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!
Got a business idea but feeling stuck at the starting line? You’re not alone. Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle to take their first steps – whether it’s doubting if you’re cut out for business, feeling overwhelmed by where to begin, or finding it hard to explain your idea to others.
At Hatch Enterprise, we specialise in helping people from underrepresented backgrounds start and grow their own businesses. That’s why we’ve created our Get Ready to Start programme in partnership with Linklaters and Funding Circle, designed specifically for Disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, providing the accessible support and community you need on your journey into entrepreneurship.
You’ll be joining a supportive community of aspiring entrepreneurs who share your ambitions and face the same questions you do. We’ll help you build the confidence to see yourself as an entrepreneur, understand the fundamental building blocks of starting a business, and connect with others who are at the same stage of their journey.
Since joining and being a part of the Hatch community, I feel so much more confident in building a business and taking the plunge.
Shana Gujral
Think Lila
You have a business idea you wish to develop further
You identify as Disabled or neurodiverse
You are based in the UK
Access to mentors to support you with navigating your business challenges.
Showcase your business to a panel of experts and get actionable feedback on how to take your business idea to the next level.
Ludo Tutors
Gain essential programme insights and entrepreneurial mindset foundations while networking with Hatch, funders and fellow founders to kickstart your business journey.
Establishing a clear, compelling foundation for your business.
Developing a concise, strategic blueprint for the business.
Building a legally compliant and structured business.
Building customer trust and loyalty
Simplifying financial management and exploring funding options.
Building confidence in communicating your business idea
Pitching your business to friendly Dragons
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 working towards a fairer society by helping develop these founders’ skills, knowledge and confidence through our support programmes designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs.
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 founders who are women, from an ethnic minority background, or live with a disability or are neurodivergent – essentially anyone who might typically get overlooked when it comes to getting what they need to launch and grow an organisation in the UK.
9,000+ founders have been supported through our programmes and events.
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, participants are only asked to pay a £50 contribution. There are also a limited number of bursary places available.
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.
The Get Ready to Start programme is designed for individuals who identify as Disabled and/or neurodivergent, have a curiosity about entrepreneurship, and want to explore whether starting a business is right for them. You may have one or more business ideas you’d like to develop.
If this doesn’t describe you, click here to check out our programmes page for alternative opportunities.
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 us at programmes@hatchenterprise.org
Read more about the accessibility support we offer here.
Our Get Ready to Start programme is designed for individuals who are still undecided about whether entrepreneurship is the right fit for them. It’s about refining the business idea(s) you have, learning the basics of business, and reaching a stage where you can decide whether you want to continue on the journey to launch your venture. Our other programmes are focused on launching, growing, or scaling existing businesses that generate revenue.
No, a business plan is not required. We welcome participants at various stages, from those with just an initial concept to those who have started to flesh out their ideas. The programme is designed to help you develop and refine your business plan, aiding you in launching your business.
Our accessibility supports include, but are not limited to:
The programme is funded by our partners at Funding Circle and Linklaters, but we do request a founder contribution fee of £50. If that fee is a barrier for you, please indicate on the application form that you would like to be considered for a bursary to reduce or remove the founder contribution fee.
At Hatch Enterprise, we operate a trust-based self-referral system for bursaries. We believe you are best placed to understand your financial situation and needs. It is our policy to offer bursaries to anyone who:
The programme runs across three months, with fortnightly scheduled workshops taking place on Wednesday evenings from January to March, and a demo day in April.
No, however, once a graduate of Get Ready to Start, you’d be able to apply for our further programmes (Launchpad, Incubator, Deep Dive), which do come attached to grants
Check out a week-by-week summary of the programme here.
Prior business experience is not required. Our programme is designed to cater to individuals from diverse backgrounds, and assumes most are completely new to entrepreneurship.
This is a hybrid programme – 1 session is in-person in London and the rest are online via Zoom. Attendance at the in-person session is optional, but encouraged.
There may be optional extracurricular events Hatch invites you to that may be in-person, such as networking events, which you would be welcome and encouraged to attend, but are not compulsory.
We welcome business ideas from all sectors. Our tailored approach ensures that mission-driven business ideas, whether in technology, food and drink, retail, services, or any other industry, receive the guidance they need to create positive change.
Yes, each participant will be invited to 3 online group coaching sessions with volunteers from our partners. These sessions are designed to hone the specifics of your business idea and help you develop your final pitch.
We accept 20-25 participants per cohort.
Yes, we have a “Demo Day” at the end of the programme, where you will have the opportunity to pitch your business idea to our team of Friendly Dragons at an online session. They will provide you with invaluable feedback on how to refine your pitch and maximise its impact. In addition to this, there will also be multiple Pitch Practice sessions to help you prepare.
After completing the Get Ready to Start programme, you’ll have access to our Graduate platform, Circle, for continued peer support. You will have access to Hatch Graduate events such as pitch and finance clinics, pitch competitions, mentoring opportunities, etc.
The first step is to fill out the application form, which you can find here. The application form is your opportunity to tell us about you and your business idea or business. The more detail you can provide us with, the better! The form takes an average of 30-40 minutes to complete.
If your initial application is successful, you will receive an invitation to complete part two of the application process. This section involves answering a series of questions through the Video Ask portal or via a Zoom call. We will send you the interview questions beforehand so you can prepare as best as possible.
After the application window closes, we’ll email you to let you know if you have secured a place on the programme.
