NATWEST ACCELERATOR ENTREPRENEUR OF THE MONTH

NATWEST ACCELERATOR ENTREPRENEUR OF THE MONTH JOIN THE HIPE

Half French, half English and educated to a Masters in Applied linguistics, I always knew that I wanted to work in Languages. After a couple of years at Uni in France doing Philosophy, I decided to continue my studies in the UK and moved to Bristol where I did European Studies and Languages. As my son was born during the second year, I finished my course via Open University, took a CELTA and started teaching in Brighton which has been one of my homes for the past 19 years.

When my son was 11 I wanted him to become truly bilingual and moved back to France. I took this opportunity to start my first business: teaching English to French executives. Unfortunately my son really missed England. He went back to the UK and I started my incredible new life: one week in France and one in England. In order to fit my work around my lifestyle, I moved all my clients online, teaching via Skype.

Having won a top prize for her revolutionary idea, the founder of HiPe Kids tells us of her journey. By Carmina Catena

While in France I also started working for Cambridge English as a consultant, and going to school to speak to teachers and parents, it became very apparent that the need for learning English was not for adults but children. In 2018 I did a Hackathon and presented my idea: teaching French children online through a communicative and multi-sensory approach using only English native teachers. I won the prize for “most innovative idea” and in August that year, Mehdi, my associate, and I, founded Hipe kids: we had no logo; no business cards, no website! Today we have all of these and 150 clients. We have just finished a small crowdfunding campaign, and we want to start our first round of fundraising.

The biggest challenges for me? I’m not sure. Sometimes I get very nervous about my business. I look at others and think: should I not be making hundreds of thousands by now? Shouldn’t my business be bigger by now? but then the support that I have around me is fantastic. Natwest Entrepreneur has been great (Josh my coach has been fantastic), and the other entrepreneurs are always ready to help. I strongly believe that the key element to a growing business is a positive entourage. I’ve been extremely lucky to have a strong network around me, in the UK and in France. Friends and family are super important, but the business people you surround yourself with, for me, is what makes or breaks the entrepreneur. If I had two pieces of advice to give: start on your pitch deck as soon as possible and perfect your one-minute elevator pitch. Having a clear vision for your business and being able to talk about it is FUNDAMENTAL.

◗ For more information contact Carmina.catena@hipekids.com UK: 07 850 590 181 / FR: 07 70 18 22 73 hipekids.com