French Cohort
Join the program as a volunteer mentor

days to apply

Apply to the program

Empower Your Business with Expert Guidance

The Forward Collective Program is a transformative 6-month entrepreneurship program designed to turn your financial health solution into a sustainable enterprise. You will gain access to invaluable resources, one-on-one mentorship from MetLife experts, and a community built to amplify your impact.

Supported by
MetLife Foundation

Start the application now!
Free entrepreneurship program
Apply before:
Days
Hours
Min.
Applications open until February 12, 2026
Online
United Kingdom
6 months
Apply to the program

A program designed to unleash the potential of your business!

Dynamic Community

Forge lifelong relationships within a network of purpose-driven professionals committed to support financial health solutions.

Mentorship

Receive 1:1 strategic mentoring from a professional network of MetLife employee experts and Bridge for Billions specialists. Their collective expertise will help you validate your ideas, structure your processes, and ensure accountability for growth.

Investment Readiness

Master financial planning, strengthen your business model, and perfect your pitch. Refine your presentation skills for our final online Demo Day, where you’ll present your business to a jury and public.

About the Forward Collective Program

In partnership with MetLife Foundation, we are dedicated to supporting early-stage founders to thrive. Our program specifically targets businesses in inclusive financial health, inclusion, and community resilience sectors, helping them build lasting, scalable impact.
 
This initiative offers tailored mentoring, practical tools, and a powerful network to the next generation of inclusive innovators in the UK, all focused on closing financial gaps for underserved groups.
 
Ready to break barriers and grow?
Apply now

What will you learn during the program?

Discover how to make your business unique, and how to attract more customers.

Learn how to calculate your costs and price points, to drive your profits and growth.​

Master the best way to communicate and promote your business.

Aquire skills to calculate your business finances for the next 3 years, so you can can make more informed decisions.​​

Uncover how your business can positively impact your community, and attract collaborators and investors.

Strategize to to expand your business, scale your operations and attract new customers.

Do you have questions about the programme?

To learn more or resolve any doubts you may have, we organise online information sessions. Choose the time and day that suits you best and meet our team.

Join the info session

This program is perfect for you if...

  • You’re a founder in the pre-growth or early revenue stage (operating between 6 months and 3 years) motivated to scale up your business
  • You live and your business primarily operates in the UK
  • Your business focuses on financial health and other key areas such as: economic stability, education, community resilience, mental wellbeing, inclusive housing, climate sustainability.
  • You can dedicate 6–8 focused hours per week throughout the entire 6-month program period to maximize your progress
  • You have access to a computer and a stable internet connection.
Apply to join the program

How to apply to the program?

Create your profile

1

Start by clicking on the “Apply now” button.

Fill in your personal information to set up an account on our platform.

Remember your email and password for future access.

2

Complete all sections

Work at your own pace through all sections of the application.

Once completed, all the checkmarks at the top will turn blue, indicating that you’re ready to submit.

Note: An asterisk “*” next to the question indicates that the field is required.

Submit your application and await further news

3

 We recommend that you review your application in detail one last time. If you’re good to go, click “Submit” in the lower right corner.

Make sure to submit your application by February 12, 2026.

Our team will be in touch with a notification about the status of your application.

Apply now

Apply before:

Days
Hours
Minutes

Submit your application before February 12, 2026

Important dates

Applications
Until February 12, 2026
Start by making a profile on our platform and telling us more about you and your project. After you send in your application, we'll look through all the applicants who are interested in joining program.
Participant announcement
February 17, 2026
We'll carefully review all applications to choose the participants for this edition. If selected, your next step will be to accept your spot in the program!
Welcome session
February 23, 2026
Join us for a welcome session to dive into the details program! We'll introduce you to the program's schedule, your role, and the tools you'll use to develop your business. Don't miss out on this chance to learn more about what lies ahead.
Matching phase
February 24 - March 23, 2026
The matching process begins! You will have the opportunity to meet some of our mentors. Once you have met with them, you and they will submit your preferences to let us know who you wish to work with. We will then try our best to form winning pairs.
Entrepreneurship program
March 23 - July 31, 2026
The online incubation experience begins! From here you'll dive into mentoring sessions, use the practical tools in our digital platform, and follow our entrepreneurship step-by-step plan. You will have 6 months to go through all the modules and develop your business plan. In September 2026 we'll host the final online demo day where top entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their business.

FAQs about the program

See other questions

Contact Us

Meet Bianca, Senior Program Manager for the Forward Collective program at Bridge for Billions.

You can send her an email with any questions you have about the program.

She’ll be happy to hear from you!

Get in touch

This program has been built by

Supported by
MetLife Foundation

For more information, please visit our website

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in Youtube