When a manufacturer laughed at her business plan, hair and beauty entrepreneur Erim Kaur rang him back, this time with a deeper voice and a little more authority, and he agreed to work with her. “At first, none of the small factories I called took me seriously,” she says.
“They didn’t get my commercial model – that I was an influencer and I could sell to an online audience. But that day I felt I’d opened the door further for another young woman to walk through with a little more ease.”
Since then, Kaur, 27, has launched hair and beard oil brand ByErim, which has brought in £2.5 million and sold more than 70,000 bottles.
Kaur has beautifully long hair but it hasn’t always been this way. At the age of 11, she began losing her hair, prompted by the delayed shock of her mother ‘s death from cancer at the age of eight.
Her mother, too, had great hair before cancer treatment took its toll. “I wanted mine to be just like hers. I have a strong emotional connection to hair.”
Together with her grandmother they experimented with essential oils following a secret family recipe.
“Rubbing it on my scalp seemed to help it grow back faster and stronger.”
Within the Sikh community, says Kaur, people are used to oiling their hair, and many people will mix their own oils at home.
From tech and comms to retail and professional services, meet The 100 – a proud cohort of the UK’s brightest female founders
‘I’ve married the oldest form of business – which is creating your own product – to the newest form of marketing – which is being an influencer’
Erim Kaur Founder ByErim
Clair Heaviside Co-Founder Serotonin
‘Don’t be distracted by other business journeys on social media or be swept away by hype. Brand differentiation is key’
Clair Heaviside
SEROTONIN
A multi award-winning creative digital agency, Manchester-based Serotonin was founded in 2019. Heaviside now has a team of 18 as business has gathered pace.
Holroyd founded White Bicycle in 2019 after growing frustrated at the quality of online learning on offer. She now works with teachers and trainers to create new courses.
Leah Holroyd
WHITE BICYCLE
Sisters Alex and Jenny McFadden launched Pretty Mama in 2020 after Alex, who became a mother at 26, despaired at the frumpy maternity wear on offer.
Alex and Jenny McFadden
PRETTY MAMA
The Supply Change platform connects
pre-vetted social suppliers to buyers, increasing their visibility and access to contract opportunities.
Aoise Keogan-Nooshabadi
SUPPLY CHANGE
Jackman was motivated by her mother’s desire for a comfortable prosthetic breast after cancer surgery – she found traditional models too sweaty and uncomfortable
for her active lifestyle.
Samantha Jackman
BOOST
Acclaimed entrepreneur Tesfai aims to make FroHub the global go-to place for the vast afro hair and beauty market and shake up a £30 billion plus industry.
Rahel Tesfai
FROHUB
This creative agency works with Web3 – which uses blockchain technology to democratise access and ownership for fans and artists in the entertainment industry.
Lucy Rogers
SOGA
Oarbt uses artificial intelligence to help individuals save time and money by converting interior design inspiration images into a product checklist.
Sharon Obuobi
OARBT
Chalov and a co-founder reinvented an ancient recipe for mead during lockdown and launched Bemuse in 2021.
Anna Chalov
BEMUSE
Acclaimed entrepreneur Rahel Tesfai aims to make FroHub the global go-to place for the vast afro hair and beauty market and shake up a £30 billion-plus industry currently driven largely by word of mouth. She has global ambition for her booking platform, launched in 2019, and is focusing on technological efficiencies in order to expand to the US. “Think Amazon for the black hair market.” She aims to begin selling hair products and develop FroHub’s growing online community. Her team have worked hard to gather data and insights to provide a platform superior, she says, to any other on the market. “We’ve stayed focused on our customers.” Tesfai, who has won numerous awards, including Most Influential Women in Tech by Computer Weekly, has a background in web development, user experience and marketing, and is now seeking investment. “The next challenge will be to choose people we can respect and trust.”
