In a significant stride towards promoting gender equality and fostering female entrepreneurship, Small Business Britain and Starling Bank have announced a groundbreaking partnership. Launching officially in 2026, this collaboration promises to empower women across the UK to start and grow their ventures through the introduction of "Female Founder Fundamentals," a comprehensive and accessible program tailored for existing and aspiring female entrepreneurs. As a serial entrepreneur and advocate for female enterprise, I, Violetta Bonenkamp, believe this initiative is an extraordinary leap forward for entrepreneurship. Here, I will unpack the details, implications, and practical lessons to make the most out of this opportunity.
Why Female Entrepreneurship Matters More Than Ever
Female-led businesses account for only 14% of UK SME employers, a worrying statistic made worse by declining growth in recent years. Research by the UK Government also shows that women make up just 30% of solopreneurs. These numbers highlight the glaring gender gap in entrepreneurship. However, the potential for economic impact is substantial: if women built businesses at the same rate as men, they could contribute £250 billion to the UK economy.
As a woman who has built multiple businesses from scratch, I can tell you firsthand that addressing systemic barriers, including access to finance, mentorship, and peer networks, is essential. For me, creating communities like Fe/male Switch, which gamify the startup process and make entrepreneurship accessible, has been a game-changer. Small Business Britain and Starling's commitment mirrors this ethos, setting an example for how larger institutions can drive societal change.
The "Female Founder Fundamentals" Program
The heart of this partnership lies in the Female Founder Fundamentals program, which will kick off in early 2026. Designed with the needs of female founders in mind, the year-long initiative combines research-driven insights with practical tools to foster economic resilience, financial literacy, and emotional wellbeing. Here's what participants can expect:
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Free Online Masterclasses
This program goes beyond theoretical advice. Hands-on, actionable masterclasses tailored by established female entrepreneurs will cover vital business areas like financing, growth strategies, and branding. Experts like Faye Watts will address access to funding, while Cheryl Laidlaw will incorporate AI into entrepreneurial practices. -
Peer-Learning Opportunities
Networking can’t be underestimated, and peer learning is at the core of this initiative. Participants will be able to share experiences, challenges, and successes in a supportive, cooperative environment. -
Emotional and Mental Resilience Techniques
Recognizing that 60% of female founders struggle to switch off from work, the program includes support for mental wellbeing. This is crucial; in my own experience, burnout is one of the biggest risks for women trying to juggle entrepreneurship, family, and societal expectations. -
Community Connection & Support
The partnership echoes one of my core beliefs: "business is not done in isolation." This program cultivates mentorship opportunities and long-lasting professional relationships, which will help founders stay resilient while achieving their goals.
How to Make the Most of This Opportunity
As someone who's worked across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., I’ve seen numerous programs come and go. What distinguishes standout initiatives is how well participants utilize available resources. Here’s my guide to maximizing what "Female Founder Fundamentals" has to offer:
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Be Open to Collaboration
Engage actively with your peers and mentors during the program’s peer-learning segments. Collaboration often leads to doors opening in unexpected ways. Build connections and look for synergies. -
Leverage Financial Resources
One consistent challenge female entrepreneurs face is funding. During the masterclass sessions, ask questions about funding options, requirements, and tips for negotiation. Learning how to present your value, financially, socially, and economically, can be transformative. -
Apply Technology & AI
The business world increasingly relies on AI-powered tools for streamlining operations and scaling growth. Make it a priority to experiment with new software or digital services that align with your industry. For example, AI tools for time management can radically shift your focus to higher-priority business areas. -
Focus on Small Wins
Instead of trying to achieve monumental growth in a short period, focus on small, consistent wins. Programs like these are designed for scalable, steady progress. -
Ensure Regular Progress Checks
Document your learnings and new strategies. Revisiting and iterating based on real-world application is the best way to map your progress against your ultimate goals.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even the best programs can yield little value if approached passively. Here's what NOT to do:
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Overlooking Financial Skills
Don’t avoid learning about financial literacy because it seems intimidating. Take this opportunity to demystify it, as knowing how to manage cash flow and investment will secure your business's future. -
Ignoring Work-Life Balance
With programs focused on female founders, the tendency is often to overcommit and try to achieve everything at once. The key is setting boundaries and using these masterclasses to find ways to manage both your professional and personal lives. -
Resisting Change
Entrepreneurship is dynamic. Don't cling to outdated business models or strategies if they no longer serve your goals. Be flexible and adapt quickly to industry shifts.
