What is the Retreat?

The WEN Business Retreat is an action focused, interactive weekend of workshops, skills development and networking, designed to support women-led ventures to grow.  It’s also a valuable opportunity to make time to collaboratively learn, ask questions and meet experts & founders from a diverse range of fields. 

Who is it for?

The Retreat is designed for a wide range of entrepreneurs. Whilst spaces are limited, we aim to include as many entrepreneurs as we can who:

• Identify as a woman or are non-binary and comfortable in a space discussing gendered experiences 

• Have launched or are about to launch your business (MVP stage is ok)

• Want to be part of a community and find impactful collaboration opportunities.

• Are committed to putting time into growing your business

• Are from any sector. This is a sector agnostic space, where diverse business experts from different sectors will learn together.

• Are academics or researchers looking to expand their entrepreneurial skills with the potential to commercialise their research or project work.

This weekend event is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a strong understanding of a problem or challenge and have developed a potential marketable solution that they want to pursue.

We also welcome applications from entrepreneurs at other universities and members of local business networks. External spaces are limited, but we encourage you to apply.

Is the WEN Business Retreat free?

The WEN Business Retreat is a free initiative. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

Please note that we cannot cover travel or accommodation costs for attendees travelling to London from outside the area.

What will you learn?

The WEN Business Retreat includes practical, interactive sessions covering a range of topics relevant to entrepreneurs and growing businesses.

Sessions are expected to include:

• Vibe coding & AI Design thinking

• Disruption for good

• Marketing & branding strategy

• Storytelling & pitching

• Inclusive tech

• Creativity sessions

• Community building

• Alternative funding

The programme and full session schedule will be released ahead of the event. Sessions are subject to change.

Do I need to attend the whole weekend?

We’d love you to join us for the whole weekend to really commit the time to growing your business idea. We are realistic, sometimes life gets in the way. If you can only attend for some of the event, we still encourage you to apply.

We believe there is no one way to be an entrepreneur, so if you have questions about your stage of venture or are a bit nervous about coming on your own, email Jess on jessica.horwill@kcl.ac.uk.  

Applications close on 11 October 2026 (23:59 UK time).