Stories She Never Told: The Unheard Voices of Female Founders

+ weekly list of handpicked startup events for founders and investors in London

Author

Vasily Alekseenko
March 05, 2025

Stories She Never Told: The Unheard Voices of Female Founders

Every year, during International Women’s Day, the startup world floods with posts about empowerment, breaking barriers, and celebrating female founders. But what happens when the spotlight fades? What about the stories that never get told? The ones that don’t fit neatly into corporate hashtags or staged panel discussions?

At our latest event, Stories She Never Told, we created a space where female founders could finally speak their truth—without filters, without fear. We built an anonymous storytelling booth, giving women the chance to share the things they’d never say out loud.

What we heard was heartbreaking. And real. And raw.

One founder shared how she was told that, as a young Black woman, she shouldn’t be in a leadership position—that she should instead be “lying on a bed with her legs open.” Another woman recalled sitting across from an investor who pretended to care about her business, only to proposition her in a private club. Some spoke of working twice as hard only to be dismissed, underestimated, or outright ignored. Others confessed to feeling completely alone, balancing the impossible act of building a startup while raising a child, sleepless and unsupported.

This is the reality of being a female founder. Not the PR-friendly, girlboss version. The exhausting, isolating, fight-for-every-inch version.

Yes, women are raising capital. Yes, women are breaking barriers. But these successes exist in spite of the obstacles, not because the system is suddenly fair. For every post about a female founder securing funding, there are a hundred others who were dismissed, talked over, underestimated, or blatantly disrespected.

And yet, they keep going.

This project was more than an experiment—it was a mirror reflecting the truth the industry doesn’t want to acknowledge. The voices from Stories She Never Told deserve to be heard, not just this week, but every single day.

To protect anonymity, we used AI-generated avatars and changed the voices, but every single word in these videos is real. These are the exact stories female founders shared with us on the day—only their identities have been protected. The voices may be different, the images not real, but the stories are true.

We’ve compiled these confessions into a short film—one that isn’t polished or sugarcoated but is honest, raw, and deeply important.

Watch the full video here:

Share it. Talk about it. And most importantly, listen.

Because if these stories stay hidden, nothing changes.

RARE FOUNDERS EVENTS🔥

Rare Founders

Startup Run

Bi-weekly 5k running events for anyone in the startup ecosystem, followed by networking drinks in the nearby pub. Same time same, place.

In-person event

Green Park, London, W1J 9DZ, UK

Thu 6 Mar, 18:00 - 21:00 GMT

Rare Founders

Open Mic Pitching and Networking

Our open mic pitching and networking is back until we take a break in April for the demo day. Don’t miss your opportunity to pitch to the audience of 200+ attendees. Tickets are £5, but it includes a drink of your choice from the menu. Literally the cheapest drink in London.

In-person event

Blue Marlin Ibiza London, 45 Curtain Rd, London, EC2A 3PT, UK

Tue 18 Mar, 18:00 - 22:00 GMT

Rare Founders

London’s Largest Demo Day

100 pre-selected founders will get on stage to pitch to the audience of hundreds of investors. Join 30+ founders who secured funding at the last demo day in Oct.

Tickets to attend are FREE. Join the waitlist here.

In-person event

1 Wimpole Street, Westminster, London, W1G 0AE, UK

Mon 14 Apr, 9:00 - 17:00 GMT

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STARTUP OF THE WEEK🐣

onlyfounders

Find Compatible CoFounders for your Startup !

Matchmake with Like Minded CoFounders with OnlyFounders App, The Tinder/Hinge but for connecting with driven & passionate London entrepreneurs + Access to opportunities (Pitch competitions, Public Grants, Accelerators, Mentors etc.)

OTHER LONDON EVENTS🌟

Enterprise Nation

How To stand Out As A Female Start-up Founder

Join this interactive Q&A session features two female founders sharing practical insights on launching and scaling a business, standing out in a crowded market, and leveraging social media for growth. Attendees will gain confidence-boosting tips, networking strategies, and the opportunity to ask their own questions.

