Get your business idea started with Back Her Business
Ladies – have you got a great idea for a business but also don’t want to give up your day job? Well, do we have the competition for you.
NatWest, Ulster Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have teamed up with Crowdfunder to support more women to start businesses through their Back Her Business programme, and now they've launched a new competition specifically for side hustles!
Not only could you win a cash prize of up to £10,000 sponsored by NatWest, Ulster Bank or RBS to help get your business off the ground, there's also up to £500 in Back Her Business grant funding up for grabs – plus they'll be your first customer with a £50 pledge.
Entering is easy. Just check the competition criteria and tell them your idea in 100 words or less before 23 October 2019 to get started.
If you’re new to crowdfunding, don’t worry, they’ve got you covered with Launchpad – an exclusive women-only accelerator programme where expert coaches will guide you through your crowdfunding journey for your best chance of success.
Are you feeling inspired? To be eligible to enter, you must:
Identify as female
Live in the UK
Be over 18
Not have turned over £1,000 in profit for your business
And the entering project must be:
UK based
Either majority (50-100%) owned or controlled by women and/or woman-led (a woman must be responsible for the day-to-day decision making)
Only projects that close having successfully reached their funding target will receive a grant sponsored by the regional bank relevant to where the business is based. For UK residents with new UK projects. Eligibility, fees and specific criteria apply here.
So what are you waiting for? Take the first step and tell them your idea in 100 words today.
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