“`html
From flexible eco-friendly fashion to innovative date-night organization, a fresh wave of women-led enterprises has received a significant boost following the Built By Her, Backed By Us initiative, which raised £100,000 to aid female founders across the UK.
The collaborative effort by Crowdfunder and the lifestyle platform Muddy Stilettos aimed to support women entrepreneurs through grassroots fundraising, mentoring, and marketing assistance. In addition to the community-focused funding initiative, the campaign presented a £10,000 prize package for one remarkable business and cash prizes for two additional runners-up.
After a highly competitive selection process, evaluated by a panel that included Muddy Stilettos founder Hero Brown, Crowdfunder Co-CEO Dawn Bebe, and Flock Here founder Danielle Wallington, three ventures emerged at the forefront.
The victors
The Female Archetypes – £10,000 prize package
The London-based apparel brand The Female Archetypes, established by designer Alice (depicted), was declared the overall champion. The brand produces versatile, locally crafted clothing that accommodates sizes 8–18, designed to support women throughout pregnancy, post-partum, perimenopause and beyond. By employing mothers and preserving traditional dressmaking techniques, the brand has been commended for its fusion of innovation, sustainability, and empowerment. Alice intends to allocate the prize funds toward her upcoming collection, as well as marketing and production efforts.
Pary Moppins – £2,000 prize
The second-place Pary Moppins, launched by Sara and Fred, is a subscription service designed to simplify date nights for busy parents. Each month, subscribers receive a cheerful yellow envelope containing three thoughtfully curated suggestions for concerts, eateries, or unique experiences — with childcare arrangements managed through a reliable network. The founders plan to utilize the prize money to broaden the service beyond London.
Her Land – £1,000 prize
The second runner-up was Her Land, a social enterprise located near Thame and led by Clare and Becky. This venture is in the process of transforming a historic farm into a center for environmentally friendly agriculture, traditional building, and muddy-boot confidence workshops for women and girls. Their Thrive in Nature sessions connect mothers and daughters to the land and each other. The prize will facilitate the expansion of their community-oriented workshops.
In total, the Built By Her initiative has raised over £100,000 for more than 68 female-owned projects. For the organizers, this achievement serves as a powerful reminder of the potential unlocked when women are supported by their communities.
“At Crowdfunder, we witness daily the resilience, creativity, and ambition of female entrepreneurs,” stated Dawn Bebe, Co-CEO of Crowdfunder. “This campaign demonstrates that with collective backing, women can convert daring ideas into flourishing enterprises. We are immensely proud to support these change-makers.”
Hero Brown, founder of Muddy Stilettos, remarked: “When women unite and receive support from their communities, remarkable transformations happen. These winners reflect resilience, innovation, and the spirit of possibility. We could not be more proud to empower their journeys.”
The initiative, now recognized as a model for how grassroots funding can foster significant change, has shown that with mentorship, visibility, and cooperative support, women entrepreneurs throughout the UK can surpass obstacles and transform ideas into lasting businesses.
Source link
“`