#10 What To Do When Things Slow Down For The Summer
... in a word, lots! Of course I advocate for you to have a rest but if you can't, let's get your prepared to fundraise.
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Whats in this edition:
💸 Small prizes for little tops ups
💸 Get prepped this Summer
💸 The investments, and the divestments
💸 Networking & pitch events to perfect your pitch
This Weeks Top Opportunities
Award Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2026 - now in it’s 10th year, the Loewe Foundation craft prize celebrates craft and support artists talent.
Grant It’s Girl Dreamer Dream Fund - recognises young women of colour led organisations running social enterprises, charities or CIC’s.
Award Enterprise Nation x Adobe - this is your last opportunity to win £1000 and marketing strategy mentorship as this monthly rolling competition comes to a close.
These Top Opportunities were lifted from the Funding Opportunities Database, a unique listing of over 60 grants, awards, accelerators and other funding opportunities for your small business (with a focus on creatives and social & environmental impact). For full access to the database, upgrade for just £4 a month. Plus get Friday Funding Chats Live, and interviews with founders who have funded.
What To Do When Things Slow Down For The Summer
Whilst it may not feel like it judging by the weather, it’s officially the Summer Holidays. Funders and investors are on holiday and so are the opportunities. It’s a brief calm before the storm commences again in September. Not only will the kids be back to school/Uni but investors will be back from the Bahamas, and more grant opportunities will be opening up.
So what should you be doing during this hiatus in the funding madness? Well firstly I urge you to take a break (go on holiday if you can). Months spent pitching ourselves, writing applications, holding up our ideas and passion projects to be judged and either awarded or rejected is hard work emotionally. So be kind to yourself, take some time to fill up your cup before we go again next month.
If you’ve already taken a break, or can’t right now, you should be in preparation mode. And I don’t mean stock piling tins and toilet roll, I mean funding preparedness. In a recent workshop I hosted, I was meant to talk about funding readiness for 30 minutes, it spilled over into 1.5 hrs of discussion, so I know this is a hot topic for this community.
What exactly should you be doing? I’ve put together a short (and by no means exhaustive) list of things you can be doing this month to get you set up for funding next month.
Optimise your LinkedIn profile - let’s be honest, you don’t have time for all the little prompts LinkedIn gives you whenever you log on. Your headshot is likely a little out of date and your experience needs refreshing. Take the time to polish your profile because this is the first place funders look.
Give your financials some love - update your cashflow sheets, reconcile those receipts and get an up to date picture of your businesses financial health. What does your runway look like? Have any cheeky subscriptions come out, and what are your revenue numbers?
Prepare your templates - would you still answer those application questions the same way? I always advice founders to have draft answers ready to go. So think whether your problem, solution, founder bio and vision are up to date. Can you answer these simple questions in 500 words or less and keep a bank of these docs stored for future applications?
Network - remember, you are always raising/earning money. And you need to have an idea of the landscape before you dive in. Do get out there, meet people, see which spaces are for you (and which one’s you wouldn’t touch with a barge pole ever again!).
Practice your pitch - whether it’s your 1minute elevator pitch (something you can also do at networking events) or a longer 5-10 minute pitch for investors, this is the time to perfect it. Speak to camera, assess yourself, or get a friend/colleague to asses you. Or attend a pitch practise session.
Feeling prepared will grow your confidence, so when the opportunities start rolling around again in a few months, you will be on it like Sonic. Why not check out the business support at your local library where they will have a Startup Business service or a BIPC with lots of resources and events to help you.
Question: What is ‘runway’?
Answer: Runway is the amount of money/time your business has before it needs to seek additional funding. This could be debt, equity or raising through grants and crowdfunding. Simply look at the money you have in the bank (forecast revenue/invoices to be paid in) and compare it to your monthly outgoings. It’s important to know whether you can take some time to chill, or you need to get on the fundraising train stat!
Funding News & Resources:
It’s a slow news month, so here are some additional resources and reports to dive into.
Female Founders Fund have released their 2025 Review of Funding For Female Founders. Whilst funding for female founded companies still stagnates at 2%, the number of female exits and IPO’s has risen!
Kering exits (divests) from Cocoon, the luxury handbag rental company it invested in alongside Depop founder Simon Beckerman. Both were part of a €30m round with Kering Ventures having an 81% stake. It’s part of wider restructuring of the Kering Ventures investment portfolio.
Inside the mind of a Mission-Driven tech entrepreneur. Molly DeWolf Swenson shares her journey with The Female Founders Collective on Instagram. I loved this post.
Tech For Good - A podcast by Bethnal Green Ventures. Featuring interviews with founders investors or experts on what it takes to build an amazing tech for good venture.
Question: Whats an ‘exit’?
Answer: When a founder or board decides to sell a business and ‘exit’ a company, this is referred to as an exit. So if a founder refers to themselves has having ‘exited’ a number of companies, this implies they have sold their shares in companies on multiple occasions. It generally only applies to companies limited by shares.
Events
Spend the summer getting connected and educating yourself.
Ask the Expert - Crowdfunder UK Drop in Sessions - Whether you're just starting to plan your crowdfunding campaign or already live and looking for guidance, these Crowdfunder Drop-In Sessions are the perfect place to get support and answers to your questions.
5th August, Online
Debt, Equity & Drinks with Creator Fund & TechCredit Partners - an in depth look at debt vs equity funding and which road may be more suitable for your growing business.
6th August, London
Antler in the UK: Ask me Anything - for fast moving builders looking to exchange ideas and get involved in new ventures.
6th August, Zoom
Hive Founders twice Monthly Pitch Clinic - for female entrepreneurs. Twice a month, come and practice your pitching and get friendly feedback.
7th August (next date), Online
Lunch & Learn: How to Pay Yourself from your Business - Enterprise Nation present another super helpful webinar on the practicalities on paying yourself from your business. I will definitely be doing this one.
8th August, Online
Tech for Good Coffee Mornings with BGV - meet founders and people interested in tech for good. Share challenges, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships with others who understand the unique journey of building businesses driving purpose and profit.
15th August, London (monthly)
Founders Meetup London - hosted by Techstartup Meetings. Tactical fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs and speed networking with other founders, potential cofounders, and investors!
20th August, London
Before You Go
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I would add that you can use this time to start prepping for the busier season ahead. Review last year's data and messaging. Start thinking how what to carry forward and what to leave behind. Giving Tuesday and year-end will be here before we know it!