athena.vc festival 2025
Join us for the Athena VC Festival, a landmark event hosted at Nexus, University of Leeds, on May 13, 2025. The festival is designed to celebrate and elevate women in venture capital, aspiring investors, and industry allies.
Organised by Lifted Ventures, this event is dedicated to driving systemic change, fostering collaboration, and amplifying the influence of women in venture capital. The Athena VC event is set to be the biggest women in VC event outside of London and the South East.
Women in venture capital face unique challenges: biases in decision-making, limited access to influential networks, and systemic barriers to growth. The Athena VC Festival provides a safe, empowering space to address these issues head-on, fostering meaningful discussions, actionable solutions, and transformative change.
This conference is designed to spark collaboration, advocacy, and innovation among women VCs. Through candid conversations, experience-sharing, and expert insights, attendees will gain tools to thrive in their careers and make a lasting impact on the industry.
Why attend Athena VC?
- New partnerships: Foster meaningful connections to create syndications, collaborative deal-making, and mentorship opportunities.
- Industry reform advocacy: Develop and promote actionable initiatives to advance gender equity in hiring, investing, and board representation.
- Personal and professional growth: Share career advice, best practices, and strategies for navigating challenges in venture capital.
Who should attend?
- Women working in venture capital or aspiring to enter the field
- Women in private equity
- Women in finance
- Women in professional services
- Investors seeking access to innovative, high-return opportunities.
- Industry allies and advocates dedicated to driving equity in venture capital
Speakers
Agenda
9.30 AM – Welcome from Lifted Ventures
9.40 AM – Welcome from Tracey Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
9.55 AM – Inspirational keynote: Deborah Hulme
10.20 AM – Keynote: Courage in Action: Leading with Boldness and Conviction with Gurpreet Manku
10.35 AM – Panel: Is Change Happening Fast Enough?
11.10 AM – Breakout Sessions
- Pitching Competition
- Round Table: The Mirrored Effect
12.10 AM – Break
12.30 PM – Panel: Family Leave, Family Life & Life Challenges – Can We Make It Work?
1.00 PM – Panel: Making It to the Top
1.30 PM – Lunch
2.15 PM – Advancing Industry Impact: Harnessing Data to Enhance Opportunity
2.40 PM – Breakout Sessions
- Lifted Ventures Portfolio Showcase
- Entry Into VC Workshop
3.45 PM – Panel: Women GPs and Emerging Fund Leaders – What Can We Learn from Them?
4.15 PM – Panel: Angels and VCs – Achieving Superior Returns
4.45 PM – Closing address & networking
Our sponsors
