Free accelerator for female tech founders
Barclays Eagle Labs has opened applications for its 2026 Female Founder Accelerator. This free nine-week programme, delivered with AccelerateHER, supports up to 100 UK female founders to grow and scale tech businesses.
The accelerator is designed for ventures beyond the ‘idea stage’. This means you must have a minimum viable product (MVP) or be close to finishing it, and gathering user feedback to improve it.
To be eligible to apply, your business must be
- UK-registered
- ready to scale within 12 to 18 months
- using technology or innovation to deliver your value proposition
The programme is designed to bring more women into entrepreneurship. To be eligible, you must be a female-identifying founder or a senior executive (including non-binary or genderqueer) in key decision-making position. You must also be able to commit three hours weekly for the duration of the programme.
The programme suits growth-focused businesses, not those seeking investment.
Programme information
There are nine components to the programme an introductory session, a midpoint Q&A session, and seven expert-led masterclasses, starting in September 2026. The masterclasses will cover
- marketing and sales strategies
- pitching and negotiation
- procurement with large companies
- finance and team building
- scaling your business
The programme also includes opportunities to access one-to-one mentoring, peer support and in-person networking opportunities through Eagle Labs and AccelerateHER networks.
The deadline for applications is Friday 12 June 2026.
Find out more about the Eagle Labs Female Founder Accelerator.
First published 6 May 2026
