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Hadiza Abubakar

@deezah_abu

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⭐️Co-founder: @grantmatchr | @bwen_wales
⭐️Founder: @deezahbotanica
⭐️ AI • Business Strategy • Comms Strategist
🎤 Speaker | Community Builder

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Guess who’s going to Ideas Fest?! 🎉✨I’ve been awarded a Starling Ideas By Her Scholarship to Ideas Fest 2026 — 9–10 September at Champneys, Tring! 🙌🏾As a woman building a tech startup here in Wales, opportunities like this are gold. Two days of ideas, founders, and inspiration, and I’m bringing it all back to what we’re building with @grantmatchr. 💙And honestly, it’s already started cos I’ve been connecting with the most amazing female founders in the WhatsApp group. Can’t wait to meet you all in person! 🥰Massive thank you to @starlingbank and the @ideas_fest for opening this door. 🤍Who else will be there? Drop a comment — let’s link up! 👇🏾#IdeasFest #IdeasByHer #StarlingBank #WomenInTech #FemaleFounder WelshBusiness by @deezah_abu

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5 days ago

Spent the weekend hitting the reset button with my amazing Swansea family at a breathwork session. When life gets fast-paced, it’s so easy to live entirely in our heads, making us stressed and can sometimes lead to burn out. Taking an hour to step away from the screens, lay down in a cozy space, and just turn inward with the people who anchor you is unmatched.It’s amazing how much clarity comes when you just give yourself permission to pause and breathe.A massive thank you to Liz of @hypnotic.breathwork for holding such a peaceful space for us to recharge. 🤍How do you hit the reset button when stressed?Would you like to join me for a session next time?#breathwork #Mindfulness #WeekendReset #selfcarejourney❤️ by @deezah_abu

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17 days ago

I travelled to Birmingham recently for a meeting between the UNITY Staff Networking Group at the DVLA and the PSG group within the Department for Transport.And honestly?It reminded me how powerful strategic communication can be when it is done well.As Communications Officer for UNITY, one thing I deeply appreciated was learning how different teams approach:* stakeholder engagement,* internal communications,* inclusive messaging,* and sustainable impact within organisational policies.One lesson stood out to me:You cannot create meaningful inclusion initiatives without understanding how to communicate across different audiences, priorities, and institutional boundaries.The meeting gave me fresh ideas on how we can strengthen visibility, engagement, and impact for minority ethnic colleagues while still aligning with agency objectives.Sometimes growth comes from simply being in the right rooms and listening carefully. by @deezah_abu

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2 months ago

Had the best and most relaxed 2 days I’ve had in a while last week, at the @enterprise_swanuni WeInnovate retreat, for the cohort members that made it to Phase 2 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 The retreat was put together by the amazing duo of @she_thrivescollective 🥰🥰Our activities went from masterclasses on how to prepare our minds to think and become the amazing founders we are looking to be, to activities that actually relaxed our minds, body and soul 🧘🏽‍♀️🧘🏽‍♀️🧘🏽‍♀️We had so much fun, I didn’t want it to end 🥹🥹🥹#businessretreat #gowerretreat #shethrivescollective #businessinwales #swanseauniversity by @deezah_abu

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3 months ago

Nobody tells you the loneliest part of entrepreneurship isn’t the risk, it’s being the only one in the room who looks like you.When I moved to Wales, I went looking for my people. A community of women founders who shared my background. Who understood the weight of building something while navigating race, culture, and the distance from everything you once knew.I couldn’t find one.So I built it.@bwen_wales didn’t start with a polished business plan. It started on a random Tuesday afternoon in a room full of brilliant women who were all doing extraordinary things, in total isolation. Building quietly. Not even realising the woman in the next street was carrying the exact same weight.Here’s what that taught me:You don’t just need a mentor or a spreadsheet. You need to see yourself reflected in the room. You need to know you’re not an outlier, you’re evidence that it’s possible.That “You Belong Here” energy is the heartbeat of everything I do now. It’s baked into @grantmatchr It’s how I carry myself in rooms where I’m the only one. And it’s why I show up for every woman building without a roadmap.If that’s you, I see you. You’re not doing this alone anymore.Tag a woman founder who needs to hear “you belong here” today. by @deezah_abu

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5 months ago

What an incredible experience attending the @eva_awards Awards information event at the Cardiff Marriott.Being part of the panel discussion on women in business was such a meaningful moment for me. Sitting alongside inspiring women such as @sarahepsom.insta @snoapuk @maxinelaceby of @absolutecollagen having honest conversations about the realities women face in business, and contributing to that room felt both humbling and empowering.If I’m honest, I was nervous at first. But once the conversation started, I settled in and truly enjoyed every minute of it. It was a reminder that sometimes the rooms that stretch us are also the rooms that shape us.What made the event even more special was hearing from the incredible speakers and founders who shared their journeys so openly. Each woman brought something different, but their words carried real weight and stayed with me:“Just don’t quit.” — Lucy Cohen, MazumaA simple but powerful reminder that persistence matters, especially on the days when the journey feels heavy.“Trust your guts to take the risk.” — Katie Summers, The Mellow CompanySuch an important reminder that sometimes growth begins the moment you stop waiting for perfect certainty.“Don’t clip your wings because people don’t understand you anymore.” — Julianna Woods, The Mellow CompanyThis one really stayed with me. Sometimes the very thing that makes you different is the very thing that makes your vision powerful.The honesty, determination, and resilience in that room were impossible to ignore. It was inspiring to hear from women who have built incredible businesses and who continue to push forward, grow, and lead with courage.I left feeling grateful, encouraged, and even more committed to creating and supporting spaces where women can be seen, heard, and reminded that they belong in every room they step into.A huge thank you to the organisers for creating such a thoughtful and impactful event and to the amazing women I had the privilege of learning from and sharing space with. 🤍 by @deezah_abu

