Daring voices: Amanda Bell
Welcome to Daring Voices, our series spotlighting the founders in the Daring Capital community. In each edition, we sit down with a founder to hear their journey in their own words: from their origin story, to the challenges they’ve faced, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
This week, we talk to Amanda Bell, founder of Separate Space.
What problem is your business solving, and what inspired you to tackle it?
My name is Amanda, and I’m the founder of Separate Space, a digital platform that helps people navigate divorce and separation. I created it because divorce is complicated, and legal advice is often unaffordable. As a family and divorce lawyer, I’ve seen many people forced to make life-changing decisions without the right guidance, simply because they couldn’t afford ongoing legal support. This leads to unfair outcomes, both financially and emotionally. Separate Space was built to offer a better, more accessible solution.
Why does solving this problem matter to you personally?
It became personal when people close to me went through separation. I saw how much it affected every part of their lives, not just legally but also emotionally, financially, and practically. As a lawyer, I knew the value of the right information at the right time. As a friend, I saw what happens when people don’t get it. I also believe the legal system prices out most people, which only adds to the stress of an already difficult situation. I wanted to create something more inclusive that could offer real help.
Why is now the right time to solve this problem?
Legal services are still mostly delivered through hourly billing, often in six-minute increments. Most divorces take over a year, so full legal representation is out of reach for many. At the same time, we now have the technology to change that. There’s a real opportunity to make expert support more widely available, and that’s what we’re doing at Separate Space. We’re using technology to make high-quality guidance more affordable and easier to access.
How does your solution stand out from existing alternatives?
Divorce is deeply personal. While people want human support, most cannot afford one-to-one legal advice throughout the entire process. At the same time, we’re all more used to managing important parts of our lives through digital platforms, from banking to education.
Separate Space brings together legal experts, financial professionals, psychologists, and relationship therapists. We combine their knowledge with technology to provide a smart, affordable, and comprehensive service. It’s not just legal information. It’s emotional and practical support as well. We are proud to be leading in this space.
What does success look like to you, not just financially but in terms of impact?
Success means that anyone going through divorce or separation can access the right support at the right time, without being excluded by cost. We want Separate Space to be the first place people turn to for clear, reliable guidance when a relationship ends.
Divorce touches legal, emotional, financial, and practical areas of life. We aim to support all of them in one place, through one easy-to-use platform. Helping people feel informed and in control of their decisions is what matters most.
Have you ever had to choose between your mission and making a profit? What happened?
It’s definitely a balance. Transitioning from a structured legal career into a start-up has been a shift. In a law firm, you follow established systems. Building something new means making the map yourself, which can be challenging. But we never wanted Separate Space to be just about profit.
From the beginning, our focus was on impact. At the same time, we knew that without a sustainable business model, we wouldn’t be able to scale or survive. So while we are a mission-driven company, we are also committed to building a business that can last.
What has been your biggest challenge so far, and how did you get through it?
One of the biggest challenges has been adapting to the start-up world after working in law. There are no set processes, and you’re constantly experimenting and learning. Another challenge has been maintaining resilience. Not every idea works. Some days are difficult.
On those days, I turn to data. We know hundreds of people have paid for Separate Space, and our Net Promoter Score is 9.2, which means users are highly likely to recommend us. That’s encouraging. One story that stands out is a woman who used the platform to claim her share of her husband’s pension after previously feeling too emotionally overwhelmed to act. That kind of impact keeps me going.
What achievement are you most proud of to date?
I’m most proud of the real-life impact Separate Space has had. Knowing we’re helping people through one of the hardest times in their lives, and doing it in a way that gives them confidence and clarity, is incredibly meaningful.
The story of the woman who felt empowered to claim her pension is just one example. That decision will change her retirement and her future. Supporting people to make informed, empowered choices is exactly why I started this business.
What is your long-term vision for the business and the change you want to create?
Our long-term vision has three parts. First, we want to shift the conversation around divorce. It’s a common life event but still carries stigma. We want to reduce that, for both adults and children.
Second, we want to make sure people have access to the information they need to leave relationships fairly and with confidence.
Third, we want to ensure people have the emotional tools to support themselves and their families. One in four children in UK classrooms has separated parents. If we can help those families feel more supported, we’ll have achieved something really meaningful.
What challenges have you faced raising investment, and how have you navigated them?
Raising investment has been one of the most difficult parts. It’s tough for everyone, especially in the current economic climate, but even more so if you don’t have an existing network. Many founders, particularly women, face this barrier. I’ve been asked questions during pitches that I doubt would be asked of male founders, such as how I manage childcare. Confidence and assertiveness are often encouraged more in boys than girls, and that shows up during fundraising.
That’s why organisations like Daring Capital are so important. They focus on the strength of your idea and your execution, not outdated assumptions. We need more of this.
What advice would you give to other underrepresented founders just starting their fundraising journey?
Take the time to learn how fundraising works before diving in. Understand the process, the terminology, and what investors are really looking for. Speak to other founders who have raised recently. Ask questions, buy them a coffee, learn from their experience.
Join supportive networks early. Communities like Female Founders Rise and Breakthrough Labs were invaluable for me. And pace yourself. Fundraising often takes months. Having a plan with clear goals and realistic timelines can help reduce the pressure.
What do you think needs to change about the fundraising ecosystem?
The biggest issue is the lack of accessible knowledge. There’s so much that founders don’t know at the start, and unless someone explains it to you, you’re at a disadvantage. We need to open up this knowledge. The same applies to grant funding. We’ve received two Innovate UK grants, but the process is time-consuming and often confusing. There’s even a whole industry built around grant-writing, but if you’re an early-stage start-up, you might not be able to afford help.
We need more transparency and accessibility. If we can demystify the system, we’ll create space for more diverse founders and stronger, more impactful businesses.
If you’d like to find out more about Kindhaus, you can visit their website.
A big thank you to Amanda for sharing her journey. You can catch the next in the Daring Voices series next week.
Jem
and the team at Daring Capital