Women innovators

SIR – Your Women Mean Business campaign (Letters, March 8) draws attention to a crucial issue for Britain’s future.

We cannot afford to leave half of our talent pool untapped. The lack of women involved in building startups should be of grave concern to business and political leaders.

Imperial College London educates some of the world’s brightest women in science, engineering, medicine and business. It would be a tragic waste if their entrepreneurial ambitions were stifled at the earliest stage.

That is why we launched the Weinnovate programme. Female students are exposed to mentoring and workshops as their innovative ideas come to life, and enter a Dragon’s Den-style competition to win financial support for their fledgling businesses.

Although only some win funding, it is striking how many more go on to receive independent investment and build successful businesses. For example, Christina Petersen has secured tens of thousands of pounds for Lys: a wearable technology for managing the impact of artificial light on the user’s health and well-being.

Inspirational role models and a modest nudge in the right direction can have a major impact, not just on our most promising young minds, but for the future of British innovation. Professor Alice Gast

President, Imperial College London