Female-founded businesses have the potential to contribute an additional £250 billion to the UK economy. Studies show that companies with diverse leadership teams, especially those with female founders or executives, often outperform their peers. According to a Boston Consulting Group study, startups founded by women deliver higher revenue – more than twice as much per dollar invested compared to those founded by men.
With 45% of England’s female-led high-growth enterprises based in London, addressing the regional gap is crucial to fostering female-led high-growth businesses in Leeds and beyond. A key barrier to regional growth is the lack of education and support for female founders in accessing investment. To tackle this challenge, Lifted Ventures has launched the Athena VC Elevate Programme in Leeds.
Athena VC Elevate Programme: Driving Female Founder Success
The Athena VC Elevate Programme is designed to support female-led high-growth businesses, providing mentorship, education, and investment readiness coaching. The programme aims to accelerate the success of female founders by equipping them with the tools needed for long-term growth and scaling opportunities.
The free-to-access programme commenced in February and will run until 31 March and includes:
- Business diagnostics to identify bespoke support needs for growth.
- One-to-one mentorship with Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham.
- Educational sessions on key business areas, including Business Model Evolution, Market and Business Growth, Understanding Venture Capital, Financials, IP and Legals, Investor Readiness Coaching, and Leadership Development.
- Mentoring from an extensive investor network and partners.
- Selection to pitch at the Athena VC Festival in May 2025, offering direct investment opportunities.
Athena VC Festival: A Landmark Event for Women in Venture Capital
The Athena VC Elevate Programme will culminate in the Athena VC Festival in May 2025. Set to be the largest Women in VC event outside of London and the South East, the festival will bring together 150 investors, founders, and industry leaders to support female entrepreneurship and high-growth businesses across the UK.
“This initiative marks a significant step towards bridging the investment and education gap for female founders in the Leeds region,” said Jordan Dargue, co-founder of Lifted Ventures.. “We are committed to creating a sustainable and thriving environment for female-led high-growth businesses here in Leeds.”
Helen Oldam, co-founder at Lifted Ventures adds: “There are approximately £4.5 billion in untapped growth opportunities in Leeds for female founded businesses. By funding the Innovation@Leeds projects, Leeds City Council is ensuring that this potential can be unlocked.”
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.