Women in Innovation - Claire Spencer

In October last year I was selected by Innovate UK to go on a trade mission for female entrepreneurs working in Tech. Wow, I never thought I’d be a female entrepreneur in tech but that’s my journey.

I’m a lawyer by trade. The idea of developing software was a total no-no for me.

I was the group head of compliance for a large company and we were having issues in regards to data privacy in our organisation. People were making mistakes. So I went out to the market to look for a piece of software that could solve that problem for our company.

Why shouldn't I solve that problem and I met somebody who had the skills that I was missing and that’s why at the end of my MBA I decided to create the DataSolver brand and develop our software.

You know when you've been working on a product or a company for 18 months and somebody goes, yes I get it, I don't only get it, I want to buy it, and I want to introduce you to other people.

We’ve put our heart and soul into this business so getting those yeses means an awful lot.

This Christmas one of our first investors gave us a survival kit. When I saw that little bottle of Champaign I knew the moment that I was going to keep it for and that moment is the point when we actually have our first software invoice paid which should be in the next couple of weeks.

I think for women to believe that they can take this route they need to see role models around them, role models that are real and credible to them and I think Innovate UK has a great role in promoting women entrepreneurs.

My advice to female entrepreneurs or potential female entrepreneurs is actually to believe in yourself and if that nagging doubt is about, do I have the skills to do it, go and get those skills so you've got the confidence to do it.

[kirksteadoldmillcottagebb]

This presentation was a useful introduction to the application process for a grant that I have to complete in only two days.