The Elevate Programme, organised by the Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork), offers support for alumni entrepreneurs striving to scale their businesses and make a significant impact in their industries.
This intensive six-month business support programme offers funding, workshops and mentoring, enabling participants to overcome challenges and achieve their business goals. Below, we share the inspiring journeys of four alumni whose ventures were transformed by their participation in Elevate.
Chakow: Revolutionising Hygiene and Sustainability
Bikke Chettri, founder of Chakow, a company dedicated to providing eco-friendly personal hygiene products, joined the Elevate Programme to improve his business’s operations.
“Since joining the Elevate Programme, Chakow has seen significant changes. The mentorship and resources from Elevate have been crucial in helping us overcome challenges and scale our business,” says Bikke.
One of the standout aspects of Bikke’s journey through the Elevate Programme has been the mentorship. Working closely with his mentor, Bikke received tailored guidance on crucial business areas such as cash flow modelling, strategic planning, and go-to-market strategies.
“Working with my Elevate mentor has been an incredible experience. Graham has helped us better understand how to run the company, refine our financial model, and provided us with a clear vision for the future. His guidance has been invaluable in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities,” Bikke adds.
Chakow accessed necessary funding that allowed the business to scale, expand its product line, and enhance marketing efforts. “We’re using it to conduct market surveys, build a robust marketing strategy and create engaging content. It’s also helping us improve our website, invest in customer support, and streamline operations. These steps will allow us to reach more customers and continue promoting sustainable bathroom habits.”
Reflecting on his experience, Bikke strongly encourages other entrepreneurs to apply: “The Elevate Programme has been a game-changer for us. If anyone is considering applying for the Elevate Programme, I would highly recommend it. The resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities it offers are invaluable. It’s a comprehensive support system that can significantly impact the growth and success of your business.”
The Dyás: Transforming Art into Sustainable Fashion
Nuria is founder of The Dyás, a London-based fashion brand that focuses on creating wearable art through locally produced garments made from certified low-impact materials. She found great value in the Elevate Programme.
“The Elevate Programme has been a fantastic opportunity for me and my business. Not only did we receive constant support from the WeNetwork team, but we also gained diverse perspectives from our mentors and created an amazing community with other businesses in the cohort. The weekly sessions have been inspiring, and I’ve been able to implement many of the learnings and discussions. It has been amazing to see what you can achieve in just six months with the right network, support, and funding!”
Through the programme, Nuria was able to partner with influencers, launch a solo pop-up event, and expand her brand’s reach across Europe. “We filmed over 12 videos with influential artists and planned our first solo pop-up, which is very exciting and includes partnerships with complementary brands. Additionally, we’ll be participating in a retail trade show in Berlin to connect with potential buyers and retail locations across Europe.”
“The funding from the Elevate Programme has been crucial. It has enabled us to hire our first employee and launch our solo pop-up. Additionally, it allowed us to create more stock and expand our online presence.”
Nuria’s mentor, Kelly, has played an essential role in The Dyás’ journey. “My mentor, Kelly, has been incredibly helpful. She shares many of my values and has a fashion brand herself, which means she understands the challenges of running a fashion business. Her advice, contacts, and support have been essential, and it’s been great to have someone who truly understands the industry.”
For Nuria, the Elevate Programme has been instrumental in her brand’s growth. “Everyone with an existing business and an interest in growing a brand should apply for the Elevate Programme. It has been an incredible experience for both me and my business. I just wish I could have done this sooner on my journey.”
Nula: Driving Sustainable Change
Charlotte Fuller is the founder of Nula, a sustainability engagement agency that helps organisations foster sustainable practices using behavioural science to drive meaningful change. She joined the Elevate Programme to refine her services and expand Nula’s impact.
“During the Elevate Programme, Nula has evolved in a number of ways. Most importantly, the product has changed significantly, evolving from a one-part consultancy service to a five-part process, which includes an ecosystem of partners to help deliver engagement solutions. This has allowed us to expand the diagnostic service to these partners, helping them evaluate the effectiveness of their initiatives,” Charlotte explains.
