More than 120 women entrepreneurs formed a long queue outside Virgin Hotels London in Shoreditch, eager to pitch their business ideas to the “Elevator of Dreams” ahead of International Women’s Day.
The initiative, spearheaded by Sir Richard Branson and entrepreneur Simon Squibb, allows founders to deliver a 60-second pitch via video doorbell in the hopes of receiving global exposure and constructive feedback.
The special event was organised by Aila Money co-founders, Nitika Vyas and Elisabeth Prager, who seek to spotlight the barriers that women face in setting up businesses. Citing statistics showing that fewer than 20 per cent of UK firms are led by women — and that only 2p from every £1 of venture capital goes to female-founded companies — they note that a lack of financial confidence can hold many promising entrepreneurs back.
Simon Squibb, known for championing aspiring business owners, praised the diverse turnout, saying it “should inspire women everywhere” to share their dreams. Vyas and Prager, who launched Aila Money: Your Money PT to empower women with financial know-how, wanted the Shoreditch queue to exemplify the energy and potential of female founders. According to Vyas, the event helped demonstrate that when women feel confident, they can “wrap around the building” with their ambition.
All pitches submitted to the Elevator of Dreams appear on the HelpBnk platform, enabling founders to network with fellow entrepreneurs and attract potential investors. The top ten will also receive guidance from Virgin StartUp, a not-for-profit arm of the Virgin Group dedicated to supporting new businesses. Since 2013, Virgin StartUp has issued more than £80 million in Start Up Loans, with a special focus on bridging the gender funding gap through a 50/50 pledge for male and female founders.
Diana Greenhalgh, Operations Lead at Virgin StartUp, believes the event is a perfect example of how International Women’s Day should be celebrated: by creating tangible opportunities for female-led ventures. Attendees not only gained visibility for their ideas but also underscored the importance of financial literacy and self-belief in driving female entrepreneurship forward.
