There’s something powerful about bringing people together in the same room for the first time.
Last Saturday, the Data Equity Incubator held its first in-person session in partnership with Bright Red Triangle, welcoming participants from our online cohort and wider community for a morning of connection, ideas, and shared ambition.
At the centre of the session was one of our cohort members, Sarah Aoki.
Sarah has been part of the online programme as she explores how to turn her ideas into a data-informed venture. Like many in the cohort, she is building step by step using data, AI, and entrepreneurial thinking to shape something meaningful and practical.
What stood out during the session was not just the idea she is developing, but the way she approaches it — with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn through collaboration. In a space filled with other aspiring founders, those conversations and exchanges added real depth to the experience.
Moving from an online cohort to an in-person setting changed the energy completely. Ideas became more tangible, discussions became more fluid, and participants were able to connect not just with the content, but with each other. It created a supportive environment where questions were encouraged, perspectives were shared freely, and early-stage ideas could begin to take shape with more clarity.
The session also welcomed members of the wider community, creating an inclusive space where ethnic minority women could come together to explore entrepreneurship, data, and AI in a relaxed and supportive setting. With children welcome and an open atmosphere, it reflected what inclusive innovation should look like in practice accessible, human, and grounded in real experience.
This is just the beginning of the journey. The incubator will continue with upcoming sessions featuring Bayile Adeoti on 9th May and Miriam Hussain on 30th May, each designed to support participants as they refine their ideas, build confidence, and develop their ventures.
At its core, the Data Equity Incubator is about creating space space for ideas, space for learning, and space for women to see themselves as founders and leaders in the data and AI economy. And with this cohort, that journey is already well underway.
