Join a supportive community of entrepreneurs who are looking to scale their businesses sustainably

Taking part in the Hatch programme has helped me step back and view my businesses more strategically, rather than purely operationally. Through Hatch, I’ve strengthened my understanding of sustainable growth, financial planning, and leadership, which has already influenced how I structure KK Electrical, King Construction, and Build & Elevate.

The support has given me clarity on long-term vision, helped refine my business models, and challenged me to think bigger about scale and impact—particularly around training, job creation, and social value. Moving forward, the experience and network from Hatch will play a key role in supporting the next phase of growth, enabling me to build resilient businesses that create both commercial success and meaningful opportunities for others.

Taking part in the Hatch programme gave me something far more valuable than just business advice — it gave me clarity and confidence.

As a solo founder, it’s easy to spend all your time doing the work and very little time stepping back to see the bigger picture. Hatch created the space to pause, reflect, and properly understand where my business is heading and why it matters. The programme helped me articulate my values, strengthen my strategy, and feel more assured in the decisions I’m making for the future.

What stood out most was the human approach. Hatch doesn’t try to mould businesses into a single version of “success”. Instead, it supports founders to grow in a way that feels authentic, sustainable, and aligned with who they are. That mindset has already had a positive impact on how I run my business — from how I communicate with customers, to how I pace growth and protect wellbeing.

Looking ahead, the learning and confidence I’ve gained through Hatch will continue to shape the next chapter of my business. I feel better equipped to grow with intention, stay true to my values, and build something that is not only commercially sound, but genuinely meaningful.

Hatch has already played a really important part in our goal’s journey, from the Launchpad programme when I was just getting started to the incubator more recently. I’ve already had experiences to be part of press releases, hatch’s impact report, and speak at a business camp through hatch. I’m excited to become a hatch ambassador and continue to share the amazing work they do to support entrepreneurs.

Taking part in the Hatch Incubator programme was genuinely transformational for me and my business. From the very beginning, the programme felt like a well-oiled machine, thoughtful, intentional, and designed with real founders in mind.
The online platform was excellent and incredibly accessible. As someone with ADHD, the reminders, structure, and clear milestones made a huge difference. It meant I could stay focused, accountable, and confident that I wasn’t missing anything — which is something many entrepreneurs quietly struggle with.

What really stood out was how practical and values-led Hatch is. The learning wasn’t just theoretical; it was rooted in real business growth, sustainability, and confidence-building. I felt supported as a whole person, not just a business owner, and that made it easier to show up fully and engage deeply with the programme.
Receiving the £5,000 Hatch Enterprise Grant, particularly as core funding, was a game changer. That level of trust and flexibility is rare, and it allowed me to strengthen the foundations of my organisation in a way that will have long-term impact. It wasn’t just funding; it was belief.

Taking part in the Hatch programme allowed me to have the time and space, guided by experts, to focus in on the finer details of Esports Youth Club. It equipped me with additional extra knowledge on key aspects related to running a community interest company – from measuring our impact all the way through to working with corporate clients. By enrolling in the Hatch programme, I was so pleased to be able to share the space with many other founders of a whole range of non-profit orgs, which was so helpful. It was fantastic to be able to share ideas, thoughts and even similar struggles we all face. It’s a great way to connect with like-minded people and to feel like you’re not alone in this space.

Everything, how we dominated socials and how we get bloggers into the business. How we seek opportunities and how much hatch supported me and my business to carry on and aided us to do better an dream bigger!

Taking part in the Hatch accelerator in early 2025 was a genuinely useful moment for ZeroBees. It gave me dedicated space to step back from delivery, sharpen our proposition, and think more clearly about how we grow with impact. Meeting other founders was a huge part of the value – honest conversations, shared challenges, and practical learning that didn’t feel theoretical. The sessions and coaching helped me clarify our positioning and direction, and I still draw on that thinking as the business continues to evolve.

My journey with Hatch marked the shift from being a passionate creative with a mission to becoming a founder with a scalable roadmap. Before the programme, Penificent was driven by instinct and lived experience. Hatch gave me the structure, confidence, and entrepreneurial thinking to turn our storytelling into a sustainable social impact organisation.

The support helped me professionalise our pitch and clearly communicate our value, which directly led to new partnerships and commissions, including gambling awareness work with Betknowmore UK and trauma-informed projects with Juvenis. It also strengthened our Creative Reformament programme supporting young people in custody at Oasis Restore.

Hatch transformed how we measure and demonstrate impact. Since joining, we have distributed over 600 comics globally, increased LinkedIn engagement by 498 percent, and built partnerships with Barnardo’s, Arts Council England, the National Literacy Trust, and Northumbria University. Our resources are now stocked by the Wellcome Library and used by educators who describe them as the first materials that truly reflect their students’ lived experiences.

Being surrounded by other underrepresented founders also shaped my leadership and ambition. I now see Penificent not just as a comic studio but as a platform for safeguarding, education, and youth voice.

