After 12 extraordinary years as our founder and Chief Executive, Dirk Bischof will be stepping down this August and we’re proud to announce that Rebekah Sun will become Hatch Enterprise’s new Chief Executive from September 2025.
Currently the charity’s Managing Director, Rebekah will be the first woman to lead Hatch Enterprise. With more than 20 years of third-sector experience and a deep belief in the power of inclusive entrepreneurship, we sat down with them both at the charity’s offices in London to hear Rebekah’s vision for the future, her motivations for the role and for Dirk’s insights over the last 12 years.
‘The charity has always believed in the potential of both the underrepresented founders we support and the staff who work here. I’m thrilled about being able to lead such a dedicated, talented team. There’s a strong foundation in place, and I am excited to take us forward in a way that’s sustainable and creative, but responsive to what UK founders need most’, says Rebekah. ‘As a woman and a mother from a mixed ethnicity background, I know how important representation is and why it’s important for us to continue identifying and removing barriers for those traditionally excluded from opportunity.
‘I grew up seeing the power of entrepreneurship and social impact in action, which is why Hatch’s mission resonates so deeply with me. My grandfather was a refugee from China who built a livelihood by opening a chain of restaurants in India. In turn, when I was young, my father set up a charity to support children in the Philippines. It meant over three decades, thousands of children had access to a nutritious meal every day. I know what it means to build something meaningful without privilege and I believe everyone deserves that opportunity to realise their potential, build financial independence, and lead with purpose.’
‘September isn’t far away. In the shorter-term, my focus is around bringing stability and focus to the charity after a period of change. We’ll continue strengthening our financial resilience, keep building our strategic partnerships and continue delivering high-quality, in-depth business support for people in the UK who wouldn’t normally get to access such things.’
Dirk nods in agreement, adding: ‘I’ve watched Rebekah go from strength to strength over the four years she’s been at the charity, and she never shies away from the tough tasks, including stepping up as interim Chief Executive when I took a sabbatical in 2023 . To me, this was a real indication of her resilience and vision. I’m confident she’s the right person to lead Hatch into the future.’
‘I’m immensely proud of what Hatch Enterprise has achieved. The 12 years of the charity taught us a lot about resilience, but also tenacity. I feel privileged to have worked alongside so many passionate, smart, creative people and I’ve learned so much from them. Together we built something much bigger than just a charity, but a community of founders, mentors, coaches, champions and partners. For many founders, going through our business support programmes was and is a life-changing experience, and it’s these stories that will stay with me always.’
But what’s next for Dirk? As someone who is always driven by new ideas and innovations, his answer to this question is unsurprising. He says: ‘Over the next few months I’ll be supporting Rebekah to ensure a smooth CEO transition. Going forward I will be deepening my work at Korra Ventures, our angel syndicate backing impact-driven entrepreneurs.’
For Rebekah, she remains laser focussed about what Hatch needs to do, as she explains: ‘This next chapter for the charity and team is about refining and scaling what we do best. We’ll stay true to our mission while adapting how we work to ensure we’re still here, still impactful to founders and society, and still trusted by the communities we serve for years to come.’