City Girl Network Founder listed in the UK’s Top Female Entrepreneurs of 2024

The Founder of our community, Pippa Moyle, has been listed in the top 100 most inspiring female entrepreneurs of 2024. Pippa, 31, started the City Girl Network in 2016 with ‘Brighton Girl’, to help women find friends and feel more connected to the city. The success of Brighton Girl spread across the UK and the City Girl Network now has 18 communities with over 120,000 members. She is now part of this year’s f:entrepreneur 100 campaign run by Small Business Britain, celebrating the growth of female entrepreneurship since 2017.

We’re handing over the reigns of this article to her, so that you can hear what this really means from her point of view.

Photography by Holly Abigail

The City Girl Network was sparked by one simple wish: to belong. Most specifically in 2016, I wanted to belong in Brighton – as a resident, as a soya latte buyer, as a professional, as a Brighton Girl.

I had the council tax statements, I had the go-to coffee shop, I had the job, but I didn’t feel like a Brighton Girl. The girl who can recommend the best yoga classes, nail salons, estate agents, companies to work for and cool events in the city. And, most notably at the time, the girl with local friends to hang out with.

I realised what I was missing whilst walking along Hove Promenade and saw a girl looking out to sea. I wondered if she felt like I felt. I wondered how many others did. And, a few thoughts later, Brighton Girl was born.

The rest, as they say, is history – with a book’s-worth of lessons and anecdotes.

I have found a profound sense of belonging in our local communities across the UK. But I have always shied away from searching for belonging in the nationwide entrepreneurial community. Until today.

Photography by Olivia Brytz

There’s a lot of literature out there about being an entrepreneur. It’s empowering, it’s inspiring, but it’s also a real test of self-worth. Being an entrepreneur isn’t a job title that’s given to you by a HR department, it’s a self-appointed declaration that your idea is worth investing in. I’m not just talking about SEIS and rounds of funding, but the time and energy you’re asking people to put into the idea and - most notably - you.

I have never faltered in my belief that the City Girl Network can make a true impact on society. I have seen the direct results – a reduction in loneliness, funds directed towards companies endorsed by City Girl, and women choosing to remain in the city because of our efforts. I love our story and proudly share it with anyone who wants to listen.

But it’s when people say “oh wow, YOU started that?!” that I suddenly become a little quiet. I’m a very confident speaker for our mission, but I’ve wavered in confidence when it comes to myself.

There are reasons for it, of course. I started this business at 24 and was met with so much scepticism – I was too young, too female and too broke to run a successful business. There’s only so much resilience one can muster when you’re hearing that from people with business qualifications.

It took me until the lockdown to realise that the people crushing my confidence weren’t actually the people who inspired me. And that the people encouraging me were the true role models I should have given far more air time to.

Pippa and her dog, Scruffy, by Phoebe Wrapson

Fast forward to 2023, aged 30, I spent International Women’s Day hosting a City Girl Network event in Manchester with an incredible group of women. I travelled home with the pivotal realisation that there was a lot of potential I wasn’t stepping into because I didn’t think I was worthy enough. And it was having a direct impact on the potential on the City Girl Network too.

It’s from there that I decided to change. A journey that I’ll share another day.

I applied for f:entrepreneur’s #ialso100 to unlock opportunities for the business and grow as an entrepreneur. It’s a true career highlight to have been listed in the top 100 UK female entrepreneurs for 2024. It’s also given me the confidence to whole-heartedly say that I belong in the entrepreneurial community.

I’ll be sharing more about my entrepreneurial journey and day-to-day madness on my Instagram (@pippacitygirl) and on LinkedIn. More in-depth articles on building and growing the City Girl Network will be shared on our website.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported and encouraged me on this wild ride.

 For the full line-up of this year’s #ialso100 campaign visit f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-100-2024/.