Under the mentorship of Matt Dowley, founder of Freelancer Club, Charlotte was able to refine her strategies and gain new perspectives on scaling her business. “Working with Matt has been brilliant. Having an entrepreneur who has been through a similar process means that his advice always felt relevant, and, probably more importantly, challenging in the right way. As a very small business, it’s so important to have external sounding boards, and having this support, alongside the specialists, meant that what can often be a lonely journey felt far more supported.”
The programme’s support also allowed Charlotte to take significant strides in developing Nula’s offerings. “The programme’s support has allowed me to remove myself from the daily grind of the business, think creatively about the product, and actually develop a 3-5 year plan for my business for the first time.” With part of this support being the funding, she used it to invest in additional professional services, including a rebrand and website refresh, and to bring on part-time support from an intern and a marketing professional.
Charlotte highly recommends the Elevate Programme to other alumni: “I absolutely recommend this programme! I have been on an accelerator before, and this was significantly better. It’s a programme for any business, rather than tailoring support to tech-first organisations looking to raise funding, which most accelerators do. What’s more, there was so much support available throughout the programme, so whatever your challenge, there will be someone available to help you tackle it.”
Manimekala: Elevating Sustainable Fashion
Manimekala Fuller is a fashion design graduate from the University of Westminster and founder of the sustainable fashion brand Manimekala. She turned to the Elevate Programme to overcome challenges in brand awareness and digital marketing.
“Since joining the programme, I have become more confident in my vision for the business and developed a realistic strategy to achieve it. I have changed my communications and marketing to be more personal and authentic, updated my platforms (website and email newsletters) for a better customer experience, streamlined internal digital operations, and released a new product collection with a marketing strategy focused on storytelling and brand building. Rather than changing drastically, my business has become a clearer and better translation of my vision,” Manimekala explains.
The impact of the Elevate Programme was significant for Manimekala. “Refocusing my marketing message to authentically reflect myself and my brand has strengthened customer relationships. This resulted in a 25% increase in newsletter subscribers, a significant boost in event turnout, and an increase in monthly revenue.”
Manimekala also viewed the investment as a key step in her business’s growth: “The reason I chose to spend the funding on setting up this website platform is because it’s a scalable investment that will enable my business to grow and continue to benefit in the future.”
Manimekala encourages other entrepreneurs to apply: “It is a great support for a founder (especially a solo founder), helping you to identify strengths and weaknesses in your business and with experts providing practical suggestions on how to improve.”
Applications are open!
Are you ready to elevate your business with the right support and guidance? The next Elevate cohort begins in January 2025.
Apply by 31 October to join a community of innovators shaping the future of their industries.
More information about the programme can be found here: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/elevate
Information sessions
Sign up to the upcoming info and networking sessions to help you with your Elevate application
- Business Viability Assessment on Monday 16 September 2024, 12pm–1pm, online
- Join the Teams meetingGo to Business viability assessment Teams meeting
- Meeting ID: 399 403 145 532
- Passcode: rYXJQ5
- Business Needs Audit on Monday 30 September 2024, 12pm–1pm, online
- Join the Teams meetingGo to Business needs audit Teams meeting
- Meeting ID: 385 957 791 333
- Passcode: QKyRcm
- Elevate Networking Reception on Wednesday 9 October 2024, 6pm–8pm, in person
- Setting OKRs for Success on Monday 14 October 2024, 12pm–1pm, online
- Join the Teams meetingGo to Setting OKRs for success Teams meeting
- Meeting ID: 372 994 374 044
- Passcode: bdLuSG
- Final Q&A Guidance on Monday 28 October 2024, 12pm–1pm, online
- Join the Teams meetingGo to Final Q&A Teams meeting
- Meeting ID: 345 394 094 897
- Passcode: RYs8FR
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