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 2023-24 Impact Report | 2022-23 Impact Report

Since 2014, Hatch has supported more than 10,000 founders from across the UK through our community events, mentoring and support programmes. Of that number, more than 1,800 founders were supported through our longer term Launchpad, Incubator, Accelerator and Deep Dive cohort programmes alone.

Since pivoting to delivering our support to founders online in early 2020, we’re increasingly supporting people from across the UK, having previously focussed on founders in London and the South East. Now more than a third of founders supported through our cohort programmes are based outside of London, from richly diverse communities across the UK, all the way from Bognor Regis to Edinburgh.

Over the course of 2024-25, we supported 1,075 founders through our cohort and community programmes, with:

77%

of founders on our programmes identify as women or other marginalised genders

62%

of founders on our programmes are from an ethnic minority background

30%

of founders on our programmes are Disabled or neurodivergent

We supported 199 founders from across the UK through 13 Launchpads, Incubators, Accelerators and Deep Dives. These longer term support programmes offered guidance and advice to the full spectrum of founders – those who were early in their entrepreneurial journeys through to founders with more established businesses looking to scale up their reach and impact.

Going through the vision, mission and purpose task prompted me to think through and change what it was I actually wanted to do as a business. There was a really broad group of founders in my cohort, some had very clear ideas and had started their businesses, whilst others hadn’t fully fleshed it out, which made me feel okay that I wasn’t fully there yet and there were others in the same situation.
Headshot of Hollie Andrews
Hollie AndrewsFounder - Rewired
I just loved the community feel of the programme, the learning and being able to share best practice with peers who were also on the same programme. I genuinely feel that what I've learnt on the Accelerator has been invaluable to me and my business which will now be able to continue to grow and flourish..
Headshot of Tameeka Smith
Tameeka SmithFounder - Trimenco
The Hatch programme has been incredible from both a personal development and organisational development perspective. I have been really impressed with how the Hatch team quickly adapted the programme for a virtual environment and the strength and diversity of experts and speakers at each session.
Headshot of Liz Heard
Liz HeardFounder - Planet Patrol
I have become more confident and have used the tools that Hatch has provided me with to develop a stronger business model which has enabled me to develop a much stronger brand message. Through the expert sessions, I have been able to set up a much stronger support network.
Headshot of Jade Visram
Jane VisramFounder - Mama Dolce

How our cohort programmes make a difference to UK founders

To gauge the effectiveness of our support, we asked participants to rate their knowledge and expertise in various areas before and after completing a Hatch programme. Among the biggest changes were:

101%

The founder felt better able to access the funding they need, up 101%

84%

The founder felt they were more capable of measuring the impact of their business, up 84%

56%

The founder felt they were more capable of managing their business finances, up 56%

I walked in with an idea and left with a deck about what my business is, who my audience is, how it makes money. I still look at it in awe.

Amarie Cassidy

Volleyball

How our community programme makes a difference to UK founders

Hatch supported more than 800 founders through the community programme in 2024-25, which includes one on one consultations and mentoring, networking events, panel discussions, talks masterclasses and pitch practice days. This wraparound of support means regardless of a founder’s stage of business, founders can come to the community team for a broad range of support for both themselves and their businesses.

876

The number of founders we supported through our events and activities

200+

The number of volunteers who mentored, coached and provided feedback to our founders.

84

The number of events and activities we ran for founders

What ultimately attracted me to Hatch was its willingness to work with founders at the earliest stage in their journey.

Timi Merriman-Johnson

Mr Moneyjar

Our work in the entrepreneurial ecosystem

As a charity, all of our work is only possible thanks to the continued support of our partners and funders. From local authorities, to trusts and foundations, corporate organisations, and more, we work with a wide range of partners to maximise the impact we are able to have on underrepresented founders across the UK.

Through working with us our partners are able to play a part in building a better world through entrepreneurship, and many of them also have the opportunity to get directly involved. Staff at our partner organisations are able to volunteer directly with the beneficiaries of our programmes, gaining insight into the early stages of a growing start-up, and providing pivotal guidance that could shape the journey of an aspiring entrepreneur.

From 1:1 mentoring opportunities, to volunteering as a ‘friendly dragon’ at our pitch days, or getting involved as a problem-solver at one of our specialised clinics, these hands-on opportunities have a huge impact on both the founders that benefit and the volunteers themselves.

70+

The number of social enterprises and capacity building organisations that make up the Collective Leadership Group (CLG)

170

The number of founders took part in events run by our UK wide event partners.

Volunteering is not only a way for our colleagues to try to use their experience and skills to benefit others, but it is also a way to learn about the barriers and challenges facing different communities.

Nick Howe

Enterprise and Climate Engagement and Partnerships, Natwest

Work with us

With your support, we can help more impact businesses, women-led businesses and ethnic minority-led businesses deliver positive impact into the world. By partnering with Hatch, you can meet your CSR goals and engage your employees in volunteering with impactful businesses.

  • Sponsor a Hatch Programme

  • Get your employees involved

  • Become a Hackathon Partner

  • Deliver an expert workshop

Find out more

I sometimes wonder who has learned more from whom, my mentee from me or me from my mentee. She is an inspiration to me.

Claudia Coppenolle

Head of Digital Market Management, Deutsche Bank