UKEF Female Founder
Export Accelerator

Applications are now OPEN!

Following the success of its inaugural programme, UK Export Finance (UKEF) and Lifted Ventures are launching the second cohort of their pioneering Female Founder Export Accelerator, a first-of-its-kind collaboration designed to support women-led and women-owned businesses from diverse backgrounds to expand internationally, accelerate growth and access the finance, knowledge and tools needed to succeed in global markets.

Building on the foundations of the first cohort, the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator, in partnership with Lifted Ventures, will provide a new group of ambitious female founders with specialist expertise, practical guidance and access to funding pathways to develop their international growth strategies and unlock new export opportunities.

The four-month accelerator combines in-person and virtual expert-led workshops with tailored mentoring and coaching. Participants will develop the knowledge, commercial capabilities and practical strategies needed to navigate international markets, strengthen their export readiness and scale their businesses globally.

Programme Dates – Cohort 2

Applications and Selection

10 November 2026 – Applications open
27 November 2026 – Applications close, midnight
8 December 2026 – Applicants informed

Workshops and Programme Delivery

6 January 2027 – Foundations of Export and Growth (In Person)
20 January 2027 – Growth Finance (Virtual)
10 February 2027 – Accessing Export Finance and Support (In Person)
24 February 2027 – Legal and Financials (Virtual)
3 March 2027 – Meet the Exporters: North, Year 1 Cohort Member – Digital (In Person, TBC)
18 March 2027 – Meet the Exporters: Midlands, Year 1 Cohort Member – Product (In Person, TBC)
6 April 2027 – Building a Global Export Narrative (In Person)
19–30 April 2027 – One-to-One Mentoring (Virtual)
21 April 2027 – Grants and R&D Tax (Virtual)
12 May 2027 – Practising Your Growth Narrative (Virtual)
19 May 2027 – Programme Showcase (In Person)

Eligibility Criteria

Turnover and growth: Annual turnover of £500,000 or more, or a credible high-growth trajectory to achieve £500,000 within the next 12 months.
Location: Business must be based in the UK.
Financial stability: Minimum of six months’ cash runway.
Export ambition: Must already be exporting or have clear plans to begin exporting within the next 18 months.
Programme commitment: Must agree to the programme’s attendance requirements and code of conduct.
Sector eligibility: Open to all business sectors, excluding activities ineligible for SEIS/EIS investment relief.
Female ownership: Business must be majority-owned by a female founder.
Diversity and inclusion: Target of at least 50% of cohort places allocated to female founders from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Open to all business sectors, excluding activities ineligible for SEIS/EIS investment relief.
Female ownership: Business must be majority-owned by a female founder.
Diversity and inclusion: Target of at least 50% of cohort places allocated to female founders from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Frequently asked questions

When will applications for the accelerator open?

Applications opened on 10th November and will close 27th November at midnight.

Is there support for travel costs in the programme?

While there is no dedicated budget for travel costs in this programme, we’d like to hear from you if this is a significant barrier to your application. In some cases, we may be able to offer additional support, although we cannot guarantee this. Please get in touch via info@liftedventures.co.uk if you have any further questions about this.

I have accessibility requirements, will there be support for me on the programme?

Yes, we can support you. Please include all your requirements in your application.

Do I need to attend all the workshop sessions?

To get the most from the programme, we ask that you attend all sessions. The programme includes a mix of in-person and virtual workshops. If you foresee any difficulty attending the in-person sessions, please mention this in your application so we can discuss possible options.

Is the programme free? And how is this funded?

.The accelerator is funded by UK Export Finance and delivered by Lifted Ventures. Participants will not need to pay to participate, however this programme may require you to declare your participation in this programme as part of State Aid. To find out more please contact Sara Parker – sara.parker@liftedventures.co.uk

Is there mentoring or coaching involved?

Yes. Each founder will receive an hour of bespoke 1:1 coaching from either Jordan or Helen at Lifted Ventures. The coaching session will focus on any additional learning support, your final business plan, your growth narrative/ pitch deck, or any additional areas where you need further clarification. . Mentoring and coaching is provided alongside the group workshops.

What happens if I'm not selected?

If you’re not selected on this occasion, we’d still love to stay engaged. We’ll keep you in mind for future Lifted Ventures programmes and share alternative support options and ecosystem connections to keep your momentum going.