Rahel Tesfai
FROHUB
Soga’s ‘special power’ is to bridge the gap between entertainment and technology, says co-founder Lucy Rogers, who wants to use new technology to hand back more control to artists. Her creative agency works with Web3 – which uses blockchain technology in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) – to democratise access and ownership for fans and artists in the entertainment industry. Soga also works to educate artists on the importance of Web3 and has notched up some world firsts – an NFT-ticketed music event, Europe’s first NFT festivals, even facilitating football club ownership via blockchain technology. As Soga’s reputation grows, so has the opportunity to work on more ambitious projects. With a solid track record in project management – she worked as a creative producer in advertising and music – Rogers is one of few women in a male dominated field. “Sometimes I have impostor syndrome on how to be a good chief executive,” she says.
Lucy Rogers
SOGA
A former arts industry specialist at Sotheby’s, Sharon Obuobi founded Oarbt (pronounced ‘orbit’) – during lockdown to make art and design accessible online. Now the immersive technology – which allows users to design in interactive 3D settings – has been adopted by designers and homeowners. Oarbt uses artificial intelligence to help individuals save time and money by converting interior design inspiration images into a product checklist – and buy from brands such as Martha Stewart and more. “You can find a work of art for your wall, but also a sofa, a rug, a table, that make up a cohesive design.” Funded to date by grants from Innovate UK and Amazon Web Services, among others, Obuobi is expanding the business in the UK and US and plans to raise investment in 2023. She taught herself to code by watching YouTube tutorials. “A lot of stress and hard work, but it’s been one of the best skills I’ve developed.”
Sharon Obuobi
OARBT
Two sisters, Alex and Jenny McFadden, launched Pretty Mama in 2020 after Alex, who became a mother at 26, despaired at the frumpy maternity wear on offer. “My body had changed so much during pregnancy and the maternity wear really lacked in boosting my post-birth body confidence.” The founders hope that their clients will continue to want to wear the comfortable, feminine clothing and pretty lingerie beyond pregnancy and nursing. Over the past two years, the sisters have increased the range and sizing of clothing and are busy adapting clothing for different seasons. Their aim is for Pretty Mama to become the leading brand for women and they’re seeking partnerships with high street chains, and already work with Not On The High Street. Described by the sisters as the brand you always wanted but could never quite find, four dragons loved the business when it appeared on Dragons’ Den this year.
Jenny McFadden
PRETTY MAMA
Billions of pounds are spent each year by the public and private sectors, but this rarely goes to the thousands of UK’s social companies which seek a better way of doing business. Supply Change aims to redirect spending towards businesses driven by social or environmental good. The Supply Change platform connects pre-vetted social suppliers to buyers, increasing their visibility and access to contract opportunities. “The impact could be vast,” says founder Aoise Keogan Nooshabadi, who launched the business straight out of university in 2019. With clients from construction through to professional services, Supply Change has directed more than £500,000 towards social businesses. With improvements to her company’s technology, Keogan Nooshabadi aims to direct some £40 million of procurement spending towards social enterprises by 2027. “The pandemic made us all realise the power of our spending. Communities came together to buy locally, to support communities and make their pound go further.”
Aoise Keogan-Nooshhabadi
SUPPLY CHANGE
Cornwall-based founder Sam Jackman was motivated by her mother’s desire for a comfortable prosthetic breast after cancer surgery – she found traditional models too hot, sweaty and uncomfortable for her active lifestyle. After years of searching, Jackman and a colleague decided to make their own – and now produce lightweight, colourful, breathable silicone breast forms, aided initially by funds from Innovate UK. “Breast forms don’t have to be beige, boring or heavy,” says Jackman. Next year she also hopes to launch a virtual fittings service and a custom design option. As well as aiming for a larger share of the UK market, Jackman aims to expand abroad. By 2024 she hopes to be working with charities to bring breast forms to women who need them. “I could have cried when I heard about the award – I come from a council estate, I’m the only one in my immediate family to go to university, and I’m proud of my business.”
Samantha Jackman
BOOST
Leah Holroyd and her brother Finn founded online learning company White Bicycle Ltd in 2019 after growing frustrated at the quality of off-the-shelf online learning. She’d been freelancing as a learning designer and consultant and wanted to create something better. White Bicycle collaborates with subject experts to design bespoke courses and advises organisations on how to get the most out of online and blended learning. With repeat clients from the higher education, healthcare and business sectors, White Bicycle’s turnover more than doubled in its second year of operation and is forecast to rise again this year. It’s now time to expand, explore new directions and futureproof the business, Holroyd says. “Finn and I both have a rare genetic visual impairment, so accessibility has become a personal passion as well as a professional one.” White Bicycle recently became the proud sponsor of a local girls’ football team.
