As December draws to a close and we approach the new year, we wanted to take a moment to say thank you. The genuine, heartfelt kind that comes from watching something truly special unfold.
This year, you've shown us what's possible when innovative minds come together. You've launched businesses, secured funding, navigated complex visa applications, celebrated wins, and picked yourselves up after setbacks. You've attended webinars at 10am on Wednesday mornings, shared advice in our WhatsApp group at midnight, and turned up for each other in ways that have genuinely moved us.
We've witnessed incredible milestones across our community. From Ziyad Buainain winning the Evening Wear Prize at the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards in front of judges like Christian Louboutin and receiving his award from Queen Latifah, to Will Wise launching CancerBae Classic and turning a stage four cancer diagnosis into a movement that's reshaping youth sport in the UK. These aren't just success stories we're sharing because they sound good; they're real achievements from real people in our community, and they represent the kind of impact we knew was possible when we started this journey.
Behind every story we've featured, every webinar we've hosted, and every partnership we've announced, there's been you. The international entrepreneurs who chose the UK as the place to build something meaningful. The founders who didn't just want business support but wanted to be part of something bigger: a genuine community of people who understand the unique challenges of building a business in a new country.
This year, we've expanded our support network significantly. Our partnerships with HSBC and Sales Geek came to life because we listened to what you needed most: better access to banking and the skills to turn innovative ideas into actual revenue. We've hosted sessions on everything from intellectual property strategy to preparing for your next visa application, all because these are the topics keeping you up at night, and we wanted to help you sleep a bit easier.
We've also learned from you. Your questions have shaped our webinars. Your challenges have influenced the partnerships we've pursued. Your feedback has made us better at what we do. That's what real community looks like. It's not just us providing resources and you receiving them. It's a genuine exchange where everyone contributes and everyone benefits.
As we head into this festive season, we want you to know that whether you celebrate Christmas, another holiday, or simply appreciate some well-earned downtime, you've absolutely earned this break. Building a business is relentless. Doing it in a new country adds another layer of complexity. Navigating visa requirements while trying to focus on growth is genuinely demanding. So please, step away from the spreadsheets, close the laptop a bit earlier, and give yourself permission to rest.
Take time with your loved ones, whether they're here in the UK with you or you're connecting with them across time zones. Enjoy the quieter pace of late December when the UK essentially puts up an "out of office" sign. Watch the terrible Christmas TV, brave a Christmas market or two.
And if you don't celebrate Christmas at all, we hope you're able to find some downtime in your own way. The principle is the same: you've worked incredibly hard this year, and rest isn't optional, it's essential.
Looking ahead to 2026, we're excited about what's coming. Not just the big announcements and new partnerships, but the everyday magic that happens in our community. The introduction in our WhatsApp group that leads to a collaboration. The webinar attendee who asks exactly the question everyone else was thinking. The founder who reaches out for support and ends up providing support to someone else a few weeks later.
Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for your trust, your participation, your questions, your feedback, and your willingness to support fellow founders even when you're facing your own challenges. You make Innovator Pulse what it is, and we're genuinely grateful to have you here.
From everyone at Innovator International, we wish you a peaceful festive season, genuine rest, time with the people who matter most, and a 2026 that brings you closer to your goals, whatever they might be.
We'll see you in the new year, ready to support your next chapter.
With gratitude and warm wishes,
The Innovator International Team
