In this guest blog, Eleanor Goddard, Lifted Angel Investor, shares reflections from the Lifted Ventures North East Female Founder Demo Day in Newcastle. From the energy in the room to honest conversations about imposter syndrome, Eleanor explores why backing female founders is about far more than capital – it’s about learning, connection and community.
Days like yesterday make me smile.
I headed up to Newcastle for the Lifted Ventures North East Female Founder Demo Day – the finale of the Growth and Funding programme delivered by Lifted in partnership with the UK National Innnovation Centre for Ageing’s Internet of Caring Things.
I am in awe of these women starting businesses from scratch – I cheated and bought an existing business (but that comes with it’s own set of challenges!)
There was a mix of different business ideas being pitched and it’s clear that some of them are really solving some of the big challenges of our time.
All of them presented eloquently and with passion, and had made so much progress since I last saw them at the founders lunch a few months ago.
The thing that surprised me the most though was that as they shared in the fireside chat their imposter syndrome & fear of “the investors”. I felt huge imposter syndrome syndrome at being called an “investor”.
But this needs to talked about to make it more normal. I’m investing small amounts in female founded businesses that I believe in. It’s exciting to feel I’m making a difference, I’m learning so much, meeting incredible people and hopefully making some money as a side effect. There’s also some great tax benefits.
I then got to catch up with my biggest investment – my children who are both at uni in Newcastle for the obligatory meal & supermarket trip.
And today I’ve got a lot of Furnishing & Fettling to catch up on..
Great to catch up with Suzanne Donovan Helen Oldham & Jordan Dargue – I would love to have named all the fabulous founders but I know I will forget some – I will get more organised at these events going forward!