Leah Holyroyd
WHITE BICYCLE
3 Highly Commended
A multi award-winning creative digital agency, Manchester-based Serotonin was founded in 2019. Co-founder Clair Heaviside now has a team of 18 as business has gathered pace. With clients across industries from media to property to hospitality, Serotonin helps brands build comprehensive digital identities and marketing strategies – and “be a bit braver”. A mentor to other women entrepreneurs, Heaviside aims to make the sector as inclusive as possible. “Serotonin has always been about building the business I would want to work at.” After overseeing more than three years of rapid growth, Heaviside and her co-founder plan to expand the business ahead of a potential sale in a few years’ time. This isn’t Heaviside’s first entrepreneurial experience – fresh out of university in 2004 she founded a charity, Odd Arts, which uses theatre to help people facing discrimination and disadvantage. She’s a trail runner in her spare time, in the hills of the Peak and Lake Districts.
Clair Heaviside
SEROTONIN
2 Highly Commended
When she became a mother, Anna Chalov found her desire for alcohol had waned but the alternatives were uninspiring. She and a co-founder reinvented an ancient recipe for mead during lockdown and launched Bemuse in 2021. Now the multi award-winning sparkling low-calorie drink is poised to take advantage of a rapidly growing market. Early crowdfunding helped build the brand, and now founders are looking for angel investors. They want to exploit a growing interest abroad – Bemuse already sells in Europe. "Running your own business means more freedom and flexibility," says Chalov, who previously worked in a large corporation. “A ‘Made in Britain’ sign is very strong abroad,” she says. “Mead is a honey-based drink and has a great heritage, though it has been a little forgotten. As well as health benefits, there are benefits for bees.” Bemuse supports bee welfare projects and owns a beehive in Wales.
Anna Chalov
BEMUSE
The secret family formula behind Erim Kaur’s multi-million pound business
After countless experiments creating luxury hair oil in her grandmother’s kitchen, the ByErim founder has already sold more than 70,000 bottles
“Despite the unprecedented shock to our economy – and our daily lives – more women than ever are starting new companies,” says Caroline Barrett-Haigh, executive lifestyle editor of The Telegraph. “Furthermore, the number of female-founded businesses is growing by a third every year, outstripping growth in male-led firms for the first time.”
With this in mind, Telegraph Media Group and NatWest launched the 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch list, an initiative that shines a spotlight on some of the most exciting female-founded businesses in the UK.
After an exhaustive process of examining applications from all over the UK, the 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch list has been announced, including 10 Highly Commended businesses from which one exceptional female entrepreneur receives the Judges’ Choice award.
Those making the list earn assistance to help them further flourish, with benefits ranging from mentorship, an enterprise health check, media coverage, a parliamentary reception with Caroline Nokes MP, support from the Adelpha Group, possible investment from the Astia Fund, dinner with senior Coutts and NatWest executives and a £10,000 investment from NatWest.
Alison Rose, NatWest CEO and a judge for the Highly Commended and Judges’ Choice, notes and celebrates consistent themes across the businesses that entered: a strong commitment to innovation, a social purpose and scaling up.
Rose says: “The ambition and resilience of the business owners came across strongly in the applications. Their successes are remarkable and how they explained they would benefit from being part of The 100 made an impression. I’m confident we have some of the most exciting high potential female-owned businesses included in The 100.”
The final judging panel comprised: NatWest CEO Alison Rose; Yvonne Greeves, director of women in business at NatWest; Caroline Barrett-Haigh, The Telegraph’s executive lifestyle editor; Tory Young, The Telegraph’s deputy head of lifestyle; Rose Review Board members Debbie Wosskow OBE (co-founder of AllBright), Emma Davies (joint CEO of Octopus Ventures), Jenny Tooth OBE (chief executive at UK Business Angels Association) and Stephen Pegge (MD commercial finance at UK Finance).
