By Sarah Dale
4 September 2026
A fast-growing movement created to raise the visibility of female-founded businesses across Britain is coming to London this month, to meet founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the capital.
Female Founder UK – the trademarked brand for female founders in the UK – was launched in Teesside and is rapidly expanding nationwide. It will host its first London event at The Refinery, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 9AN, on Friday 11 September from 9.30am to 11.30am, marking the next stage in its mission to create a recognised identity for Britain’s female founders.
Led by founder and CEO Max Freer and supported by communications partner SASS media and social media partner Social Allies, Female Founder UK is positioning itself as more than a networking organisation.
Instead, it is building a national brand and movement designed to raise the profile of women who are creating businesses, generating employment, driving innovation and contributing significantly to the UK economy.
Following successful events held at Teesside University, which has campuses in Middlesbrough and London, Female Founder UK is also holding events in Newcastle and Manchester in the next few weeks, as part of its mission to visit major cities across the UK to unite female founders across the nation to discuss specific opportunities, challenges and stories of founders.
Max Freer said: “Britain’s female founders need one shared identity. It shouldn’t matter whether a woman builds her business in Teesside, Manchester or London. Her ambition deserves the same visibility, recognition and opportunity. Britain doesn’t have a shortage of female founders. It has a visibility problem.
“Female Founder UK was created to change that. We are building a national identity that women in business can proudly belong to, wherever they are based. The UK has lots of brilliant female-founder communities. What it doesn’t have is a shared identity that connects them.”
Fay Cannings, founder of Seekd and CEO of Richmond BID (Business Improvement District), will be a speaker at the London event about ethical jewellery and her brand story. She said: “Being seen can make a real difference. Visibility can shift perceptions, create connections and open up opportunity.
“Investment matters, of course. But so does seeing women leading, creating and shaping the spaces, opportunities and world around us. Alongside hard graft, our unique skills and bold moves, being seen is what makes the next opportunity possible.”
The London launch comes at a time when conversations about female entrepreneurship continue to focus on investment gaps and barriers to growth.
Yet Female Founder UK believes one of the biggest challenges facing women in business is visibility.
The organisation argues that while thousands of women are building successful companies across Britain, many remain unseen outside their immediate networks, limiting opportunities for growth, partnerships, investment and influence.
Max added: “For decades, women have built remarkable businesses across Britain, yet there has never been a single, recognisable brand that represents them collectively.
“There are networks. There are memberships. There are business support organisations. But there has never been a national identity created specifically for female founders.
“We’re building something much bigger. We’re creating a movement that celebrates women building businesses, creates opportunities for collaboration and ensures female founders are recognised as a major force in the British economy.
“Britain needs to get better at recognising and commercially backing the businesses women are already building. Founder visibility is commercial currency.”
The London event follows a series of successful Female Founder UK events across Teesside that have brought together women from a wide range of industries, creating open discussions around entrepreneurship, leadership, confidence, growth, funding, work-life balance and visibility.
At recent founder events, participants heard from SASS media directors Sarah Dale and Sarah Walker on the importance of storytelling, authentic communication and raising personal and business profiles, alongside powerful discussions about the realities of building and growing a business.
SASS director Sarah Dale said: “One of the recurring themes we see when working with entrepreneurs is that many women are doing incredible things but are often reluctant to put themselves forward and share their stories.
“Visibility matters. People buy from people, invest in people and collaborate with people they know and trust.
“Female Founder UK is creating a platform where women can be seen, heard and recognised for the impact they are making.”
The move into London represents an important milestone for the organisation as it expands its reach while maintaining its commitment to creating an inclusive community for women at every stage of business.
“Female Founder UK was never created to become another networking club,” added Max.
“We are building Britain’s identity brand for female founders. A brand that represents ambition without apology. Success without compromise. Recognition without exclusivity. Whether you’re launching your first business, growing a scale-up or leading an established company, Female Founder UK is about making sure female founders are visible, valued and recognised.”
The first Female Founder UK London event will take place at The Refinery, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 9AN, on Friday 11 September from 9.30am to 11.30am, bringing together founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders for a morning of connection, conversation and collaboration.
For more information about Female Founder UK, visit www.femalefounderuk.co.uk
To book your place, visit Female Founder UK London Meet Up Tickets, Friday, September 11 • 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Eventbrite
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