Entrepreneurs Michelle Leong and Debbie Gilbert, co-founders of the Leanier app, have been selected to join the Female Founders Rise Fundraising Accelerator Programme, a national initiative supporting women-led businesses to become fundraising-ready and investment-confident.
They have joined a cohort of 70 female founders from across the UK taking part in the programme, which is delivered by Female Founders Rise and supported by partners including Barclays Eagle Labs. The accelerator offers expert mentoring, weekly practical training and strategy sessions, alongside peer support and in-person events in London.
For Michelle and Debbie, whose app Leanier is currently in development, the selection marks an exciting milestone as they prepare for the next phase of growth.
Leanier brings Lean improvement thinking into everyday life, helping people reduce friction in their lives, improve follow-through and make progress through practical micro-actions, with the founders continuing to build momentum ahead of launch.
Michelle said being accepted onto the programme is an important step for the business and comes at the right time as they look ahead to fundraising.
“Fundraising to grow and develop your business can feel like a minefield and this programme has been designed to help founders like me understand the detail behind it all. I was delighted to be accepted and I’ve already gained huge value from it,” she said.
“I now better understand pitch decks, funding routes and what investors are really looking for. I’ve had the chance to practise my pitch and get feedback from angel investors, VCs and other women founders on the programme. That kind of support is invaluable at this stage.”
Debbie said the programme has provided both practical insight and confidence as the pair continue to develop Leanier.
“What’s been especially powerful is the combination of practical training and honest founder conversation. It helps you make better decisions faster — not just about raising money, but about where to focus your energy as a business,” she said.
Their participation comes at a time when improving access to investment for women-led businesses remains a key focus across the UK. According to the British Business Bank, female founder teams continue to receive a relatively small share of overall equity investment, while government-backed research has highlighted that around 2p of every £1 of UK venture capital funding goes to female-founded businesses.
As Leanier continues its development and fundraising journey, Michelle and Debbie say they are excited about what comes next and the opportunity to build on the momentum created through the programme. They will now be confidently pitching their app and its ethos to would-be investors.
Leanier is an app in development co-founded by Michelle Leong and Debbie Gilbert, bringing Lean improvement thinking into everyday life.