What is Buy Women Built?

On Thursday, I had the absolute privilege of attending the Buy Women Built conference, surrounded by hundreds of inspiring female founders. The energy in the room was electric, every conversation, every panel, every speaker had one mission: to champion the incredible work of women-led businesses and help shift the narrative around female entrepreneurship in the UK.

In case you’re not familiar, Buy Women Built (BWB) is a movement dedicated to supporting, spotlighting, and scaling female-founded brands. And here at RISE coffee box, we’ve been proud members of the BWB community for a number of years now (I was actually in the original 50!) 

💡 The Movement

Buy Women Built is a UK-based campaign and growing community that celebrates, spotlights, and supports consumer products created by women-founded brands. The initiative encourages shoppers to choose female-led businesses and drives awareness of the huge contribution women make to the UK economy, often invisibly.

Their message is simple but powerful:

If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.
By showcasing more women-built brands, the campaign hopes to inspire future generations of female entrepreneurs.

🛍 Why It Matters

Despite the rise of women-led startups, less than 1% of UK venture capital goes to female-founded businesses. Yet, many of the everyday products you love are created by incredible women, you just might not realise it.

From skincare and snacks to tech and textiles, Buy Women Built helps consumers vote with their wallet and champion equality through their purchases.

✨ Look for the Mark

Buy Women Built brands can be identified by a clear “Buy Women Built” badge or logo, helping customers make quick, conscious choices when shopping online or in-store. It’s a symbol of trust, quality, and empowerment.

💥 Why It Matters More Than Ever

Did you know:

• 81% of 11–18-year-olds can’t name a single female entrepreneur?

• Only 3% of funded British businesses are female-founded.

• The UK has 30% fewer female entrepreneurs compared to the US.

• If women started businesses at the same rate as in other developed countries, it would add £200 billion to the UK economy.

Yes, really.

That’s why BWB exists. As they put it:

“By shopping more women-built brands, we can together unleash the powerful contribution these businesses can make to our economy, our future, and our communities.”
And I couldn’t agree more.

🌟 A Day of Inspiration and Action

The event was hosted by the formidable @saharhashemiobe, BWB’s passionate founder and an unstoppable force for change. We heard from so many incredible entrepreneurs, including:

• @hollytucker, who gave a rousing rallying cry about optimism and celebrating the wins in female entrepreneurship

• @saradaviescc MBE,

• @michellekennedylon of Peanut,

• Renee, founder of Planet Organic

• And the amazing @joannajensenofficial, whose support and guidance has meant so much to so many in the room.

Every panel was packed with insight, honesty, and a sense of real momentum. Big changes are coming.

☕ Where RISE Fits In

RISE Coffee Box was founded with a mission: to make coffee better—for people and for the planet. As a female co-founded, B Corp-certified business, we’re proud to be part of the growing list of women-led brands driving meaningful change.

Whether it’s showcasing ethical roasters, supporting origin projects, or now flying the Buy Women Built flag...we’re here for it.

🤝 How You Can Help

• Shop women-built brands and look for the BWB badge

• Share and shout out your favourite female founders

• Talk to your kids about female entrepreneurs (they’re everywhere!)

• Keep spreading the message that yes, women build brilliant things, every single day

We left the event feeling fired up, energised, and ready to keep pushing forward. Because when we Buy Women Built, we’re not just supporting brilliant products we’re building a better, more inclusive future.