PROGRAMME FAQS
WHAT IS FREELANCEHER 100?
FreelanceHER 100 is a 12 week business accelerator for women working to launch and grow sustainable businesses in digital, creative, media and technology across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
It is a safe place to test their ideas and grow their businesses. We empower female freelancers to be strong leaders, to create powerful enterprises and to influence and shape the world through their companies, using collaboration, community, and innovation.
We recognise and maximise the exceptional strengths that are unique to the female entrepreneur.
WHY DOES FREELANCEHER 100 EXIST?
This is a programme for women by women. Creating an opportunity for 100 female freelancers so they can succeed in these challenging times. Our mission is to support a diverse community of women who have skills to launch and lead businesses in multiple markets from idea, to validation to business growth.
We provide these women with the confidence, skills and ability to succeed. Our programme is designed based on a detailed understanding of the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs and empowering them to meet their business growth ambitions. We offer a practical and bespoke support programme working with specialist partners and networks with unrivalled track records. With access to weekly workshops and peer to peer mentoring led by some UK’s best female micro businesses and freelance mentors.
Enabling female entrepreneurs to create, innovate, learn and grow.
HOW IS FREELANCEHER 100 DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS?
1) It’s for women by women
FreelanceHER 100 has been designed by women for women. It’s for freelancers who have businesses in the tech, digital, media and creative sectors from Greater Manchester and Lancashire. This flagship programme is the first of its kind in Europe, specifically for female freelancers.
2) We are a community of freelancers
The programme is very much centered around the community of 100 women.
3) We are flexible
Each workshop is delivered 3 times during the week so it’s accessible and flexible.
HOW MUCH DOES FREELANCEHER 100 COST?
FreelanceHER 100 is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.
IN4 Group, operators of HOST, is working with GC Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company to provide fully-funded business support.
The Hub assists businesses at all stages of their growth journey with a broad range of services, including one-to-one and peer-to-peer support, events, specialist programmes, and funding.
DOES FREELANCEHER 100 TAKE EQUITY?
No.
DOES FREELANCEHER 100 MAKE AN INVESTMENT?
No.
WHO IS FREELANCEHER 100 RUN BY?
FreelanceHER 100 is run by HOST and IN4 Group and its Programme Director is Bella Copland. The ambassadors are all women as are the mentors and all but one of our facilitators. Our Programme Manager is Danielle Brown.
WHO TEACHES AT FREELANCEHER 100?
Our programme is taught by freelance and micro business experts. Our number-one requirement is that all facilitators have either started a business or worked at a startup so they can share their first-hand practical experience.
WHO SHOULD APPLY TO FREELANCEHER 100?
FreelanceHER 100 is for female-identified entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on BAME / minority backgrounds, who:
Are ready to test and build their early-stage business idea
Have a desire to develop skills in business modelling, finance, communications and marketing
Want to explore new revenue streams, cost structures and routes to market
Posses a UTR number or business registration number
We don’t discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation
CAN I APPLY TO FREELANCEHER 100 IF I WORK FULL-TIME, AM FINISHING UNIVERSITY, OR AM A STAY-AT-HOME PARENT?
Yes, some of the most successful businesses originally started as side projects. Some founders worked on their products for years before they became successful enough to go all in.
So, you don’t have to quit your job to go through FreelanceHER 100 – you do, however, need to be available to attend the online sessions, and focus on metrics and hitting goals during the 12 weeks and attend the mentoring sessions. You also need to possess a UTR number.
FreelanceHER 100 is suitable for stay at home parents/guardians – we designed our programming with flexibility at its heart.
WHAT KIND OF IDEAS AND MARKETS DO YOU LOOK FOR?
This programme is for freelancers from digital, tech creative and media businesses.
DO I HAVE TO BE A FIRST-TIME FREELANCER?
No. Whilst FreelanceHER 100 is great for first-time freelancers, we also accept early-stage founders who might be already working on something but are pre-product-market fit or in need of a pivot.
CAN I APPLY IF I HAVE A COFOUNDER?
This is a programme for individuals – we can have one of the cofounders on the programme but unfortunately don’t have the capacity for both. The cofounder who participates on the programme has to identify as a female.
CAN I STILL APPLY IF I HAVE A MALE COFOUNDER?
Yes, we accept and welcome females who have male cofounders. However, the expectation is that the female founder participates in the program and is leading the businesses pitches, communications. If relevant, press interviews, and more.
DO WE NEED TO BE INCORPORATED BEFORE APPLYING?
No. Our minimum requirement is a UTR number.
WHEN DOES FREELANCEHER 100 TAKE PLACE?
Our next cohort of FreelanceHER 100 will launch on the 1st March. Applications close on the 28th February.
CAN YOU SIGN AN NDA/CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT IF I APPLY?
No. We do not sign NDAs in order to receive or review applications. There is a common misconception for founders new to the startup world that their idea is the most valuable part and must not be shared. The reality is most ideas have been thought of before and execution is everything. You will limit yourself greatly if you require NDAs prior to discussing your ideas as most investors, fellow founders, educational providers, and the like will not sign them.
There is a case for legal protection mechanisms for later-stage companies or companies in biotech or deep tech, however, these areas are often not the right fit for FreelanceHER 100. You should be also able to pitch and talk about your product without disclosing proprietary information.
WHERE DOES FREELANCEHER 100 TAKE PLACE?
FreelanceHER 100 workshops and mentoring sessions will be delivered virtually, but there will be opportunities to join events in person at HOST, and participants are welcome to work from our co-working space as part of their complimentary Alumni membership