Read on to learn more about the UK’s brilliant new batch of business talent, as we profile each of the 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch.
Alison Rose CEO NatWest Group
‘The standard of applicants was high. We had a great mix of entrepreneurs from all industries, geographical regions and personal backgrounds’
A pioneer of ethical, sustainable dairy farming, the micro-business keeps cows and calves together and sells their milk in reusable glass bottles.
tinyurl.com/DandysFordDairy
Emma Hunt
DANDYS FORD FARM
Launched to help young people pursue their creative dreams, the programme has linked up more than 200,000 teenagers with industry contacts and potential job opportunities.
meet-eric.com
Mae Yip
ERIC
A social enterprise aiming to inspire the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to solve tough world challenges via virtual work experience and problem-solving workshops.
startupsherpas.org
Katherine Walker
STARTUP SHERPAS
An impact-driven change programme working with 200 girls to launch more than 15 social action projects addressing issues such as online safety and period poverty.
oursisterhood.co.uk
Rebecca Thomson and Rachita Saraogi
SISTERHOOD
Based in the north east of England, the business is an Ofqual-recognised apprenticeship assessment organisation that works closely with employers and training providers.
1stforepa.co.uk
Helen Shinner
1ST FOR EPA
Initially designed for babies and toddlers with delayed speech, the firm uses singing, performance, speech games and sensory activities to boost development in the under-fours.
babygaga.uk
Rachael Setareh
BABY GAGA
A contemporary singing group for four-year-olds to 18-year-olds, looking to help young vocalists discover their full potential via tracks from artists such as Billie Eilish.
voxfresh.com
Katherine Penn
VOX FRESH
Based in Scotland, this social enterprise equips ethnic minority women with the leadership, personal development and enterprise skills they need to pursue start-up opportunities.
dechomai.co.uk
Bayile Adeoti
DECHOMAI
A London-based intelligent financial management platform looking to transform decision-making and improve efficiency among mid-sized enterprise clients operating in the global economy.
eb-sherloc.com
Karen Rudich
ELEMENTARYB
The first female-focussed finance app, the company has helped hundreds of thousands of women control their debts and take charge of their finances.
financielle.co.uk
Laura Pomfret
FINANCIELLE
Based in Reading and Oxford, this paperless tax advisory service uses cloud software to provide a digital solution to corporate and private accountancy needs.
strivex.co.uk
Rachel Harris
STRIVEX
Launched in 2019, the organisation has supported more than 1,000 women across the UK through their first three years of entrepreneurship.
weareradikl.co.uk
Claire Dunn and Sarah King
WE ARE RADIKL
A start-up with a mission to redefine the word ‘millionaire’ to mean a person who has an impact on millions of people.
vestedimpact.co.uk
Kimberley Abbott
VESTED
The firm was created from research at Imperial College London in which Kerres developed an algorithm which designs structures for flexible body armour.
scaled-tech.com
Natalie Kerres
SCALED
A social enterprise representing the fast-growing community of Social Prescribing Link Workers who bridge community and surgery to improve patient outcomes.
nalw.org.uk
Christiana Melam
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LINK WORKERS (NALW)
Belfast-based, the organisation’s mental health and wellbeing app aims to increase awareness of stress and promote mental health literacy.
informedmindsapp.com
Sinead Welsh
INFORMED MINDS
Founded in 2021, Body-Mind-Mojo is a supplement brand designed to support and empower women to be their best at every hormonal stage in their lives.
bomimonutrition.com
Samantha Williams
BOMIMO
BOMIMO
wewearboost.com
bemusedrinks.com
whitebicycleltd.co.uk
Launched via a farmers’ market, the business now has two bricks-and-mortar stores and plans to sell more than 200,000 fruit crumbles this year.
humble-crumble.com
Kimberley Innes
HUMBLE CRUMBLE
serotonin.co.uk
supplychange.co.uk
prettymama.co.uk
The firm began life preparing hog roasts and now has its own restaurant and caters for a wide variety of private and corporate events.
