Women Advancing Venture and Entrepreneurship Competition (WAVE) 2025

The Women Advancing Venture and Entrepreneurship Competition (WAVE) 2025 targets UK-based women tech founders to raise awareness of their start-ups and connect with investors. Finalists have opportunities such as feature lookbooks circulated to investors, pitching at investor breakfast sessions, and mentoring from senior VC or corporate partners. The initiative is run by government-related venture capital and supports participation in government and industry events with potential investor access.

Opportunity to be featured in a lookbook circulated to investors, attend and pitch at a breakfast session with investors, receive mentoring from senior VC or corporate partners, and participate in additional government and industry events.

The founder must be a woman who is the sole or joint founder of a British technology business and willing to participate in government initiatives; the business must be looking to raise at least £5m in the next financial year and have some market traction (early revenues, trials or IP).

Register for the competition by September 30, 2025. Submissions will be reviewed by the Venture Capital Unit and the 2025 cohort announced in October.