A Lot Happened

Week 13: Big Moves

Ok, so last week was A WEEK. I mean it. A lot is happening in the world of this business and rather than the usual tips-led format, we’re doing a proper update this time around because some of the milestones we’ve hit lately are ones I think you’ll find genuinely useful, wherever you are in your own building journey.

Let’s get into it.

What’s in a name?

We’ve been deep in the process of finalising a name for the company. And honestly? It feels BIG. I think I’m putting more pressure on it than needed though.

Here’s why it matters to me so much: the idea is we don’t change it. Ever. Or at least, not in an ideal situation. A name isn’t just what you call the thing, it becomes your domain, your legal entity, your brand identity, your first impression to every single person who encounters what you’re building. So, for me getting it right from the start feels like a critical task.

So, we’ve been crowdsourcing. If you’re not familiar, crowdsourcing in this context means going directly to your potential customers and target audience to gather their feedback and opinions, rather than making decisions in a vacuum with just your own team.

The purpose for us, is to specifically understand what our potential customers actually think about our brand name candidates, how they land emotionally, how they connect to the product we’re building, and whether the look and feel, the general aesthetic, resonates with the people we’re building for.

Crowdsourcing can be valuable to do in many different stages of building a business. Even if you think you’ve landed on THE name or a even a specific feature for your product or platform, validating it externally before you go too far down the road could save you a significant amount of time, money, and heartache later.

Your instincts are valuable, but other people’s instincts are data.

She’s a Student, again.

I might have manifested this one. I’ve mentioned Female Founders Rise more than once in these posts because their resources genuinely are that good, and I’m proud to share that they accepted me into their Cohort 9 accelerator programme and I am soo excited.

First, TIMING, because it feels like a sign that everything is aligning from a timing perspective.

I’m committed to building, proactively, week after week without letting other things get in the way.

Second, MENTORSHIP. The exposure to experts leading the programme, helping founders like me (otherwise known as students in this case) sharpen our pitches week after week until they’re tight, confident, and investor-ready — is invaluable. It’s the kind of feedback loop that’s very hard to replicate on your own. And building the confidence to stand in a room and pitch to investors is not something that just happens, so the more training and practice the better.

Third, THE COMMUNITY. A cohort full of women building mission-driven companies in the UK. The founder journey is a lonely one, I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. Leaning on peers who understand the emotional process, regardless of what industry or sector they’re building in, is comforting in a way that’s hard to describe until you experience it.

So, what does an accelerator actually do?

Because it’s not just a networking group with a fancy name. Here’s what it actually means in practice:

1. Structured mentorship - You’re paired with or have regular access to experienced founders, operators, and investors who have been where you are and can give you real, direct feedback.

2. Pitch and business model refinement - Week by week, you pressure-test your assumptions, tighten your story, and get your business investment-ready. It’s like a masterclass with homework.

3. Investor access - Most programmes culminate in a demo day or pitch event where cohort members present to a room of investors. The network access alone is worth it.

4. Credibility - Being accepted into a competitive programme signals to the outside world (including future investors, collaborators, and press) that someone has looked at what you’re building and believes in it.

5. Community - The cohort itself becomes a resource. People share contacts, give feedback, cheer wins, and hold you accountable. That last one matters more than people realise.

6. $$ for your business – Many accelerators are directly connected to, or run by, investors. Completing a programme can lead to real investment in your business from the programme itself, a partner fund, or investors in the room at demo day. It’s not guaranteed and not usually without a % of your business givenaway. But with some accelerators, these options are there.

A Final Note

Two big moves this week: locking in our name and joining a programme that’s going to accelerate this whole thing. Both are reminders that the decisions you make in the early days of building carry enormous weight.

Be intentional, ask questions, and get as much advice and help as you can.

Should you apply??

If reading about the accelerator has you wondering whether you should be applying to one too, here’s a quick gut-check before you do.

☑ You have a clear problem you’re solving and can articulate it simply

☑ You have a pitch deck. Most accelerators require this, even if it’s a working version, to include in the application.

☑ You have an MVP, or a clear roadmap to get there

☑ You’ve done some customer validation — even early conversations count

☑ You know your business can scale and you have a clear market in mind

☑ You have the time to commit. It’s a weekly commitment, some are in-person and some might be virtual. But like everything, you get out of it what you put in.

☑ You’re open to feedback, even when it challenges your assumptions

If you ticked most of those, APPLY. The worst that happens is a no. I was rejected when I applied for my first accelerator 5 months ago. And it’s OK. You fail, refine and move onto the next one.

Even putting the application together will force you to think more clearly about your business than you probably have before. That alone is worth it.

xx KP