Welcome to Professionals with Purpose

If you are wondering how you can have a more positive impact while you run a business or earn a living, you’re in the right place. Read on for examples of businesses, charities, government organisations, individuals and entrepreneurs who have done it or are achieving it - and doing so at pace.

And discover opportunities, tools and resources to help you in your aims.

This week we feature four opportunities to access funding and/or support for your business to grow at pace, one with a closing date of today. These cover:

• a micro business

• a startup

• underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs focusing on no-code tools

And we start with the largest which also is the only one focused on “bold social ventures”. Good luck!

Howard Lake
Editor
[email protected]

Four opportunities to help grow your business

1. Win £150,000 plus business support

Applications are now open for the second cohort of the 100x Impact Accelerator, an initiative of the Marshall Institute.

They are looking for “bold, innovative social ventures that are taking on the world's most complex issues”.

If you're a visionary, radical social entrepreneur, their programme offers the chance to access £150,000 of catalytic capital, tap into world-class insights through its 12-week programme, join a community of changemakers, and “drive change on a global scale”.

Successful applicants are announced in October and the programme begins in March 2024.

If you’re an impact-first organisation, a registered charity, not-for-profit, or social enterprise, and you are currently scaling social impact in one of the Accelerator’s eight Impact Areas, then you are eligible. They welcome applicants from anywhere in the world, “as long as you have a minimum viable product (MVP) and a track record of achieving impact”.

And yes, that can include for-profit businesses, but only if it “is an impact-first organisation with a primary social mission”.

The deadline to apply is 3 July 2023.

2. Win £25,000 to launch your business

If you have a business idea and need help with making it happen, then do explore the AXA Startup Angel competition in partnership with the Evening Standard.

There are six chances to win, including two top prizes of £25,000, mentorship from the AXA Startup Angels, and business insurance for a year, funded by AXA.

It’s not specifically for businesses with a social purpose, but perhaps that is the element of the pitch that will impress the panel. If you get to the final stage you’ll be presenting to Sharmadean Reid MBE, founder and CEO of The Stack World; Raphael Sofoluke, founder and CEO of UK Black Business Show; and, Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, co-founders of vegan food brand Bosh!

To enter simply send a pitch video and answer a couple of questions about your idea, and demonstrate your drive and passion for your business.

The competition closes on 4 June 2023. Find out more from the Evening Standard.

3. Small Business Jumpstart

Small Business Jumpstart is a free six-week programme designed for micro businesses “to help you get unstuck and create a plan for the future”.

It’s a partnership from Digital Boost and BT. Over a series of 90-minute interactive sessions, you’ll get mentoring from BT volunteer mentors to help you develop your own personal action plan “to supercharge your business”.

The sessions will run every Thursday at midday and will cover business strategy, branding, marketing, customer service, and finance.

Applications close today, Wednesday 17th May.

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4. Bubble’s Immerse programme

No-code platform Bubble has a virtual residency programme for underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs who want to become their own CTOs. In just 8 weeks, the Immerse programme will teach founders how to build with Bubble, connect them with the broader tech ecosystem, and coach them through MVP development.

The deadline to apply for the next all-women and femme-identified cohort is Monday 22 May. Apply now or nominate someone you know.

Fancy some coffee with impact?

Here’s a round-up of UK coffee companies that also generate funds for charities. Published by UK Fundraising.

If you have a story to tell about how you’ve grown a business’ income and social impact at pace, do get in touch with us.

If you’d like to advertise on or sponsor future editions of Professionals With Purpose do contact Connor Seaton.