founderuplift

At TECwomen CIC, our mission has always been to create more equitable opportunities, for women and people of underrepresented genders, in the tech, engineering, and creative digital industries. With founderUPLIFT, we’re bringing that mission to life in a new and dynamic way, embedded within the broader offer of CreaTech Cornwall.

We know that stepping into entrepreneurship is a bold and often isolating move, especially for people who haven’t historically seen themselves represented in the sector. That’s why we created our newest UPLIFT training offer: to support early-stage female founders when confidence is low, ideas are still forming, and both internal and external barriers can feel overwhelming.

founderUPLIFT has been designed as a free, flexible, and accessible hybrid learning programme. Our goal is to meet people where they are. Whether they’re juggling care responsibilities, managing low confidence, or coming from non-traditional routes into the world of createch start-ups. founderUPLIFT helps them explore what it means to be a founder on their own terms.

The content is structured around three key pillars:

Confidence & Founder Identity. Helping participants build a sense of belonging and belief in their capacity to lead.

Business Design. Exploring ideas, developing purpose-driven models, and building early foundations for success.

Growth Skills. Introducing practical, accessible tools for marketing, finance, collaboration, and growth.

CreaTech Cornwall is a dynamic new initiative designed to support the next wave of creative digital innovators in Cornwall. Backed by a powerhouse partnership – Real Ideas, Creative UK, Screen Cornwall, Tech Cornwall, and TecWomen – the programme delivers targeted incubation for early-stage individuals and start-ups working at the cutting edge of creativity and technology.

By uniting expertise from across Cornwall’s creative and tech sectors, CreaTech Cornwall is creating a supportive, inclusive environment where early-stage talent can flourish. The programme goes beyond one-size-fits-all business support—it offers a tailored pathway designed to meet the real-world needs of emerging creatives, helping them navigate the challenges of starting out and find their footing in a competitive landscape.

Are you an early-stage women or founder from an underrepresented gender? Ready to kickstart your createch founder journey? If so, founderUPLIFT is here to support you.

Applications to the founderUPLIFT programme are now open, until midnight on the 23rd of September 2025.

We accept applications submitted via our form, or in short video format.

Applications will be assessed using the following criteria:

Stage of Development: You’re clearly at an early stage—freelancer, recent grad, or developing a new idea or venture.

Clarity of Idea or Focus Area: Your creative digital idea or area of work is clearly explained.

Potential for Growth & Impact: You show potential to turn your idea into a viable product, service, or business.

Use of Support Offered: You demonstrate how CreaTech Cornwall’s tailored support will help you grow.

Alignment with Values: Your work reflects our core values—inclusion, diversity, environmental awareness, experimentation, and innovation.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are especially keen to support underrepresented voices in creative technology.

Each successful participant, on founderUPLIFT and the wider CreaTech Cornwall programme, is eligible to apply for micro-seed funding to support their early stage development. Each participant will not be awarded more than a maximum of £500 (exc. VAT), but we expect a range of application at different budgets. As there is a finite amount available, please only apply for the level of seed funding you need.

This funding is flexible but should contribute directly to your creative digital growth. It could be spent on equipment, training, tickets to relevant events, travel costs, childcare etc). It cannot pay for your time, or be spent entertaining clients, or for the purchase of alcohol etc. 

Funding is only available to applicants who are fully enrolled on the programme. Payments will be processed in arrears once proof of purchase and defrayal evidence has been received, and it has been approved by Real Ideas.

The wider CreaTech Cornwall programme

Ready to kickstart your creative tech journey? We’re looking for early-stage talent with bold ideas and big potential. Whether you’re a recent graduate, freelancer, start-up, or just getting started with a new concept, we want to hear from you.

Applications to the second round of CreaTech Cornwall will open soon, watch this space!
👉 Find out more about CreaTech Cornwall and sign up to our mailing list

About our partners

CreaTech Cornwall is built by a unique partnership, each bringing unique expertise to support and grow Cornwall’s creative tech ecosystem

Real Ideas is at the heart of Cornwall’s immersive and creative tech community, providing mentoring, powerful networks, access to cutting-edge facilities, and intensive incubation support to help early-stage ventures thrive.

Creative UK As a national leader in the UK’s creative industries, Creative UK brings a wealth of experience, offering access to their national mentor bank, expert insights, industry networks, marketing support, and opportunities to participate in high-profile events like the Creative UK Summit.

Screen Cornwall Dedicated to the sustainable growth of the screen sector across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Screen Cornwall offers tailored mentoring, specialist networks for screen-based start-ups, and the chance to showcase at Imagination Unleashed 2026.

TecWomen CIC is tackling the underrepresentation of women in tech through their UPLIFT programme. They provide targeted incubation, mentorship, and supportive networks to empower female founders in creative technology.

Tech Cornwall is building a vibrant, collaborative tech community in the region. They deliver expert mentoring and support to help early-stage businesses prepare to pitch and connect at major events like Slush’d Cornwall.

Hertzian & Newquay Orchard will offer spot purchased specialist support, including bespoke AI expertise and access to digital fabrication tools, enabling participants to explore innovation through technology and sustainable design.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared
Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council is responsible for managing projects funded by the UK
Shared Prosperity Fund through the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Good Growth
Programme.