Hatch Enterprise names Rebekah Sun as new CEO

Hatch Enterprise, a national charity that supports underrepresented entrepreneurs to launch and grow businesses in the UK, has appointed Rebekah Sun as its first female CEO, starting September 2025.

Having held leadership positions since 2021 and currently Hatch Enterprise’s Managing Director, Sun will succeed Dirk Bischof, who steps down after founding and leading the charity for the past 12 years.

During Bischof’s tenure, Hatch Enterprise has been recognised as one of Europe’s leading startup hubs by the Financial Times and voted as one of the top 100 social enterprises in the UK for seven years running. Most recently, the charity was recognised for its outstanding startup support from Startups Magazine's the Hustle Awards, and won a further award for its social impact from the UnderOne Awards 2025. Since 2013, it has supported more than 10,000 founders across the UK with business support, mentoring and coaching and, in more recent years, grants and funding opportunities. The charity has awarded more than £1 million in funding to underrepresented founders over the last three years.

As the new leader of the organisation, Sun will build on Bischof’s work, creating and implementing a bold new strategy that looks to deepen the charity’s impact and ensure it remains responsive to the evolving needs of underrepresented UK founders. Sun aims to support a further 5,000 founders over the next five years, further securing Hatch Enterprise’s position as the UK’s leading entrepreneur support charity by 2030.

Looking ahead, Sun is keen to build on existing business support programmes for the UK’s underrepresented founders, while exploring new partnerships and collaborations to sustain and scale Hatch Enterprise’s work.

Rebekah Sun says: “The charity has always believed in the potential of both the underrepresented founders we support and the staff who work here. I’m thrilled about being able to lead such a dedicated, talented team. There’s already a strong foundation in place, and I am excited to take us forward in a way that’s sustainable and creative, but responsive to what UK founders need most.’

“As a woman and a mother from a mixed ethnic background, I understand how important representation is and why it’s important it is for us to continue identifying and removing  barriers in society. Everyone has potential, but not everyone gets the same opportunity to realise it. As the charity has matured, our mission hasn’t changed. A key focus is making sure we’re fit for the future, resilient and able to adapt to a shifting external environment so we can continue delivering high-quality business support to those who need it most.”

Dirk Bischof, outgoing Chief Executive of Hatch Enterprise, says: “I’m immensely proud of what Hatch Enterprise has achieved over the past 12 years and seeing thousands of entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses has been a privilege. I got to work with so many passionate, smart, creative people and I’ve learned so much from them. Together, we built something much bigger than a charity, we created a vibrant community of founders, mentors, coaches, and partners committed to unlocking potential. As I step away, I do so with confidence knowing that under Rebekah’s leadership, Hatch is poised to support even more founders to thrive in the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”

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