Realizing the Impact: Economic and Beyond
In collaboration with Small Business Britain, Starling Bank’s female-founded legacy is undeniably making its mark. The partnership’s objectives are not merely performative but align with a larger societal goal of closing the gender entrepreneurship gap by increasing women-led SMEs to 30% by 2030. This initiative goes beyond boosting economic figures; it works to fundamentally change the narrative for female entrepreneurs in the UK and beyond.
As someone who’s been through the rigors of entrepreneurship and is aware of its challenges, access to capital, finding the right mentors, and overcoming unconscious bias, I find it heartening to see institutions taking tangible actions like this. But for these efforts to succeed, participation is critical. The future looks bright, but it’s on us, as entrepreneurs, to seize such opportunities.
Closing Notes
The Small Business Britain and Starling Bank partnership offers one of the most promising opportunities for UK-based female entrepreneurs to upskill, network, and actualize their business ambitions. By emphasizing confidence, collaboration, and financial acumen, “Female Founder Fundamentals” is a campaign worth embracing.
As a mentor and entrepreneur who’s been on a similar journey, I encourage women to not only take part in this program but also to amplify it within their networks. Change begins when individuals come together with a common goal. And in this case, the goal is not just to create successful businesses but to reshape industries.
For more program details and to register, visit the Small Business Britain website. Follow updates through Starling Bank’s news page. You’re just one click away from joining a game-changing initiative for women in business. Let's build the future, together.
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of the Small Business Britain and Starling Bank partnership?
The partnership aims to support and empower female entrepreneurs across the UK with resources to start and grow their businesses. The goal is to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship and increase the percentage of female-run small businesses from 14% to 30% by 2030. Explore the partnership details on FinancialIT
2. When will the "Female Founder Fundamentals" program launch?
The "Female Founder Fundamentals" program is set to launch in early 2026. It will feature online masterclasses, peer-learning opportunities, and additional resources to support female business owners. Learn more at Financial IT
3. What are the key features of the Female Founder Fundamentals program?
The program includes free online masterclasses, opportunities for peer learning, training in financial and business skills, mental resilience support, and community-building activities. Check out details on TechDonut
4. Why is the focus on mental resilience important?
Research shows that 60% of female founders struggle to switch off from work. The program emphasizes mental wellbeing to combat burnout and create balance in personal and professional life. Learn more at FStech
5. What role does AI play in this initiative?
The program includes masterclasses on using AI for productivity and efficiency. For instance, expert Cheryl Laidlaw will teach participants how to incorporate AI into their daily operations. Discover AI integration through The Fintech Times
6. What economic impact could female entrepreneurship have on the UK?
If women started and grew businesses at the same rate as men, they could contribute an additional £250 billion to the UK economy. Check out Financial IT's analysis
7. Who are the main speakers or trainers in the masterclasses?
Key trainers include Faye Watts, who will focus on accessing finance, and Cheryl Laidlaw, who will address AI applications for business. Learn about the speakers on Finextra
8. How will peer learning be incorporated into the program?
The program provides a safe and collaborative environment where female business owners can network, share experiences, and learn from each other, amplifying mutual support and encouragement. Explore peer-learning opportunities at TechDonut
9. How does this partnership align with Starling Bank's values?
Starling Bank, as a female-founded digital bank, is committed to supporting female entrepreneurs by providing financial literacy training and accessible resources. Discover Starling’s commitment at Starling Bank News
10. Where can female entrepreneurs sign up for the program?
Registration for the "Female Founder Fundamentals" program can be accessed through the Small Business Britain website. Visit Small Business Britain to sign up.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
