Every early-stage founder hits the same wall: you need a great team to get off the ground, but the cash to hire one only arrives after you've proven the idea. My brother knew that wall well. An experienced entrepreneur, he always had vision but was often told he was "too early" for investment.

He'd solved this conundrum before, though. His previous venture was built on sweat equity — a team who worked for a share of the business instead of a salary.

When he came to me with Sweqlink, he wasn't after my money. He wanted my skills, my experience and my time, in exchange for a stake in what we'd build. That was the moment I understood sweat equity: investing talent for ownership. I became Sweqlink's first talent investor, and two more soon joined us, each backing the idea with their time instead of cash.

We realised this solves a problem on both sides. Founders get the team they can't yet pay for. Skilled professionals (fractional execs, freelancers and career-changers who want a stake in something, not just a salary) get a route into wealth creation and entrepreneurship normally reserved for founders and investors. Sweat equity is the bridge between startups and talent, and Sweqlink makes that bridge work with clarity and trust.

Today more than 700 people have joined us to build that new way forward.

In 2025, we were awarded the prestigious Women In Innovation Award from Innovate UK.

About the award

“The Women in Innovation programme is a powerful catalyst for change, not just for the brilliant women entrepreneurs it supports, but for the entire UK innovation landscape. By breaking down barriers and amplifying diverse voices, Innovate UK are fostering a more inclusive and dynamic ecosystem that drives progress across all sectors. This programme is about more than funding – it's about creating role models, building networks, and inspiring the next generation of women innovators to dream big and transform our world." 

Dr Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK