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03 April 2025

Everything you need to know about the 2025 WEN Retreat

Returning for 2025, the Women Entrepreneurs Retreat saw nearly 100 women coming together to explore all aspects of building a venture.

Attendees at the Women Entrepreneurs Retreat 2025 posing for a group photo.

The Women Entrepreneurs Retreat, hosted by the Women Entrepreneurs Network (WEN) at King's Entrepreneurship Institute (EI), is an annual event which helps venture-oriented women from across the King's community, increase their entrepreneurial skills and take their ideas further.

This year, nearly 100 women from King's, other universities, and local businesses, came together for a jam-packed three days exploring all aspects of building a venture.  

Bringing 98 women entrepreneurs together

Women at desks with their hands up.

It's the people who show up that truly define an event. And over the weekend, nearly 100 women founders dedicated time to working on their venture.

Whether it was being present and engaged with the facilitators, or supporting each other by sharing their own experiences, attendees made sure that the weekend was filled with valuable insights. 

Bringing together a mix of the King's community, other universities, and local businesses is a rare occurrence but offers a unique chance for people from all stages of entrepreneurship to learn from each other. 

Collaborating with UK universities and local businesses 

In 2023, the Institute opened up the WEN Retreat to UK university colleagues and their communities for the first time. This empowered even more women to make wider connections, and explore new insights.

This year, the EI went even bigger! London's local business community were invited to join too. 

Attendees included:

  • King's students, staff and alumni (from numerous faculties, year groups and departments). 
  • Other university communities - including Richmond American University, Imperial, LSBU, LSE, Oxford Enterprise, QMUL, SZTE, UCL, University of Cardiff, University of Greenwich, University of Surrey and Warwick Business School. 
  • Local businesses - including Considered Capital, Rise, School for Social Entrepreneurs, SheOath, Somerset House Business Residency, TERN, Employability and Wellbeing Academy, and UnLtd. 

The invaluable connections I made at this event will last a lifetime. Thank you for bringing us together."

Kim, Light Education Training, WEN Retreat 2025 attendee

Providing value-focused sessions 

WENRetreat2025-Jenna2

Each year, the EI invites experts to lead sessions on everything from branding and pitching, to investment and legal advice. They make sure that each session is value-focused so everyone goes home with practical takeaways to put into action, whilst having fun and enjoying the experience!

This year, the packed agenda included:

Day 1

  • Clarice Ng (Founder of GROWN), Roxanne Stevenson-Brown (Founder of Find Care Compare) and Jas Wilks (Founder and CEO of Rejazz) sharing their experiences as female founders on our Meet the Founders Panel.
  • Izabella Brooks and Rory Wilson (Hunters Law LLP) answering all those burning legal and IP questions.
  • Sonya Barlow (Founder of LMF Network) wrapping up day one with some tips on authentic networking.

Day 2

  • Lou Nylander (Founder of Wildflowers of London) on branding and community through authentic storytelling.
  • Kay Kukoyi (Founder of Purposeful Group and EI Tech Expert-in-Residence) with AI tools to grow your business.
  • Esme Verity (Founder of Considered Capital) giving an introduction to funding.

Day 3

  • Sarah Whale (Founder of Profit Impact) helping attendees down the path of sustainable impact.
  • Rachel Stockey (Founder of Disruptive Realm and EI Head of Entrepreneurial Skills) on assumptions and experiments.
  • Jenna Dominique (Founder of First Class Comms and EI Communications Expert-in-Residence) with her masterclass on compelling content and impactful communication. 

I feel incredibly lucky to have been apart of the weekend. The speakers and attendees were a treasure trove of knowledge and ideas. It’s fantastic to have opportunities to connect as just women and share the wind and challenges of entrepreneurship."

Anonymous, WEN Retreat 2025 attendee

A safe space to learn

Above all else, the WEN Retreat is a safe space to learn and ask questions. Whether that's during the weekend, or beyond. Attendees are encouraged to share their ideas openly in group discussions and give feedback to each other. 

An online group provides further opportunities for attendees to connect, ask questions and share knowledge. This includes community members who have attended WEN activities since the first Retreat was launched in 2019. 

An enriching programme in a safe environment with tangible tools to take away."

Sarah Whale, Founder of Profit Impact, WEN Retreat 2025 facilitator
WEN Retreat 2025 attendee talking to a facilitator
WEN Retreat 2025 attendee talking to one of our facilitators.

It's a privilege to have so many amazing women choose to spend their weekend with us. Not only are they learning to scale and growing their business ideas, but they're also forming important networks with their peers and learning from and about each other. With women joining from LSE, LSBU, Imperial as well as TERN and Somerset House Black Business Residency - the energy in the room was amazing. I cannot wait to see what these women create in the wider world!"

Jessica Horwill, Strategic Projects Manager (and WEN mastermind)

Photography: Elizabeth Morrow.

What's next?

  • Are you a woman entrepreneur at King's? Join the Women Entrepreneurs Network LinkedIn group to connect with likeminded change-makers and find out about similar events. 
  • Are you interested in WEN and the Retreat, but are not a member of the King's community? Collaborate with the EI in the future by contacting Jessica Horwill.
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