littlepiggycatering.co.uk
Charlotte McLaughlin
LITTLE PIGGY CATERING
oarbt.com
soga.world
frohub.com
The company was launched in November 2018 and is now London’s leading hot doughnut and dessert business specialising in large-scale events and pop-ups.
thetreatsclub.com
Lungile Mhlanga
TREATS CLUB
Hailing from Scotland, the app-based bespoke luggage service picks up, stores and delivers baggage on demand; allowing travellers to explore or shop ‘unbaggaged'.
unbaggaged.com
Janani Prabhakaran
UNBAGGAGED
Tailor-made travel and experiences for the leisure and corporate markets organised by a team of professional adventurers dedicated to the finer things in life
wonderluxetravel.co.uk
Sheena Sumner
WONDERLUXE TRAVEL
Wonderluxe Travel Limited
Run by three female personal trainers, the boutique leisure operator company holds daily spin classes in a 40-bike studio based in the north-west.
uk-ride.com
Sophie Lowe
RIDE
UK RIDE LTD
From her early start as a freelance instructor, Dutton has built a scuba-diving business with its own quarry, powerboat, dive shop, classroom and workshop.
duttonsdivers.com
Clare Dutton
DUTTON DIVERS
Duttons Divers
From its humble beginnings, the metal supplies business for the energy industry has a projected turnover of £5 million this year.
internationalenergyproducts.com
Emma Parkinson
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY PRODUCTS
Philly & Friends started off as a children's book based on Aghoghovbia-Aladewolu’s daughter and is now a thriving children’s brand with multiple spin-off products.
phillyandfriends.com
Vese Aghoghovbia-Aladewolu
PHILLY & FRIENDS
humanityworksconsultancy.com
Sharon Aneja
HUMANITY WORKS CONSULTANCY
Humanity Works Consultancy
A property investment company launched last year, CPP is a serviced accommodation management business which finds player accommodation for Oxford United Football Club.
cotswoldpropertypartners.com
Colette Thompson
COTSWOLD PROPERTY PARTNERS
Launched by East London’s youngest ever black, female councillor, the consultancy runs masterclasses, workshops and public speaking events on the dangers of online abuse.
seyiakiwowo.com
Seyi Akiwowo
SEYI AKIWOWO
A former corporate leader who has built an award-winning workplace wellbeing business, Aneja is a performance coach and trauma survivor.
A graphic design agency launched in West Yorkshire by twin sisters, the firm offers design, project management and animation services to global brands.
buttercrumble.com
Abigail and Chloe Baldwin
BUTTERCRUMBLE
Buttercrumble
This two-year-old boutique marketing agency helps direct-to-consumer health and wellbeing brands reach new audiences via email and SMS marketing and has a £320,000 turnover.
peppedup.co.uk
Georgie Carter
PEPPED
Based in the East Midlands, this consultancy business arranges weddings and hospitality venues and has recently extended its reach internationally.
thevenueexperts.co.uk
Stacey Ferguson-Czersovski
THE VENUE EXPERTS
The Venue Experts
A professional services firm based in Scarborough; Yorkshire, with a mission to take the legal sector into the modern age via rapid technological innovation.
inspirelegalgroup.co.uk
Natalie Foster
INSPIRE LEGAL
Inspire Legal Group
The platform aims to boost overall social mobility by matching candidates with businesses keen to create a more inclusive talent pipeline.
loopnotluck.com
Sydney Samuels
LOOP NOT LUCK
LOOP NOT LUCK
Describing itself as the Deliveroo of professional services, the platform covers key life events such as moving house or making a will via gifts and rewards.
stipendium.io
Christina Melling
STIPENDIUM
With a strong following among female clients, the Manchester-based boutique law firm provides tailored advice on wealth management and estate planning.
privateclientsolicitors.co.uk
Tasnim Khalid
PRIVATE CLIENT SOLICITORS
Private Client Solicitors
The professional services firm is on a mission to be a legal partner to smaller firms without their own dedicated legal department.
hooperhyde.com
Catherine Hyde
HOOPERHYDE
HooperHyde Legal Advisors
Founded last year and on track to hit a £250,000 turnover, this full-service agency offers strategy, branding, campaign management and flexible marketing teams.
cotswoldmarketingagency.com
Lisa Benson
THE COTSWOLD MARKETING AGENCY
She's used her online profile – she’s also an influencer and content creator with more than 254,000 followers on Instagram – to launch her brand to a wider audience.