Online event

Thu 6 Mar, 12:00 - 12:30 GMT

Enterprise Nation

EOT As A Strategic Exit Option

Join this webinar to explore the key benefits and considerations of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), comparing them to trade sales and outlining the implementation process. Experts will provide insights on budget impacts and important factors to consider, followed by a Q&A session.

Online event

Thu 6 Mar, 13:00 - 14:00 GMT

ULTRA.VC

Why Women And Men Negotiate Differently – And How To Win Together

This powerful even unlocks the science of negotiation, equipping founders, investors, and business leaders with proven strategies to close better deals and lead high-stakes conversations with confidence. Led by a top negotiation and gender bias expert, it will challenge common myths, reveal game-changing tactics, and provide research-backed techniques to help attendees win.

Online event

Thu 6 Mar, 15:00 - 16:00 GMT

Electric Twin

Mind Hacks, Electric Twin Hackathon

Join the hackathon to tackle real-world challenges using machine learning, from combating misinformation in wildlife trafficking and reducing food waste to leveraging AI for teacher workload reduction and analyzing community opposition to housing developments. Develop data-driven solutions to drive meaningful change.

In-person event

Tottenham Court Rd Area, London, UK

Fri 7 Mar 09:00 - 19:00 GMT

Next Big Thing

Women And AI Summit

An AI-focused summit will bring together leading voices in emerging tech to explore how AI impacts business, careers, and personal growth. Featuring expert talks and networking opportunities, the event aims to bridge the gender gap in AI adoption and equip attendees—regardless of technical expertise—with essential insights.

In-person event

6 Pancras Sq, London, N1C 4AG, UK

Fri 7 Mar 10:00 - 13:00 GMT

Enterprise Nation

Helping Female Founders Lead With Confidence

Join this webinar to gain practical tools and strategies to build a distinctive personal brand and step into leadership with confidence. It challenges traditional visibility advice, helping female founders position themselves as industry leaders and amplify their impact.

Online event

Fri 7 Mar, 12:00 - 12:30 GMT

Money Squirrel

Money Squirrel Launch

The Money Squirrel Launch Party marks the success of securing pre-seed funding and launching the product, bringing together accountants, business founders, and influencers to promote financial resilience for SMEs. The event focuses on tackling cash flow challenges and reducing business failure rates.

In-person event

32 London Bridge St, SE1 9SG, UK

Fri 7 Mar, 15:00 - 18:00 GMT

Thousand Faces

Women's Day Alliance

An exclusive event bringing together investors, female founders, and startup ecosystem leaders to celebrate women in investing and entrepreneurship. Featuring pitches from impact-driven startups, investor panels, and networking opportunities, it champions diversity and innovation in venture capital.

Online event

Mon 10 Mar, 13:00 - 15:30 GMT

​First Impact Partners

Climate Tech Co-founder And Angel Matchmaking

Join a major Climate Tech matchmaking event in London, bringing together over 100 ambitious founders, tech professionals, and angel investors to spark collaborations and drive innovation. With a dynamic atmosphere, it offers opportunities to find co-founders, join groundbreaking startups, and invest in solutions tackling global challenges.

In-person event

Park Rd Area, London, UK

Mon 10 Mar, 18:00 - 21:00 GMT

Intercome

AI Startup Meetup

Join this event to see how to build an AI-powered app using Lovable and integrate AI-driven customer support with Intercom—all in just one hour. Enjoy live demos from experts, networking with food and drinks, and a Q&A session to wrap up.

In-person event

211 Old St, London, EC1V 9NR, UK

Tue 11 Mar, 18:00 - 20:00 GMT

Angel Investor Network

Why do 75% of Tech Startups Fail and How to Join the Successful 25%

Ever wondered why most tech startups crash and burn? Join us to discover the secrets of the elusive 25% that make it big!

Online event

Wed 12 Mar, 13:00 - 14:00 GMT

Flowla

Stories Of Women In Revenue: Balancing Expectations, Bias And Success

Join an exclusive roundtable and networking event focused on the experiences of women in revenue leadership, featuring insights, strategies, and personal stories from industry leaders. Attendees will gain practical advice, engage in meaningful discussions, and connect with like-minded professionals in a supportive environment.

In-person event

Charing Cross Area, London, UK

Wed 12 Mar, 17:30 - 20:30 GMT

Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders

Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.

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