal pitch identify what’s working and what’s weakening your message focus on questions and gaps investors are likely to notice My feedback draws on experience reviewing pitch decks as an angel investor, VC scout, and pitch competition judge, as well as supporting many early-stage women founders through Breakthrough Labs. This session is ideal if you want clear, honest feedback before an important pitch — without jargon or hype. Book a Session 02. Founder Strategy & Advisory Session 90 minutes | £180 Early-stage founders are constantly making decisions with incomplete information — often without a trusted space to talk things through. This 90-minute advisory session is a flexible, founder-led conversation designed to help you get unstuck, sense-check decisions, and clarify your next steps. Sessions may include: reviewing a pitch, product, or funding strategy working through a specific challenge or decision identifying blind spots or gaps discussing priorities and trade-offs exploring potential introductions or connections Where appropriate, I can also offer up to three personalised introductions from my network (no guarantees, but thoughtful, relevant connections where there’s a clear fit). This session is best suited to founders who want strategic input rather than tactical execution, and who value considered, experience-based advice. Book a Session 03. Ongoing Founder Advisory Support 6 months | £500 Building a company can feel isolating — especially when challenges evolve faster than you can solve them. This advisory package is for founders who want ongoing, thoughtful support over a defined period, without the pressure of a formal programme or accelerator. What’s included: One 60-minute advisory session per month for six months Space to: review progress and priorities sense-check decisions work through challenges as they arise stay accountable to goals you’ve set I act as a trusted sounding board, not a consultant or operator — helping you think more clearly, not telling you what to do. This package is intentionally limited to a small number of founders at any one time. Book a Session 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

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Breakthrough Labs members thrive in our startup community of female founders, enjoying many networking events, learning events, business masterclasses and workshops. Our startup community is a supportive and cohesive network of ambitious, passionate, women founders of tech businesses, making the entrepreneurial journey more accessible and more fun! Startup Community Events Check out all of the our upcoming events, including webinars, Masterclasses, informal meet-ups with other founders and more. All events are FREE for female-identifying founders in any location! All recordings of past events are posted in the Learning area of our community, available to access anytime, anywhere. Buy a Learning Library pass to access over 75 recordings of investor meetings, Masterclasses and more. Buy Library Pass Multiple Dates Founder Office Hours Wed 28 Jan Online meeting Info + RSVP Masterclass: Building your pitch deck Wed 11 Feb Webinar Info + RSVP February Coffee Break Wed 25 Feb Online Info + RSVP Propose a Workshop Have an idea for a practical session that would help early-stage women founders? Pitch it to us. We're always looking for people to share their expertise. Pitch Idea