“I was prompted by a former client, who said: ‘You know Erim, one day you’re going to have your own brand and do something for yourself.’ And it was never not going to be hair oil. It sort of created itself.”
Like many entrepreneurs, she’s found expanding her team to be tricky but she now has a core staff of 10, mostly working remotely.
“I’ve made some bad hires, and some exceptional hires, and I find it difficult when people want to move on. But I’m beginning to realise it’s not a judgement against me. I have a brilliant team.”
Being awarded the Judges’ Choice in the 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch for 2022, she says, means more than the organisers realise.
“I cried when I heard – I couldn’t believe it. I really believe I need to represent something for young, modern Sikh women – you barely see us in the media but we’re the future. I just felt so proud. I’m just really excited to be able to show everything that we have to the world because I think we deserve it.”
Goal17 was built on 13 years of mentoring expertise, it is estimated that the firm helped create over £250,000 of social value last year.
goal17.global
Fran Boorman
GOAL 17
This agency offers digital, marketing, content and communications consultancy to clients such as Yell, and clocked up a £58,000 turnover in year one.
thosethatdare.com
Anna Bravington
THOSE THAT DARE
Specialist tech, automation and digital marketing consultancy supporting business owners to secure sales and create leads without wasting time and resourcing.
itmoon.co.uk
Laura Burnett
IT MOON
An HR consultancy dedicated to helping organisations adapt to and manage change in a hybrid world while protecting employee wellbeing.
choosetogrow.co.uk
Emma Caroll
CHOOSE TO GROW
Inspired by both bubble tea and the British tea-drinking culture, the tea latte beverages firm produces chilled, ready-to-drink, oat milk-based drinks in recyclable aluminium cans.
humanitea.co.uk
Tina Chen
HUMANITEA
Based in Cardiff, the business helps franchisees representing more than 1,000 clients to run their own businesses and tap into digital marketing support.
activmarketinggroup.com
Katie Bullon
ACTIV MARKETING GROUP
Formed as part of Carbon 13, the London-based business is committed to developing innovative insurance products in the fast-growing carbon removal space.
kita.earth
Natalia Dorfman
KITA
An independent intelligence, reputation risk and due diligence agency that has delivered in-depth analysis to clients in business, sport and the arts since 2014.
insightxintel.com
Sophie Elsworthy
INSIGHTX
A passionate knitter from an early age, Fisher aims to re-invent the ancient craft with 21st-century computer software designed to make knitting patterns more user-friendly.
knit-it.co.uk
Lucy Fisher
KNIT IT
Launched with the help of seed funding, the art and design consultancy connects businesses, churches and charities with faith-based creative professionals.
christiancreativedirectory.com
Josie Gamble
CHRISTIAN CREATIVE DIRECTORY
A ‘grit, graft and growth’ approach to development by a club which helps raise aspirations among northern women looking to make a professional mark.
northerngirlsclub.co.uk
Lauren Higgins
NORTHERN GIRLS CLUB
Launched in 2017, the global beauty brand sells non-invasive lip plumping products and a range of other beauty lines including balms, liners and masks.
projectlip.com
Joy Howieson
PROJECT LIP
Based in Glasgow, the firm serves more than 5,000 customers from Europe, America and Australia with an array of luxury gift packaging.
dluxgiftbox.com
Promise Okoye
D'LUX GIFT BOX
A former concierge, Prior produces content for major hotel groups such as Hilton and InterContinental as well as Louis Vuitton and L’Oréal Luxe.
theluxurycopywriter.com
Maisie Prior
THE LUXURY COPYWRITER
A creative styling agency, the brand prides itself on making quirky, bespoke décor for a range of bar, restaurant, event and festival clients.
chourouge.co.uk
Adrienn Peterffy
CHOU ROUGE
An e-commerce art brand, the company provides art décor and custom designs for private customers and businesses and has been endorsed by Hollywood celebrities.
