Fishburners launches The Ascent Project to back women founders

Fishburners is addressing the women founder funding gap with a free program to help them succeed.

The pioneering startup coworking space has collaborated with more than 30 organisations, from venture funds to corporates, to launch The Ascent Project, a free, on-demand program to support, inspire and inform women, and tackle structural gaps in clarity and access to raise capital.

Fishburners CEO Majella Campbell said that unlike accelerators or short-term programs, Ascent is a year-round funding infrastructure model built on two pillars:

1. Funding education program

This is a free, on-demand education program that gives founders a clear understanding of the entire funding system — venture capital, angel investment, grants, corporate partnerships, revenue-based finance and alternative pathways.

“It doesn’t just tell founders what to do. It shows them how to execute each part of a raise successfully,” Campbell said.

“Each module is written by experts from the partner network, providing founders with the practical steps required to run a raise end-to-end, as well as the insights to navigate the funding environment — the expectations, patterns, signals, and decision points that shape outcomes.”

The program delivers step-by-step guidance, tools and context designed to help founders actually succeed in their raise, not just understand the theory behind it.

2. Connection & access

This a coordinated national stream of events, warm introductions and expert initiatives that connect women founders with the people who materially influence funding outcomes — investors, lawyers, operators, advisors, corporates and ecosystem leaders.

It expands access by creating new rooms, pathways, and opportunities for women-led companies to be seen, supported, resourced, and backed by the right people around them to execute their raise well.

Campbell said the initiative is designed to close gaps in access, clarity, visibility, and investor alignment — areas consistently identified as barriers for women seeking capital.

“The funding gap isn’t about capability. Women are building strong, investible companies. The issue is that the funding environment hasn’t been built to recognise many of the signals those companies produce,” she said.

“When founders don’t get clarity or access, it becomes incredibly difficult to drive the right conversations, leaving far too many good businesses to be overlooked. The Ascent Project gives women a clear view of the whole funding landscape and the tools to move through it on their terms.”

“The gap won’t close without structural alignment. Our partners know this, and they know the opportunity that exists when women are backed properly. Ascent unites that shared understanding and directs it toward real action, not rhetoric.”

National alignment

Partner organisations, including Airtree, Tractor Ventures, OneVentures, Tidal, Touch Ventures, Side Stage, Techstars, and Birchal, say the model brings long-needed structure to a historically fragmented landscape.

“Reporting and transparency are essential if we want real progress,” said Equity Clear’s Noga Edelstein, from Ascent’s national reporting partner.

“For the first time, we’ll be able to measure where capital is flowing, who is being funded, and where gaps remain. Data drives accountability and positive change.”

What founders get

From early 2026, women founders will have access to:

- Free, on-demand education modules built by investors, advisors and operators
- Curated introductions to funders and partners
- National visibility opportunities across the 30-partner network
- Practical, stage-specific tools for valuations, capital strategy, and investor engagement
- A constantly evolving set of resources shaped by funders themselves

Fishburners head of ecosystem Imogen Jones said the initiative is deliberately open-access, removing cost, geography, and cohort timing barriers that typically restrict entry into the funding ecosystem.

“The Ascent Project and the ecosystem will walk alongside founders as they run the raise and move into post-raise growth,” she said.

Why now matters

With capital markets tightening and women-led startups facing ongoing barriers to accessing funding, Jones said this is the moment for coordinated intervention.

“Ascent exists so women founders can understand the different dynamics of the environment they’re operating in, navigate it effectively, and build companies without unnecessary friction,” she said.

“It’s well overdue, and we’re incredibly proud to be leading this initiative alongside so many incredible partners”

Diving in

The Ascent Project is available in early 2026 at no cost to women founders nationwide.

Founders, partners, and ecosystem organisations can access the platform and initial modules early 2026, with additional partner-led resources and reporting milestones set to roll out through 2026.