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5 months ago

98% of UK business owners have NEVER applied for a grant. 🤯When we surveyed 242 founders, I expected a mixed bag. I didn’t expect near-unanimity. But the real shock is, I recognised myself in every single “why”:❌ “I didn’t think I’d qualify.”❌ “I didn’t know where to start.”❌ “I didn’t even know they existed for me.”When I launched my first venture in Swansea, I missed out on funding specifically for female founders because I simply didn’t know it was there. By the time I found out, the window had closed.That “missed opportunity” multiplied by 242 is why we’re building GrantMatchr.We’re still building, but I want to hear from you, If you’ve ever applied for a grant, what was the biggest “wall” for you?Let’s chat in the comments. 👇#GrantMatchr #ukentrepreneurs #walesbusiness #femalefounders by @deezah_abu

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5 months ago

So pleased to share that I’ll be joining the panel for the EVAS Information Event in Cardiff on Tuesday, 24 February.Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about supporting Black women entrepreneurs through BWEN Wales. I’m looking forward to joining my fellow panelists to dive into the real challenges women in business are navigating today and, more importantly, how we can find collective solutions to overcome them.It’s going to be an insightful session with amazing speakers Lucy Cohen Julianna Woods Katie Summers and very insightful panel Maxine Laceby Sarah Epsom Lisa Hicks I hope to see some you there as spaces like this helps with recognition and connection. So up your 2026 networking game and be sure to attend! 🥰 The morning session is absolutely free🥰 Upgrade to a full day including lunch and panel discussions Comment CARDIFF so I can send you the link#evas2026 #womeninbusines #BWENWales #cardiff by @deezah_abu

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5 months ago

2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for UK funding! 🚀 Whether you’re a startup, a growing SME, or a CIC making a social impact, there’s money on the table to help you scale.Checkout 5 key grants you should have on your radar right now:1️⃣ Innovate UK: For the R&D trailblazers.2️⃣ Growth Catalyst: For high-growth SMEs ready to level up.3️⃣ UKSPF Local Grants: Funding for high-street and green projects via your local council.4️⃣ Government ‘Find a Grant’: The ultimate central search engine for SMEs and Social Enterprises.5️⃣ UnLtd & Social Enterprise Grants: Essential support for impact-driven founders.💡 Stop scrolling and start applying. Finding the right grant is half the battle, knowing if your business is a fit, is the important part.Comment ‘LINK’ so I can send you the link to get started. #UKBusiness #SmallBizUK #GrantFunding #CIC #entrepreneurlife by @deezah_abu

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6 months ago

Securing a grant feels like winning the lottery, but it’s actually more like a high-stakes science experiment. You can have the best “ingredients” (your idea), but if your methodology is off, the whole thing goes up in smoke. Running a CIC, I have seen myself and dozens of founders pour 40+ hours into applications only to get rejected, I noticed a pattern. Here are the 3 biggest pitfalls and how to avoid them:1️⃣ The “Square Peg, Round Hole” Syndrome• Common Mistake: Applying for a £100k “Green Tech” grant when you’re a FinTech app.• The Reality: Reviewers spot “mission creep” instantly. If you don’t fit the criteria 100%, you’re out before page 2.• The Fix: Treat guidelines like a sacred text. If you don’t fit, move on. Your time is better spent on a smaller, relevant grant.2️⃣ Death by Jargon• Common Mistake: Using big terms like “synergistic AI-driven neural-layer optimisation.”• The Reality: If a reviewer has to Google or use a dictionary for every third word, they’ll lose interest. If they can’t understand it, they won’t fund it.• The Fix: Use the “Grandma Test.” Explain your tech in such a way that smart non-expert can repeat it back to you.3️⃣ The “Trust Me, Bro” Budget• Common Mistake: Round numbers like “Development: £50k.”• The Reality: Grants are public/philanthropic money. So vague numbers = high risk.• The Fix: Get granular. Use real quotes and line items (e.g., “Senior Dev - 6 months - £35k”).With all being said, I hope I have been able to convince and not confuse you 🤭🤭 that, getting grants aren’t about being the smartest person in the room, but about being the most aligned, clear, and prepared.So, which of these have you struggled with? Or do you have a grant “horror story” to share? Let’s swap notes in the comments 👇🏽#ukstartups #grantfunding #ukgrants #founders #businessgrowth by @deezah_abu

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

Remember how we discussed increasing our capacity in the last post? 🥂If one of the ways you’d like to increase your capacity in 2026 is by starting a business, you don’t have to do it alone. The best businesses are built with strategic support, expert guidance, and a community cheering you on.Forget feeling overwhelmed or like you’re guessing every step of the way. I’ve curated a list of organisations across the UK that offer FREE or low-cost support to help you get started on the right footing. 🇬🇧Swipe to see who can help you start that dream idea you have.Which region are you building in? Drop your city below and let’s find your local hub!#uksmallbiz #startup2026 #entrepreneurship #businesssupport #femalefounder by @deezah_abu

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7 months ago