Join a supportive community of entrepreneurs and experts to get the support you need to launch, grow and scale your business.
Applications are now open!
Join a supportive community of entrepreneurs and experts to get the support you need to launch, grow and scale your business.
Applications are now open!
Are you a Disabled entrepreneur ready to turn your business idea into reality?
Our Launchpad programme can help your journey into entrepreneurship.
Over this three-month programme, you’ll join a cohort of early-stage founders to explore essential business topics and learn from Disability advocates and industry experts. From marketing and finance to pitching and networking, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to build a strong business foundation.
If you have a business idea, apply now and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey with our supportive community!
£1K
Graduates can apply through a competitive process for up to £1k of funding.
.My perspective is multi-faceted, shaped by my identity as a woman, my upbringing in council estates, my Kurdish heritage, and living with a disability. Organisations like Hatch have been instrumental in offering essential tools and resources tailored for individuals like me.
Zhin Kader
Estéra Swim
You have an idea and want to launch your own business
You identify as Disabled
You are based in the UK
12 hours of expert-led masterclasses on mission development, business modelling, product/market fit, branding, sales, marketing, funding, and pitching, featuring Disability advocates and business specialists.
12+ hours of peer learning and peer coaching. Gain fascinating insights, exchange ideas and swap skills with like-minded individuals.
Launchpad founders said their confidence in being able to access the funding they need increased by 122%
Launchpad founders said their ability to measure the impact of their business went up by 111%.
Launchpad founders said their ability to communicate the impact their organisation was having went up by 89%.
“The mentoring was definitely the thing that helped me the most. If I need any help with anything they’ll give me a mentor that is specific to my needs. They’ve given me something that I never ever thought would be possible. I am a founder, I am a boss of my business”
Sylvia Mac
Founder Love Disfigure. Launchpad Graduate
The programme consists of 6 expert-led online sessions, 6 online workshops, and an in-person graduation day, plus additional ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions shaped around the cohort’s specific needs.
Discover your entrepreneurial mindset. Build your business vision and mission
Business Model and Strategy – Exploring the Lean Business Model Canvas
Product Market Fit and Identifying your Customer
Learn to log and track your business finances and identify start-up costs
Package and promote your business in a way that will boost sales
Funding and accessing funding through pitching
In-person celebratory event and pitch presentations
Our goal is to make our programmes as accessible as possible. Each programme is designed with input from our cohorts and tailored to meet the unique needs of each group. During the application process, we will ask you to detail any accessibility needs we can support you with.
If you would like to request support in completing your application (e.g. transcribing your application answers), or to discuss your accessibility needs please email programmes@hatchenterprise.org
Hatch is a charity that supports underrepresented entrepreneurs from across the UK to imagine, launch, and grow businesses and organisations that are sustainable, successful, and have a positive and lasting impact on their communities.
We’re not typical of the third sector. Although we’re a charity, as entrepreneurs ourselves we know what it takes to grow a business. We recognise that talent is equally distributed across society, but opportunities are not. Too many people from underrepresented backgrounds are unfairly prevented from realising their entrepreneurial potential to positively impact their own lives, the lives of others in their community and wider society. We’re working to change that by creating an inclusive ecosystem where everyone has access to the power of entrepreneurship to create a fairer economy.
Consequently, while much of our work and support is accessible to all, we focus on supporting women, those from an ethnic minority background, disabled and neurodivergent founders and young people – essentially anyone who might typically get overlooked when it comes to getting what they need to launch and grow an organisation in the UK.
10,000+ founders have been supported through our programmes and events
of founders participating in our programmes are women or from other marginalised genders
of founders participating in our programmes are from an ethnic minority background
of founders participating in our programmes are Disabled or neurodivergent
M
I have had such a great experience with Hatch on the Female Founders Incubator Course from start to finish. I cannot thank them enough for all the advice, tips and help I have received throughout. I would 100% recommend Hatch to anyone who is starting a business or have already formed and running one.
R
Doing the Hatch Female Founders course was a huge turning point for me and my small business. The support was superb and the knowledge gained is something I will forever be grateful for. Huge thanks to the wonderful team that make up Hatch.
Thanks to the generosity of our partner the programme is provided free of charge.
Date of next programme:
Do you have any questions? Are you unsure if this is the right course for you? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by emailing our team at programmes@hatchenterprise.org.
You can apply for this programme if you identify as disabled, are based in the UK, and want to launch your own business or have just launched your business and your annual turnover is under £1K.
You can find a step-by-step guide to our application process here.
All of the sessions take place online and are conducted through Zoom.
No, you will not need to prove to us in any way that you have a disability. During the application process we will ask you to share any accessibility needs you have so that we can tailor the programme to best suit you and the group.
This programme is designed specifically for disabled founders. The content of the programme will be co-designed based on the group’s needs and will feature Disability advocates and business experts representative of the cohort.
Yes, support workers and PAs are welcome to join our sessions. We cannot offer funding for support worker or PA hours for the duration of the programme.
Much of the learning in our programmes is through peer-to-peer support and coaching. Each session will involve whole group discussions and smaller breakout room sessions (groups of 2 – 6 people), in which all participants are encouraged to participate. If requested, you will be sent the session materials beforehand, which will include group discussion points for you to prepare. We always aim to ensure these group sessions are safe spaces, where we hope you feel comfortable to participate and share. If you are hesitant about this for any reason please reach out to us at programmes@hatchenterprise.org.
Our accessibility supports include, but are not limited to:
Please email programmes@hatchenterprise.org to discuss the programme and any support you require.
