Almost £10K in total small business grant funding given away in local start-up support programme supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
After four amazing months of starting up, skilling up & learning to pitch for funding, the Launch It Labs Enfield programme culminated in the much-awaited pitch finals and the winner of the £3000 grant funding has been named: Paula Francisco, the young founder behind hair care brand VP Royals.
"Launch It Labs has been a great experience—I’ve learned so much with amazing support from mentors. Winning the top prize is a privilege, allowing me to scale my business and invest in marketing. This funding is a testament to my work, my products, and the value others see in my vision," shared the pitch grand winner, Paula Francisco.
From December 2024, participants who came from all around the borough of Enfield and nearby areas participated in a four-month localised in-person and online start-up support programme designed to help budding entrepreneurs learn how to start and grow a business, with a focus on helping them launch their products/services, and reach new markets.
Launch It Labs started with a Preparing to Launch webinar followed by a Start-Up, Sign Up Day which gave new business registrants a grant of £100 upon signing up to HMRC, then 2-day business bootcamp which held a series of expert-led workshops covering key topics such as Defining Your Business Unique Selling Proposition, Creating a Digital Media Presence, Launching Your Product to Market, Pitch Coaching and others. From 19 pitch semi-finalists, 9 finalists were selected who then battled it out at the pitch finals held at the Launch It Angel Yard hub in Edmonton last 25 Feb 2025.
The Launch It Labs programme which was made possible through the generous support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) with the Mayor of London and Enfield Council, gave away a grant total amounting to almost £10K overall across the various legs of the programme.
Pitch judge, HR Sports Academy founder and former Launch It alumna, Mickela Hall-Ramsay said: “Support programmes like Launch It Labs are absolutely vital. I have first hand experience of the impact they can have on young entrepreneurs. Often, when you’re in the thick of running a business, you’re too busy to step back and strategise. These programmes provide the space to refine ideas, develop structured plans, and receive valuable guidance from experienced professionals."
"Beyond practical business knowledge, they also surround you with like-minded people, inspiring and motivating you to push forward. They help build the confidence and resilience needed to not just survive in business, but to thrive. A strong foundation is crucial for long-term success, and programmes like these provide exactly that."
Click here to learn more about Paula's experience in the programme and how she plans to use the grant funding.
If you're 18-30 years old and looking for an opportunity to level up your digital skills to scale your business and get a chance to pitch for a share of £5K funding, check out and join our Digital Pioneers programme!
And if you're interested to bring Launch It Labs to your borough or want to know more how you can help support aspiring young founders to build a hopeful path towards entrepreneurship, go to www.launchit.org.uk/partnerships or email info@launchit.org.uk now!
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