Lifted Ventures, a pioneering force in inclusive angel investment, continues its mission to educate and empower women in the regions to become angel investors, aiming to drive greater diversity and innovation into the UK investment ecosystem, thanks to support from GM Business Growth Hub. Through specialised and tailored women angel education, Lifted Ventures equips potential women angels with the knowledge and tools to invest confidently in regional, early-stage startups, particularly those founded by women. 
 
Only 3.11% of angel investors in the North West of England are female. Lifted Ventures recognises the critical importance of increased female participation in the investment space. With the support of GM Business Growth Hub, Lifted Ventures is launching an angel education programme which is taking place in Manchester with the aim of reaching a broader audience and creating a more inclusive and representative investment ecosystem. 
 
“GM Business Growth Hub are delighted to partner with Lifted Ventures on the delivery of this innovative female angel education programme. The continued growth in female-founded businesses across GM has reinforced the need to address access to the angel investment market for prospective female investors. 
 
“The programme aims to deliver practical actionable learning and insights for prospective female investors to engage with the GM early-stage funding ecosystem” - Ian Dixon, Head of Access to Finance.
 
This programme is ideal for women leaders and professionals who are looking to increase their investment knowledge, give back to women founders from their region and join a growing movement of women backing women.
 
The programme is a 16-hour free-to-attend programme which focuses on the angel investment process, from understanding what angel investment is all the way through to completing due diligence on an opportunity and understanding tax-efficient investment incentives. 
 
“By providing tailored education and resources, we aim to bridge this gap, fostering a more inclusive and representative investment community” said Jordan Dargue, Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures.  
 
“Female investors are essential to supporting female entrepreneurs, and through our education programmes, we’re setting the stage for a more balanced and inclusive investment landscape.”
 
Female angels have already made a significant impact on the UK economy, participating in deals valued at £2.34 billion over the past decade. They’ve backed over 4,000 businesses including more than 1,000 female-founded companies, contributing to creating more than 10,000 jobs across the nation. Notably, nearly 25% of companies funded by female angels have been female-founded - a significant increase compared to the 19% overall industry average. This support for female entrepreneurs highlights the powerful role women investors play in fostering economic growth and innovation.
 
As Lifted Ventures continues to expand its educational initiatives, the goal remains clear: to grow the number of women angel investors across the UK. More female investors mean more diverse perspectives in investment decisions, greater funding opportunities for female-founded businesses, and a stronger, more resilient economy.
 
“We believe that educating and empowering more women to become angel investors will have a profound impact on the startup ecosystem and drive long-term economic growth,” added Helen Oldham, Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures. 
 
Lifted Ventures invites potential women angels from Manchester interested in joining their upcoming education programme starting on Friday 10th January 2025 to sign up and become part of this transformative movement.
 
For more information and to enrol in Lifted Ventures’ Manchester programme, click here.