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For over a decade, Startmate has backed ambitious people building what comes next.
Some of those companies have reshaped industries. Others have created entirely new ones. The common thread has never been sector; it has been founders with the ambition and agency to build at the scale their ideas demand.
Today, we’re expanding that mission.
We're excited to announce that we are launching a dedicated Social Enterprise stream within our pre-accelerator, Launch Club. It is designed to support a small cohort of exceptional founders building organisations aimed at meaningful, lasting social and environmental impact.
This is not an expansion for the sake of reach. It is a deliberate exploration of where the next generation of impact, and iconic companies, may come from.
Why now?
Some of the most important companies of the next decade will not only create economic value; they will help reshape the systems our society depends on.
The conditions that help venture-scale companies thrive; exceptional peers, practical operator-led education, and a high-trust community; can unlock disproportionate momentum for mission-driven founders too. We believe the founder mindset, when applied to society’s hardest problems, can drive durable change.
“Some of the most important companies of the next decade will not only create economic value, they will help reshape the systems our society depends on.”
— Phoebe Pincus, CEO, Startmate
“For over a decade, Startmate has backed ambitious people shaping what comes next. Supporting founders tackling society’s hardest problems is a natural extension of that mission.”
— Dave Jackson, Founder, Investor & Startup Advisor
What we mean by social enterprise
We define social enterprises as organisations built to solve meaningful social or environmental problems through sustainable, scalable models.
We are less interested in intention alone; and far more interested in models that make impact inevitable.
Selected founders will typically demonstrate:
- Impact embedded at the core of the business model
- Revenue directly linked to the solution, supporting long-term resilience
- A structure that prioritises durable outcomes alongside financial sustainability
- Ambition to operate at the scale the problem demands
We are open to for-profits, hybrids, and purpose-driven non-profits, provided the model supports independence and meaningful reach.
How the stream works
The Social Enterprise stream will sit within Launch Club, Startmate’s 8-week Pre-Accelerator program running 23 March to 15 May, 2026.
The core Launch Club experience remains unchanged: high-calibre peers, operator-led education, structured accountability, and deep community support.
Alongside that, we are introducing targeted additions for this cohort:
- A dedicated Squad Lead with domain expertise
- A small number of social enterprise-focused sessions
- Dedicated pitch night slots to ensure relevant feedback and visibility
We are starting small and intentionally. Four to six scholarship spots are available for Social Enterprise founders in this cohort, fully funded by Startmate.
“This is not expansion for the sake of reach. It’s a deliberate exploration of where the next generation of impact, and iconic companies may come from.”
— Holly Brooks, Head of Marketing, Startmate
“We’re less interested in intention alone; and far more interested in models that make impact inevitable.”
— Louisa Lin, Founders Associate, Startmate
Meet the Squad Lead
Dave Jackson will serve as the dedicated mentor for the Social Enterprise stream.
Dave is a repeat founder who has built and sold two technology startups and is currently working on several others. He advises early-stage founders and has spent decades navigating the challenges of scaling companies. Alongside this, he has volunteered extensively within the social enterprise ecosystem and is a long-standing advocate for mission-driven entrepreneurship.
He brings first-hand experience of taking an idea to impact, as well as a deep belief in the power of ambitious founders to change the world for the better.
Who we’re looking for
We are looking for founders with the ambition to take on problems that truly matter, and the determination to build solutions that endure.
You might be a fit if you are:
- Obsessed with the problem and energised by the solution
- Resourceful, high-agency, and biased toward action
- Building a model where impact is core; not a side initiative or future aspiration
- Linking revenue directly to the solution, creating durability beyond grants or donations
- Structuring your organisation to prioritise long-term outcomes alongside financial sustainability
- Ready to build alongside other ambitious operators
If you are trying to create meaningful, lasting impact and want to do it within an exceptional community, we encourage you to apply.
Applications are closing soon!
🚀 Learn more about Launch Club here
🪴 Apply for the Social Enterprise stream here
Limited fully funded scholarships are available for Social Enterprise founders in this intake.
