This Week at Pick Up The Mic: Insights, Opportunities & Growth!
Pick Up The Mic Ltd
Where we inspire, learn how to adapt to what life throws at us, and overcome the obstacles of life?
Content Coming This Week
We're continuing our blog and we're sharing incredible advice from different episodes of The Student Guide.
Career Opportunities
Have a job you'd like to share? Let us know!?For more jobs, feel free to check out Run The Check or If You Could Jobs.
Support Available
If you need support, Vivify Therapy offer accessible and culturally aware mental health interventions through online counselling and psychotherapy, digital self-help courses, psychoeducational workshops, and wellness retreats. To learn more, please click here.
Events
Funding Opportunities
?? TheWMarketplace | From Local to Global - 6-week workshop series on exporting for California-based women entrepreneurs, launching Monday 3rd February. Learn more here.
??Boundless Futures Foundation | EmpowHer Grant - $25,000 in grants for US-based female founders. Deadline: Sunday 16th February.
??The annual WISE (Women in Social Enterprise Awards 2025) 100 list, created by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, is open for nominations. Nominations must be submitted online and you may submit an entry for yourself or on behalf of somebody else. The application form will be open until midnight on Sunday 16th February.
??Each year, Hult Prize empowers students around the world to create innovative startups that create real impact. Participants join an exclusive global community of student entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry experts as they work to earn a spot in our Global Finals where finalists compete for $1M in funding to bring their big ideas to life. The deadline is Friday 28th February.
??In partnership with Sheffield DocFest, The Whickers are offering a ￡15,000 production award to the winner and ￡5,000 to the runner-up. Six finalists will also receive:
The Podcast Pitch reflects the growing trend of solo, episodic listening to factual audio and replaces the Radio and Audio Funding Award (RAFA). Single-episode proposals are welcome. The application is open to independent podcast makers meeting the core criteria. The deadline to apply is Friday 28th February.
??Applications for The Small Awards have opened, and this will be a great event with small businesses, experts and luminaries coming together for a fantastic evening of awards and networking. With over 10 categories to apply for, there's an award for either yourself or your business. The deadline to apply is Friday 28th February.
??Caltech | RocketFund - up to $100,000 in non-dilutive grants for diverse & women-led businesses in clean-tech. Deadline: Monday 3rd March.
??Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has launched a grant for young entrepreneurs. Applicant entrepreneurs must be a director of the company and own shares of more than 50%. The overall winner will win a prize of ￡150,000 to invest in their business, with a second prize of ￡100,000 and third prize of ￡50,000. The deadline to apply is Friday 28th March at 17:00.
?? Shopify has a blog detailing grants available to small businesses.
?? Looking for advice from grant winners? Considered Capital held an event bringing together three purposeful organisations who have successfully secured millions in grants to fuel their businesses. Click the link to watch the recording. There also have a blog post on the top 7 ways to speed up your search for fundraising grants in the UK.
领英推荐
?? SOLVE MIT Truist Foundation Inspire Awards | up to $250k for US-based non-profits who reskill/upskill adults in the middle-late stages of their careers
??RURACTIVE Open Call | up to €90k for SMEs transforming rural Europe with innovations in sustainable food systems, culture, tourism, mobility, health & wellbeing
??Robert Bosch Stiftung: Building Power for Economic Justice | up to €400k available globally for orgs & coalitions that tackle structural economic injustices
??EIC Accelerator -?The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs that:
??Women’s Enterprise Growth Programme 2025 - An exciting programme designed specifically for women and non-binary people aged 18-35 living or working in London and Liverpool. You’ll develop the skills, strengths and networks required to grow purpose-led enterprises and in turn create new jobs for underserved communities. Programme dates - March and December 2025.
??The Youth Endowment Fund’s Open Call funding round invites proposals from delivery organisations that work to reduce young people’s involvement in violence and are ready for rigorous evaluation. To learn more or apply, click here.
?? Founder’s First CDC | Southern California Job Creator’s Grant - $50,000 for Latino, Black, Asian, Women, LGBTQ+, and Veteran-led businesses. Applications are open. Check here for more information.
??Check out the Cook for Good Incubator programme for 2025! This six-week initiative is designed for individuals passionate about creating sustainable ventures that use food and cooking to make a difference.
??California GO-Biz x U.S. SBA | STEP Grant - Up to $10,000 reimbursement for export activities, open to US-incorporated small businesses. Apply here.
?? Access Grants Unlocked: A Guide to Successful Non-Dilutive Funding for Black Founders. Explore here.
??Grow London Local is the one place to get free access to all the support you need to help start and grow your business. Explore their online library for events, support programmes and expert-led content designed to help you achieve your business goals – and receive personalised recommendations via their Business Success Check. Click here to learn more.
??The 2025 Hult Prize programme cycle has officially kicked off! Each year, Hult Prize empowers students around the world to create innovative startups that create real impact. s join an exclusive global community of student entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry experts as they work to earn a spot in our Global Finals where finalists compete for $1M in funding to bring their big ideas to life. To learn more and apply, please click here. There is no deadline listed, but it is recommended you apply as soon as possible.
??East End Community Foundation x SWEF Enterprise Fund is available for voluntary and community sector organisations across the East End (specifically the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham and City Of London). Organisations can receive up to ￡2,000 as a grant to support their work. To learn more, please click here.
??Impact Shakers have teamed up with Startup Guide for a pitching competition in ClimateTech & InclusionTech! We are selecting the best Global ClimateTech & InclusionTech Startups with diverse founding teams to come pitch and win investment at the Startup Guide Summit. To apply and learn more about this, please click here.
??EIC Women Innovators Category | access 3 prizes of €100k, €70k and €50k for women entrepreneurs building ground-breaking innovations in Europe. Find out more here.
??School for Social Entrepreneurs have numerous courses (e.g., Writing a Successful Funding Application) that can support you and your business. If you are interested in signing up, please click here.
??Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism | up to $8k to fund advocacy work, and/or efforts to raise awareness, influence policy, and change public discourse for women, trans, & non-binary people. Learn more here.
??The Paul Hamlyn Foundation offers different funding applications for businesses, individuals and teams. To review them, please click here.
?? Unlock the potential of TikTok for your business with TikTok Takeoff and stand a chance to win ￡1,000! Want to boost your presence on TikTok? Join Enterprise Nation's free, three-part email course and learn how to maximize TikTok for your business. Sign up during August, and you'll automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a ￡1,000 grant. To learn more and enroll, please click here.
??Black Business Network have a support hub on their website that has resources that can support on access to finances, events and awards, networks you can join and more. To search for specific support, click here.