- Launch of Female Founders Community sees fastest growing group in NatWest Accelerator
- New partnerships with Foundervine and Bae HQ reinforce inclusion commitments
As long-standing supporters of women in business and ethnic minority led-business, the NatWest Accelerator Female Founders Community and new strategic partnerships with Foundervine and Bae HQ will help unlock growth for diverse founders across the UK as NatWest Accelerator grows its community to 50,000 in 2026.
These commitments reflect the Accelerator’s focus on widening access to networks, expertise and growth opportunities for entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. By deepening its ecosystem through these new partnerships, NatWest is furthering its mission to break down barriers to entrepreneurship and support a more inclusive pipeline of high growth businesses across the country.
Addressing barriers facing under‑represented founders
Research consistently shows that female entrepreneurs continue to face funding gaps, limited networks and reduced access to scale‑up opportunities. The Rose Review highlighted untapped economic potential of £250bn if women scaled businesses at the same rate as men. Despite women-led start-ups rising, a report released by the Women and Equalities Committee highlighted persistent funding gaps with women only receiving 2% of VC funding.
Research from the Time to Change report highlights that individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds are twice as likely to have entrepreneurial ambitions (23% compared with 7% among white entrepreneurs) they are significantly less likely to be running established firms (43% compared with 67%).
These challenges limit the ability of high potential founders to grow and scale which is why we are addressing these through proactive interventions.
Darren Pirie, Head of Accelerator at NatWest, said: “We believe the UK’s entrepreneurial economy is strongest when founders from every background can access the networks, expertise and opportunities they need to thrive. We are proud to support founders across the UK and our partnerships enhance our mission to champion inclusive growth, ensuring that more entrepreneurs in more regions can join our community, scale with confidence and realise their potential.”
NatWest Accelerator supports female founders
A Female Founders Community has recently been launched in the NatWest Accelerator App - for women and allies to connect, access opportunities, and share support. The community has grown to over 400 members within two weeks of being launched. The Female Founders community is also complemented by She Scales, a monthly vibrant founder-led coworking and connection event designed by women founders, for women founders across our UK-wide hubs.
Foundervine: Helping scale stage founders grow
NatWest Accelerator is partnering with Foundervine, a leading social enterprise, to launch The Scale Circle – a structured peer support programme for established founders ready to scale. Eligibility includes; trading for at least 18 months, demonstrating traction and having an established team.
Applications are open now and close on 4 May (Details about the criteria and how to apply can be found here).
Izzy Obeng, CEO of Foundervine, said: “At Foundervine, we focus on supporting businesses that have moved beyond early stage support and are now navigating the complexity of scaling. Many founders reach a stage where focused, peer led support is what makes the difference. We’re pleased to be working alongside NatWest to help established businesses build the confidence, structure and momentum required for sustainable growth.”
Bae HQ: Expanding access to high growth communities
NatWest Accelerator is also partnering with Bae HQ, the fast growing national community for British Asian founders, operators and investors. The partnership includes a programme of in person events across the UK throughout 2026, giving founders access to networks, mentoring and sector-focused events.
Amardeep Parmar, CEO of Bae HQ, commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with NatWest. Their support will help us significantly expand our in person presence, especially for founders outside London, through events and access to their hubs. Having collaborated before, we’ve already seen NatWest’s authentic commitment to championing diverse entrepreneurs.”
More information about the NatWest Accelerator community is available at natwest.com/accelerator.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Supporting entrepreneurs through partnerships and programmes
For more than a decade, NatWest Accelerator has supported thousands of entrepreneurs to start, scale and thrive through community, coaching and connections both in hubs across the UK and via the NatWest Accelerator app. Seamlessly bringing together a range of initiatives designed to connect founders with expertise, investors and peers. This includes:
- Hubs and university partnerships are central to the Accelerator community, delivering local tailored interventions designed to meet local needs. We have partnered with the Universities of Manchester, Oxford, York and Brighton, have an established Accelerator hub with Warwick with plans to establish more Accelerator Hubs on campuses and expand the community through partnerships with six more universities by the end of 2027.
- Inclusion focused partnerships with Buy Women Built, Digital Boost, MP HERoes, X Forces, Aston University’s CREME, Bae HQ and Foundervine play a vital role in expanding our reach and impact. Together, they strengthen our inclusion ambitions. Later this year we will launch disability focused support with Enterprise Nation aligned with NatWest’s commitment to the Disability Finance Code, taking another important step towards ensuring founders have the tools, networks and visibility to thrive.
- Accelerator journeys support high potential start-ups to scale, offering expert support, networking and tools through 12 UK hubs and via the online community in the NatWest Accelerator App—working with Google to provide access to digital tools, training and specialist expertise.
- Pitch events and forums, giving entrepreneurs opportunities to showcase their ideas, build networks and access funding with events held across the UK.
Together, these initiatives are designed to foster innovation, encourage collaboration and help ambitious businesses realise their full potential.