toyowrites.com
Toyosi Olowe
TOYO WRITES
Offering natural, cruelty-free and vegan hand and body wash on a one, two or three-month subscription in a bid to reduce single-use plastic in bathrooms.
reia.store
Sophie Salisbury and Celia Foot
REIA
An armed forces community support organisation, the social enterprise links up ‘military spouses, partners and other-halves’ looking for business and work opportunities.
milspo.co.uk
Jess Sands
THE MILSPO NETWORK
Since its launch in 2020, the organisation has delivered 200 international networking sessions for businesses and academics and has launched its own SaaS programme.
netkno.co.uk
Jeni Smith
NETKNO
Upcycling and repairing two 40-foot containers of damaged and unwanted vintage clothing every month, the firm aims to cut use of landfill sites.
reworkvintagewholesale.com
Maisie Stanyon
REWORK VINTAGE WHOLESALE
A London-based fashion technology firm which deploys video creation tools to help online fashion retailers showcase their products more effectively via the web.
inhaus.aii
Isabella Sumner
INHAUS
Wonderluxe Travel Limited
An online business programme for enterprising women looking to redesign their working lives, the service includes holistic business courses and wellness rituals.
realkeystone.org
Danielle Trudeau
KEYSTONE
Wonderluxe Travel Limited
The fintech firm uses machine learning and blockchain technology to modernise payments for film and TV, thereby saving clients millions of pounds.
filmchain.co
Irina Albita and Maria Tanjala
FILMCHAIN
With 25.8k Instagram followers, Allen’s determination to create a one-stop shop for attractive home storage solutions has seen 2022 sales rise by 84 per cent.
notaboringbox.com
Lauren Allen
NOT A BORING BOX
An AI-powered HR analytics platform helping to identify persistent culture and employee engagement challenges and promoting greater transparency around the reasons why staff resign.
astertheplatform.com
Christina Disler
ASTER
A specialist relocation management platform which helps private clients and businesses settle more seamlessly into the UK by tackling the complex bureaucracy burdens.
trymaze.com
Juliet Edjere
MAZE
The London-based firm distributes tea to support healthy brain function and mental wellbeing and is available in 400 Holland & Barrett stores.
theenk-tea.com
Karolina Ba
THEENK
A B Corp-certified digital marketing agency, this firm helps forward-thinking, sustainability-driven e-commerce clients grow their businesses while doing good.
helloearthagency.com
Stephanie Fisher
HELLO EARTH
Based in the north west of England, Biz Women is an online publication and community group which champions the interests of women in business.
bizwomen.org
Zreen Mansha
BIZ WOMEN
UK RIDE LTD
A boutique consultancy which advises premium beauty brands on the best ways to launch, manage and think strategically about their listings on Amazon.
invinci.agency
Renee Parker
INVINCI AGENCY
Cismigiu co-founded the business-meets-science firm during her first year at Keele University and today provides neuroscience consulting services to a wide variety of customers.
neuroxr.io
Elena Cismigiu
NEURO XR
The ethical fashion and accessories brand was formed after its founder, who has 30 years of fashion industry experience, suffered a serious illness.
kavitabasi.com
Kavita Basi
JARDIN LIVING
A technology accelerator, the business has the goal of making machine learning, quantum computing, blockchain and other forms of deep tech more inclusive.
mindstream-ai.com
Sandra Tusin
MINDSTREAM-AI
Wonderluxe Travel Limited
A fast-growing data and cloud consultancy, the firm is the only tech company in the UK with no gender pay gap.
thedotcollective.co.uk
Svetlana Tarnagurskaja
THE DOT COLLECTIVE
Wonderluxe Travel Limited
After building an Instagram presence, Bond set up her fine body jewellery firm in 2019 and in the first year of trading, turned over £580,000.
laurabond.co.uk
Laura Bond
LAURA BOND
A stylish and nostalgic range of luxury hand-designed prints, wallpapers, fabrics, dinnerware and home accessories inspired by its founder’s vintage finds.
poodleandblonde.com
Kierra Campbell
POODLE AND BLONDE
The UK’s only allergy-friendly underwear brand, JulieMay caters for women who develop eczema and other skin allergies from harsh chemicals in textiles.
