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
- Jordan Dargue & Helen Oldham, Co-Founders, Lifted Ventures
9:55 AM – Keynote: Courage in Action
- Gurpreet Manku on leading with boldness and conviction
10:20 AM – Inspirational Keynote
- Deborah Hulme
10:35 AM – Panel: Is Change Happening Fast Enough? – Chaired by Gurpreet Manku, Level 20
- Rodney Appiah, Cornerstone VC
- Marion Bernard, Northern Gritstone
- Sam Cooper Gray, HSBC
11:10 AM – Breakout Sessions
- Pitching Competition: Athena Elevate VC Cohort
- Round Table: Helping to Shape the future of VC– Chaired by Gurpreet Manku
- Joanne Dewar, Nemo Project
- Sharon Jandu, NPH Ethnic Minority Business & Policy Forum
- Dama Samathianathan, Bethnel Green Ventures
12:10 PM – Break
12:30 PM – Panel: Family Leave, Family Life & Life Challenges – Can We Make It Work? – Chaired by Helen Oldham, Lifted Ventures
- Eva Dimitiadis, Conduit Impact Fund
- Tavia Sparks, Foresight
- Sarah Hex, AAB
1:00 PM – Panel: Making It to the Top – Chaired by Jordan Dargue, Lifted Ventures
- George Mensah, Sure Valley Ventures
- Joanne Whitfield, FW Capital
1:30 PM – Lunch & Networking
2:15 PM – Advancing Industry Impact: Harnessing Data to Enhance Opportunity
- Serena Connor, Dealroom
2:40 PM – Breakout Sessions
- Lifted Ventures Portfolio Showcase
- Entry Into VC Workshop – Jess Jackson, Praetura Ventures and Jem Henderson, Lifted Ventures
- Getting Your Voice Heard – Lisa Clifford
3:45 PM – Panel: Women GPs and Emerging Fund Leaders – What Can We Learn from Them? – Chaired by Helen Oldham, Lifted Ventures
- Jessica Rasmussen, Two Magnolias
- Rupa Popat, Araya Ventures
- Louise Chapman, Praetura Ventures
- Antonia Burridge, Arosa Capital
4:15 PM – Panel: Angels and VCs – Achieving Superior Returns – Chaired by Jenny Tooth, UKBAA
- David Foreman, Praetura Ventures
- Jordan Dargue, Lifted Ventures
- Fraser Lusty, Equity Gap
- Rachel McDonald, Fearless Adventures
4:45 PM – Closing Address & Networking
Our sponsors
