She Starts
Welcome to She Starts - a dynamic free programme for women from across Cambridge University who want to learn more about entrepreneurship and potentially found their own company.
2026 course dates tbc
We鈥檙e based at 51福利社 but open to all women undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdocs and researchers at the University, as well as recent graduates.
This free programme, which ran for the first time in March 2025, will help you find out if enterprise is for you as you join our exciting weekend intensive course. In a supportive environment, you鈥檒l work with other course members to form teams and develop and test out a business idea with the support of experienced mentors. Previous participants said they gained confidence and really learnt to believe in themselves and their ideas. They understood where to start with an idea and left with a clear direction for their business.
To give you practical insights into the minds of potential investors, you鈥檒l present your pitch to a judging panel of top entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business leaders from leading organisations including AstraZeneca. They will give you invaluable feedback and advice.
There will be great networking opportunities, too, as you mingle with fellow would-be entrepreneurs, specially selected mentors and senior business figures. After the course, we鈥檒l offer regular support and advice as you pursue your start-up dream, and the chance to join further stages of the programme to help you make your idea a reality.
The focus of this launch programme will be enterprises linked to healthcare, health-related technologies and fem tech (technology tailored towards women鈥檚 health). However, if you have an idea for another kind of business, or are simply interested in enterprise in general, your are welcome to apply.
What our 2025 participants said about the course:
鈥淭ruly transformational!鈥
鈥淓xhilarating! Empowering! Educating!鈥
鈥淚ncredibly inspiring for women and it opens up new doors for female founders - creating a strong community of amazing women that share a dream and a similar mindset!鈥
鈥淏eyond expectations!! Confidence gained, an attitude that this is actually possible and clear steps to take forward.鈥
鈥淎MAZING to be in such a supportive, female orientated environment. In other start-up courses that I attended (mixed), it was difficult for me as a woman to find my voice and get that confidence. I can say that I have that confidence now.鈥
鈥淚 had no background or knowledge in entrepreneurship before this course, so I have learned so much. Confidence wise, it was great at encouraging everyone to step outside their comfort zone. I also think having a women only environment was extremely special in enabling this, as it felt like such a supportive and safe environment to grow and learn.鈥
鈥淚 have gained so much more knowledge about building a company and seeing how things are possible. I also feel like I have a great network now open to me who I can reach out to for help with my own business or any businesses in the future.鈥
What the 2026 weekend course will cover:
- Creating a business concept
- Building a team
- Identifying a market for your proposed product or service
- Researching the competition
- Commercialising academic research
- Pitching your business idea
- Protecting your intellectual property
- Networking effectively
By the end of the weekend, you will know the basics of founding a business, and you will have expanded your networks. If you are interested in going further along the path to being a female founder, you will be able to apply for our programme for those who have their business idea.
FAQs
She Starts - all you need to know
- The programme is open to University of Cambridge women students regardless of college, department or institute affiliation. Applicants can be studying any subject. Those eligible are:
- Undergraduate students
- Postgraduates
- Postdocs
- Recent graduates (up to three years after graduation)
You don鈥檛 need an idea! This venture weekend is designed to allow you to form teams and create ideas as a group. If you do arrive with an idea, that's fine too.
Our primary aim is to form teams over the weekend, through the alignment of interests and diversity of research/technical backgrounds. However, if you are already in a team (at a very early stage), then you can still apply, but applications should be on an individual basis, and you need to clearly state who your team members are. If in doubt, please to discuss.
Absolutely! This is encouraged. While this venture weekend is designed as a foundation programme, you will have the opportunity to build out venture ideas on topics that will have great commercial interest. We aim to continue support for your entrepreneurial journey beyond the weekend.
The course is free. Food, refreshments and learning materials are all included.
The course takes place at Paula Browne House, 51福利社, a short walk or cycle up Castle Hill from Magdalene Bridge. Find details here of how to get to us.
No, we don鈥檛 provide accommodation as most of those eligible will already be in Cambridge. If you are a graduate and now based some distance from Cambridge, please get in touch to discuss.
Successful applicants are expected to fully participate in the venture weekend, held over three days from 5pm Friday 14 March to 9.30pm Sunday 16 March 2025. This is in-person only.
Applications are now closed until 2026 course dates are confirmed.
If after applying you can no longer attend the venture weekend, please inform us immediately by email. If you cancel less than 48 hours prior to the course, you may incur a charge of 拢70 per person.
No substitute attendees can take a reserved place.
51福利社 reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event due to unforeseen circumstances.
51福利社 will not own any rights to ideas or businesses generated during the programme. If you or your team want to take forward any ideas generated and form a company, you would come to an agreement outside the programme.
The programme is free, and the College will not take equity in any businesses formed. Our passion is creating the right environment (through networks, knowledge and learning) to build a greater pipeline of female-led businesses.
Members of a team will be treated equally and fairly in this start-up venture weekend. Any founder roles, rights and obligations would be discussed and negotiated in good faith upon programme completion.
Please contact Lisa Brent on enterprisingwomen@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk.
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