The four-month accelerator brought together female founders from a range of sectors, including technology, consumer products, health, food and creative industries. The programme included workshops, site visits, coaching and pitch preparation, with sessions focused on export strategy, growth finance, international market opportunities and building a clear global growth narrative.
Paulina used the programme to further develop SLT Gateway, a project created by SLT Media to support Polish businesses looking to enter the UK market.
The programme concluded with the UK Export Finance Global Growth Showcase at Nexus Leeds, where founders presented their businesses and growth plans to investors, partners and members of the export support ecosystem.
Paulina said: “Being selected for the first cohort was a real honour, especially knowing how many ambitious women-led businesses applied.
“The programme gave me the space to test and refine SLT Gateway, but also to look more clearly at the wider challenges businesses face when entering a new market. It is not only about translation or promotion. Companies need to understand positioning, credibility, buyer expectations and how to communicate in a way that works locally.
“As a Coventry business, and as a member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, I have seen how valuable regional support and export networks can be. Taking part in this accelerator helped me build on that experience and connect with other founders, partners and organisations supporting international growth.
“For me, the biggest value was not just the learning, but the practical conversations, feedback and relationships built throughout the programme.”
SLT Media will continue developing SLT Gateway, with a focus on helping businesses approach UK market entry with greater clarity, stronger positioning and a better understanding of local expectations.
Paulina added: “The Midlands has a strong business ecosystem and many companies here already think internationally. Programmes like this help founders take ideas seriously, test them properly and turn them into something that can create real value.”
