Our cofounders Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham travelled down to the House of Lords on Tuesday 17 December with two angels from our network, Beth Crosier and Shkun Chadda, for the launch of The Entrepreneurs Network’s report, Gaining Altitude, which celebrates the incredible contributions of female angel investors in driving innovation and uplifting women-led ventures.
Female angel investors have helped create over 10,000 jobs and contributed to deals worth a staggering £2.34 billion over the past decade. They’re not just investing; they’re reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape.
Highlighted success stories like us here at Lifted Ventures showcase the transformative impact of this support. From startups to scale-ups, female investors are empowering founders who might otherwise be overlooked, bringing new ideas to life and creating lasting local and social impact.
On the other hand, the report has a number of key challenges and proposals:
Lack of awareness of tax relief schemes
Many investors are unaware of key tax relief initiatives like the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and its seed-stage counterpart, SEIS. The report recommends launching a Government-led awareness campaign, engaging private sector stakeholders such as angel groups and financial services firms to enhance capital availability.
Improving accessibility to regional angels programme
The British Business Bank’s Regional Angels Programme currently has restrictive eligibility criteria that exclude smaller and emerging angel groups. The report suggests revising these requirements to ensure broader access for nascent groups.
Addressing resource constraints for angel groups
Angel groups face resource limitations that hinder their growth and capacity to support more female-led businesses. To mitigate this, the report proposes that the British Business Bank allocate up to £1 million annually to fund grants of £50,000 aimed at fostering new angel groups.
Facilitating deal sharing and co-investment
Smaller and dispersed angel groups struggle with collaboration due to the lack of economies of scale. The report advocates for standardised co-investment protocols, including guidelines for due diligence sharing and investment terms, to promote greater cooperation across groups.
Reducing educational barriers to angel investing
Educational disparities deter potential investors from entering the ecosystem. The report recommends creating a centralised platform that consolidates beginner-to-advanced angel investing resources, developed in partnership with leading ecosystem stakeholders.
Lifted Ventures welcomes this bold vision to grow this momentum lowering barriers to entry, expanding mentorship, and boosting regional investment networks. Let’s champion this change – because when women invest, we all rise.