With Hatch’s support, we are scaling from local workshops to national reach, ensuring that more young people can safely explore difficult issues like violence, abuse, and mental health through stories that feel real and relatable.

I joined Hatch right at the very beginning of my journey, when both my business idea and I, as an entrepreneur, were still in their infancy. The Launchpad programme taught me how to take an idea from concept to launch and gave me the confidence to put my business out into the world.

After graduating, we received a grant through the Groundworks programme, which allowed us to purchase a branded gazebo. This made a huge difference to our visibility at events and helped us show up more professionally from an early stage.

I then went on to join the Incubator programme, by which point the business had evolved into what is now Lucid. This programme helped me identify key areas for improvement, supported our growth, and positioned the business to become investment-ready, which is exactly where we are now.

Following the second cohort, we also received the New Founder Grant. This enabled us to invest further into marketing initiatives and increase our stock, both of which were important steps in scaling the business.

Hatch has been invaluable to my personal growth and the way I lead Lucid. I’ve developed key skills, built meaningful connections with other founders, and found support at every stage of the journey. Building a business sustainably is something I care deeply about. Living with an autoimmune condition has taught me how to grow something without burning the candle at both ends, and I’m passionate about helping other entrepreneurs do the same.

My relationship with Hatch spans more than five years, and during that time it has been one of the most consistently inspiring, inclusive and practically valuable ecosystems I have been part of as an entrepreneur. From the very beginning, Hatch felt different – not just a support organisation, but a genuine community that meets people where they are and helps them move forward with confidence.

Taking part in the Southwark Pioneers Programme was a pivotal moment for me. The combination of advice surgeries, seminars, one-to-one coaching and networking opportunities provided both structure and momentum at a time when clarity and direction were essential.

The support was practical, grounded and immediately applicable, which helped me strengthen my management consultancy and training agency in meaningful ways.
What stood out most was the inclusivity of the programme. Hatch actively creates space for people from diverse backgrounds, industries and lived experiences, and that diversity of thinking was incredibly energising. I met founders at very different stages, with ideas ranging from early concepts to established ventures, and those conversations broadened my perspective and reinforced the importance of collaboration within the start-up community.

As a result of my involvement with Hatch, I have been able to refine my offer, improve my confidence as a business owner, and reach additional clients while also giving back through peer learning and shared insight. Hatch has not only supported my business growth but also strengthened my mindset as an entrepreneur and leader.

Looking ahead, the values I have absorbed through Hatch inclusion, generosity, curiosity and practical action continue to shape the future trajectory of my business. I would be proud to share my experience as a Hatch Ambassador, helping to amplify the impact of a programme that genuinely empowers entrepreneurs and contributes positively to the wider Southwark and start-up community.

The Hatch programme is excellent for small business owners. It really understands the challenges of starting and running a small business and helped me think more strategically about growth and development. Most importantly, it helped me focus on money, profit, and making the business sustainable in the long term.

Taking part in Hatch’s programmes has played a key role in shaping both my confidence and the direction of knus.

I have completed a Hatch incubator programme and then a Hatch accelerator programme, and I am currently attending a sales and marketing accelerator. Each stage has supported me in different ways, but together they have helped strengthen the foundations of knus and accelerate our progress.

The programmes have provided a huge amount of practical training which has enhanced my skills as a founder and helped me improve how I develop, communicate, and grow the non-profit. The learning has been directly applicable, and it has supported knus in moving forward with clearer structure, stronger strategy, and more confidence in decision making.

Hatch has also opened the door to valuable connections. Being surrounded by other founders and mentors has created a supportive environment where ideas can be shared openly, challenges can be discussed honestly, and progress feels achievable.

One of the biggest impacts for me personally has been the confidence boost. Through the workshops, peer discussions, and regular opportunities to reflect and develop, I’ve been able to grow into my role as a founder and feel more equipped to lead knus into its next phase.

The peer-to-peer learning has been especially powerful. Being able to share ideas with others, learn from their experiences, and take part in collaborative sessions has not only helped shape my thinking, but has also made the journey feel far less isolated.

Hatch has been a major support in helping knus progress to where it is today, and the knowledge, network, and confidence gained will continue to play a big part in the future trajectory of the non-profit.

I had a great experience with Hatch on the programme and after the programme. It helped me to shape the direction of my business and where we are today as a company. Being part of the Hatch community has led to some good opportunities with Hatch partners but also opportunity to share my knowledge with other founders who have been on the programme after me.

The impact that the hatch programme has had on me has been monumental. I’ve been able to implicate efficient systems to make my business run more effectively and now I finally feel like I’m working on my business, rather than in it. This has then given me the confidence to make better decisions, trust myself more, and have the space, confidence, time and freedom to grow my business how I want to. The Hatch grant has helped me aford big spend items that can grow my business that I would have felt too nervous to spend before. We’ve also managed to use these funds to improve the access to our classes to a wider audience as well as upskill our team.