Leeds, UK – 04/07/2024 – The inaugural Athena Festival is set to take place at Nexus Leeds, bringing together female founders and investors in a groundbreaking event designed to empower women entrepreneurs outside of London. The festival will be held on the 15th October 2024 and aims to drive innovation, foster economic growth, and build a supportive community for female-led businesses in the UK.
Almost 45% of England’s female-led high-growth enterprises are located in London. Considering that only 13% of the UK’s population resides in London, this represents a clear regional imbalance of female founding high-growth activity.
The Athena Festival is the first event of its kind, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by female founders in the regions. With a comprehensive program of workshops, mentorship sessions, networking opportunities, and pitch competitions, the festival offers a platform for women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and connect with potential investors.
“The Athena Festival is a groundbreaking initiative for the Leeds region, signalling a new era of support and growth for female entrepreneurs across the UK”, said Jordan Dargue, Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures and the Athena Festival. “By providing a platform for female founders outside of London to scale and succeed, the festival fosters a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. It catalyses economic growth, drives innovation, and strengthens the community by connecting visionary founders with passionate angel investors.”
“We developed the brand of Athena named after the Goddess, Zeus’s favourite daughter: she is associated with the attributes of wisdom, bravery and resourcefulness and this is what we want to embody throughout this festival. The iconic symbol of the wise owl is associated with Athena. We want everyone to walk away from the event feeling taller, and more heroic”, said Helen Oldham, Lifted Ventures Co Founder, when describing the purpose of the event.
The Athena Festival is proudly organised by Lifted Ventures and supported by Leeds City Council. Lifted Ventures is a pioneering organisation dedicated to empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs and fostering a diverse and inclusive business environment. With a mission to support and elevate female founders, Lifted Ventures provides the resources, networks, and opportunities needed for women to succeed in the competitive startup landscape. By organising the Athena Festival, Lifted Ventures continues to drive positive change and champion innovation across the UK.
This exciting and innovation festival for female founders will host:
- Expert-Led Workshops: Participants will gain practical knowledge on scaling strategies, fundraising, and market expansion from industry leaders.
- Mentorship Sessions: Successful entrepreneurs and business mentors will provide one-on-one guidance to attendees.
- Networking Opportunities: Female founders can meet like-minded entrepreneurs and form strategic alliances.
- Pitch Competitions: Founders will have the chance to present their innovative ideas to a panel of influential investors.
“Investors attending the Athena Festival will have the unique opportunity to discover and support high-potential female-led startups. By backing female-founded businesses, investors can access untapped markets, enjoy high returns on investment, and contribute to positive social change” added co-Founder of Lifted Ventures and Athena Festival, Helen Oldham. “The festival also offers exclusive pitch events, investment panels, and networking sessions to facilitate meaningful connections between investors and entrepreneurs”.
‘’The Athena Festival is a must-attend event for female founders looking to scale their businesses and for angel investors seeking to make impactful investments. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a movement that champions female entrepreneurship and fosters economic growth’’ added co-founder of Lifted Ventures and Athena Festival, Jordan Dargue.
About Athena Festival:
The Athena Festival is dedicated to empowering female founders outside of London, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and connections needed to scale their businesses. By bringing together visionary entrepreneurs and passionate angel investors, the festival aims to foster a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in the UK.