Building an algorithm-driven business network in the UK means solving a problem most founders recognise: traditional networking often rewards the loudest voice, not the most relevant connection. Felicity Francis, a Lincolnshire-based entrepreneur, approached this as a design problem. She developed a mathematical matching system to steer attendees towards the people most likely to help their business, rather than leaving introductions to chance.
The result is Talk Networking, a women-led business network launched in Stamford in 2010 and later rebuilt around algorithmic introductions. Its model combines structured agendas, rotating breakout rooms and data-driven pairing. The aim is to create long-term commercial relationships rather than a stack of business cards.
Francis’s story matters because women remain underrepresented in UK entrepreneurship. The 2019 Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship found that only one in three UK entrepreneurs is female, and women-led businesses contribute an estimated £85 billion to the UK economy. We spoke to Francis about how she developed the concept, the barriers she faced as a woman building a tech product, and what her experience can teach other women-led businesses in 2026.
How an algorithm-driven business network works
Talk Networking began as a face-to-face group in Stamford, Lincolnshire in 2010. Francis wanted a format that was structured enough to be productive but informal enough to feel natural. It grew steadily as local businesses saw results from the format.
When the pandemic forced events online in 2020, she had to replicate that success virtually. Rather than simply moving to video calls, she designed a bespoke system that uses mathematical algorithms to maximise engagement and return on investment for every attendee. The technology ensures that no two people are paired repeatedly and that each conversation has a clear purpose.
The approach addresses a real gap. The Department for Business and Trade’s Business Population Estimates 2024 report that there were 5.6 million UK private sector businesses at the start of 2024, and 99.9 per cent of them are SMEs. For most of those businesses, networking is still one of the main ways to win work.
The challenges Francis faced as a tech founder
Creating the algorithm was not the hardest part. Francis approached the problem systematically, breaking human interaction down into its simplest parts so she could build a formula that enhances the standard networking meeting and helps every business get more meaningful interactions.
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, the system is designed to improve your experience and ensure everyone gets a similar level of engagement. That matters, because traditional networking often favours the loudest voice in the room.
The biggest challenge was turning the idea into a reality. As a woman in tech, Francis encountered the same funding bias that many women founders report. According to the British Business Bank’s Small Business Equity Tracker 2024, all-women founder teams received just 2.4 per cent of UK equity investment, while all-male teams received 85.4 per cent. You can read more about this in our guide to the women founder VC funding gap.
Building the right team was also difficult. No founder can do everything, and finding people with the right mix of technical and commercial skills was a steep learning curve. You are reliant on others delivering what they promise, so choosing the right partners was critical.
Looking back, the setbacks were useful in their own way. They made her more determined and built the resilience needed to keep refining the technology.
The high points of building Talk Networking
Taking Talk Networking live was a real milestone. Many business owners had told Francis they found virtual networking faceless and disconnected. Seeing people make genuine connections and enjoy networking again was hugely rewarding.
The feedback showed the technology was doing exactly what it was designed to do, at a time when UK SMEs need efficient ways to build commercial relationships.
How Francis found funding for the project
At first, the project was self-funded. Once Francis had a proven concept, she explored grant funding from regional business growth programmes. That support was invaluable for raising brand awareness and reaching new audiences.
Grants remain a practical option for women-led businesses that are not yet ready for equity investment. They allow you to test and scale an idea while retaining control, which is particularly valuable in the early stages. Current options include business grants for women in the UK, Innovate UK funding, and regional growth programmes.
Three lessons from Francis’s founder journey
Francis’s lessons reflect a wider pattern among UK women founders, who operate in a market where the British Business Bank reports all-women founder teams received just 2.4 per cent of UK equity investment in 2024.
- Get a good team around you. As you grow, you cannot do everything yourself, so you need talented people who can help turn your vision into reality.
- Never give in. Perseverance matters. If you are willing to work hard and you have a sound idea, it will eventually pay off.
- Do not be afraid to question the norm. Just because something has always been done a certain way does not mean it is the best way. Simple solutions to everyday problems are often the most innovative.
The advice Francis wishes she had heard
Francis says she wishes someone had told her that it will all work out in the end. When you are juggling the many moving parts of setting up a tech company, it can feel overwhelming. Some things are outside your control, and you just need the strength to keep going and trust that the effort will be worth it.
This mindset is particularly useful in the UK startup ecosystem, where women founders still face disproportionate barriers to funding and visibility.
What is next for Talk Networking
The model Francis developed remains relevant because the underlying problem has not changed. With the Department for Business and Trade’s Business Population Estimates 2024 reporting 5.6 million UK private sector businesses at the start of 2024, and 99.9 per cent of them classed as SMEs, supporting their growth is essential to the wider economy. Many business practices, including networking, have barely changed in decades. The opportunity for founders who can make those practices more productive is significant.
For women founders building an algorithm-driven business network or any tech product in 2026, the lesson is clear: solve a problem you understand, use data to prove it works, and do not let outdated funding patterns dictate your pace.
Action steps for women-led businesses
- Audit your current networking. Are you meeting the right people, or just more people?
- Look at women in business networks in the UK that match your sector and stage.
- Explore grant funding through Innovate UK and regional growth hubs before considering equity.
- Track one metric that proves your networking is delivering value, such as follow-up meetings won or revenue attributed to introductions.