juliemay.co.uk
Tiffany Chiu
JULIEMAY
Run by two sisters, the eco-brand creates a range of swim and activewear made from recycled plastic bottles collected from the ocean.
planet-warrior.com
Josie and Juliette Crabtree
PLANET WARRIOR
On-the-go insulated wine bottles and tumblers for serious vino enthusiasts are at the heart of this London-based business, launched in July 2020.
partnerinwine.co.uk
Lucy Hitchcock
PARTNER IN WINE
Having spotted a gap in the market for luxury sculptured home décor, Jones’ sustainable candles are now stocked in 14 high-end department stores worldwide.
caiyucandle.com
Gaby Jones
CAIYU CANDLE
An award-winning range of pillowcases and skincare for people with allergies, the firm uses the natural healing properties of silk to soothe and relax.
thisissilk.com
Sonal Keay
THIS IS SILK
Savile Row’s first tailoring house to have a shopfront dedicated to female customers, The Deck holds 2,000 top-quality fabrics for its made-to-measure customers.
thedecklondon.com
Daisy Knatchbull
THE DECK
The company takes data from 3D body scans and automatically drafts patterns for tailored suits. She was awarded a grant from Innovate UK in October.
nrda.studio
Olivia Vaughan-Fowler
NRDA STUDIO
An award-winning monthly box of black children’s books and activities designed to shed a light on under-represented characters and celebrate African culture and history.
imaginemestories.com
Keisha Ehigie
IMAGINE ME STORIES
This business was set up in 2020 in response to Fox’s desire to make gardening modern. Her subscription boxes contain flower seeds, bulbs and plants.
therosepressgarden.com
Elizabeth Fox
THE ROSE PRESS GARDEN
Inspire Legal Group
With a mission to produce carbon-neutral, responsibly sourced coffee in plastic-free and compostable packaging, Alpaca works directly with farmers to cut out the middlemen.
alpacacoffee.co.uk
Victoria Poon
ALPACA
A monthly subscription box that aims to change women’s lives through a range of expertly-curated female-authored books plus merchandise from women-run businesses.
booksthatmatter.co.uk
Molly Masters
BOOKS THAT MATTER
This brand began life as a side hustle and now makes sustainable extra virgin olive oil for Michelin-starred chefs and 40+ independent shops.
citizensofsoil.com
Sarah Fulton
CITIZENS OF SOIL
A revenue operations consultancy for B2B tech companies; specialising in data and buyer journey transformation to achieve strong growth and agility.
thinkrevops.com
Catherine Mandungu
THINK REVOPS
UK RIDE LTD
An employment platform and social enterprise which tackles hidden barriers to employment faced by disabled people, young mothers, carers and other marginalised groups.
patchworkhub.org
Beth Kume-Holland
PATCHWORK HUB
UK RIDE LTD
A workplace-based mental health consultancy which uses consultancy and tailored workshops to help employers take a more proactive approach to all-round employee wellness.
bloomwiseltd.com
Frankie Lewns
BLOOMWISE
First conceived as an idea more than 20 years ago, Lasley’s fuller-bust clothing range hit an £86,000 turnover in its first year of trading.
fairliecurved.com
Jayne Lasley
FAIRLIE CURVED
NatWest is dedicated to helping women succeed in business. To find out more, visit NatWest.com
Advertiser content for
Produced by: Telegraph Media Group; Project Manager: Tom Gadd; Writers: Helena Pozniak & Virginia Matthews; Commissioning Editor: Sabuhi Gard; Photography: Sarah Brick, Aaron Richter; Sub Editor: Tim Cumming; Picture Editor: Alex Kelly; Creative Director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones; Designers: Matt Brant & Victoria Griffiths; Web Editor: Katherine Scott
Interview by Helena Pozniak
bemusedrinks.com
serotonin.co.uk
whitebicycleltd.co.uk
wewearboost.com
supplychange.co.uk
prettymama.co.uk
oarbt.com
soga.world
frohub.com
Kimberley Abbott
VESTED
vestedimpact.co.uk
reia.stone
