Female Founder UK holds second successful Founder Live event at Teesside University

The entrepreneurial landscape in the United Kingdom is undergoing a dynamic shift, and female founders are increasingly at the forefront of this transformation. In early June, Female Founder UK returned to Teesside University for the second edition of its flagship Founder Live series, delivering an inspiring, high‑energy event that attracted over 250 attendees from across the North East and beyond.

Why Teesside University?

Teesside University has positioned itself as a hub for innovation, offering state‑of‑the‑art facilities, a vibrant student community, and a strong regional business network. The partnership with Female Founder UK aligns perfectly with the university’s mission to nurture creative talent and translate academic research into real‑world impact. The venue’s modern lecture theatres and breakout rooms provided an ideal setting for both keynote presentations and intimate networking sessions.

Event Highlights

The two‑hour programme was carefully curated to address the most pressing challenges faced by women entrepreneurs today. Highlights included:

• Opening keynote: A seasoned serial entrepreneur shared her journey from a university dorm room to a multi‑million‑pound tech enterprise, emphasizing the importance of resilience and mentorship.
• Panel discussion: A diverse group of founders, investors, and policy makers debated topics such as access to capital, scaling strategies, and the role of gender‑inclusive leadership.
• Interactive workshops: Attendees chose between sessions on digital marketing, pitch deck design, and legal fundamentals, each led by industry experts.
• Live pitch arena: Five emerging founders delivered three‑minute pitches to a panel of angel investors, receiving real‑time feedback and the opportunity to secure seed funding.

The event concluded with a lively networking cocktail, where participants exchanged ideas, forged collaborations, and explored potential partnerships with local businesses and university research teams.

Community Impact

Beyond the immediate excitement of the day, the Founder Live event generated measurable benefits for the regional ecosystem. Post‑event surveys indicated that 87% of attendees felt more confident in navigating funding pathways, while 73% reported new connections that could lead to future collaborations. Moreover, the presence of local government representatives highlighted the growing recognition of female entrepreneurship as a driver of economic growth in the Tees Valley.

Support Structures and Resources

Female Founder UK leveraged the university’s resources to provide ongoing support. Attendees were invited to join a dedicated mentorship programme that pairs seasoned CEOs with early‑stage founders. Additionally, a digital hub was launched, offering recorded sessions, downloadable toolkits, and a forum for continuous peer‑to‑peer learning.

Looking Ahead

The success of the second Founder Live event sets a strong precedent for future initiatives. Organisers announced plans to rotate the venue across different UK universities, aiming to reach underserved regions and broaden the impact of their mission. A third edition is already slated for later this year, with a focus on sustainability‑focused startups and the integration of emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain.

In a climate where female founders still encounter systemic barriers, events like Founder Live demonstrate the power of community‑driven platforms to bridge gaps, share knowledge, and amplify voices. By uniting entrepreneurs, educators, investors, and policymakers under one roof, Female Founder UK is not only celebrating success stories but also laying the groundwork for the next generation of women‑led enterprises.

For anyone interested in the future of inclusive entrepreneurship, the message is clear: collaboration, mentorship, and access to resources are essential ingredients. The momentum generated at Teesside University proves that when these elements converge, the result is a vibrant, resilient ecosystem capable of driving lasting economic and social change.