| We’re delighed to announce the full line-up and programme for our 2026 Women Angels Conference, which will take place on Friday 30 January in Leeds. Register here 9.45am – Registration and networking – every delegate will receive a goody bag on arrival, filled with products from Lifted Ventures-backed female founders – worth every penny of your ticket 🙂 10.15am – Welcome (Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham) |
| 10.30am – KEYNOTE – Andrea Sinclair (Angel Investor, Advisor & Non-Exec Director) Building your angel investment portfolio from the bottom up: A fireside chat with Jordan and Helen. As a seasoned Angel Investor, Andrea will share her journey, key lessons learned and the mindset required to confidently back the next generation of founders. |
| 10.50am – Women Backing Women – How the UK Is Investing in Female Founders and Women Angels with data from the recent UKBAA & Beahurst report and The British Business Banks latest iniatives – A Fireside Chat chaired by Jenny Tooth (UKBAA) with Leandros Kalisperas, Chief Investment Officer (British Business Bank) and Henry Whorwood (Beuhurst) 11.15am – Panel Discussion: Why Women Should Invest – What’s Changing in the Ecosystem, charied by Jordan Dargue. Jenny Tooth (UKBAA), Susan Nightingale (British Business Bank), Marion Bernard (Northern Gritstone) and Debbie Doughty (investor) share their expertise and insights on why now is the time for women to invest, highlighting opportunities and strategies to drive investment in female startups in the regions. 11.45am – Break 11.55am – Partner spotlight – ‘Elevating Women Angels & Wealth Transfer’ with RBC Brewin Dolphin. Chris Black, Divisional Director at RBC Brewin Dolphin will discuss why enabling more women to take an active role in investing is essential to building a stronger, more resilient financial ecosystem, and a more innovative economy. 12.05pm – Partner keynote: Innovate UK – The Purse Strings Report – Mel Ellyard (Investment Ecosystems Lead) and Toni Thorne (Knowledge Transfer Manager) will share key insights from Innovate UK’s Purse Strings Report, highlighting its latest findings and the opportunities they reveal for the innovation ecosystem. 12.15pm – Panel discussion: Building an Angel Portfolio – Conviction, Diversification & Returns chaired by Helen Oldham, features Gillian Hall, Danielle Dixon, Beth Crosier, and Hazel Savage discussing how conviction, diversification, and realistic expectations shape a successful angel investment portfolio. 12.45pm – The Lifted Angel Awards Ceremony & lunch. Sponsored by Gordons LLP, celebrating excellence in angel investing! Winners will be revealed for Angel of the Year, Deal of the Year, Angel Newcomer of the Year (sponsored by Innovate UK), Co-Investment Round of the Year and Angel Ambassador of the Year. 2.30pm – Tracy Brabin – West Yorkshire Combined Authority – Tracy will update on the regional start up and investment landscape and how West Yorkshire Combined Authority is helping drive start-up investment. 2.45pm – Lifted Portfolio Spotlight: Investing in Female-Led Industries. A fireside chat with founders from Fran Lucraft (Grace and Green), Amy Mooney (Mutha Cuva) and Gabrielė Barteškaitė (Future Greens), highlighting their journeys and experiences. Co-chaired by Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham, this session explores the impact and opportunities of investing in female-led businesses. 3.20pm – Panel discussion – How Mission-Led Investing Aligns with Your Values – Chaired by Jordan Dargue. This panel features Angel Investors – Anica Alvarez Nishio, Suzanne Donovan, and Sandra Patel – and Toni Thorne from Innovate UK, exploring how mission-driven investments can reflect personal and organisational values. 4pm – Closing remarks from Jordan and Helen 4.10pm – Informal networking – Celebrate the day’s insights and reflect on the inspiration, ideas and connections you’ve gained – the perfect way to end the day. We really hope to see you there!The Lifted Ventures team |
