Lifted Ventures announced a new partnership with the British Business Bank aimed at transforming the investment landscape for women outside of London, by supporting both women-led startups and the women investors backing them.
This strategic collaboration focuses on increasing the flow of capital to female founders while simultaneously expanding the pool of women angel investors through targeted education and ecosystem-building initiatives. Through this partnership, Lifted Ventures will deliver a series of initiatives, events, and educational content designed to empower women founders and activate more investors to back them, supported by the British Business Bank.
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Since their launch 20 months ago, Lifted Ventures has facilitated 19 deals into women-led businesses, helping to leverage £6.5m in funding. They have onboarded 57 angel investors and supported over 400 female founders through mentorship and training. To date, 100 women have taken part in their Lifted Angel Academy education programmes, creating new investors across the North East, Yorkshire and the West Midlands. With only 14% of the UK’s angel investors being women, and over 50% of those based in London, the Lifted Angel Academy aims to increase women angel capacity across the regions.
Delyth Edwards, Senior Manager at British Business Bank, said: “We know that women continue to face barriers in accessing early-stage finance, both as founders and as investors. That’s why this partnership is so important. By working with Lifted Ventures, we can help unlock more capital, create more inclusive investor networks, and drive systemic change across the regions.”
Jordan Dargue, Co-founder at Lifted Ventures, commented: “We’re on a mission to reshape who gets funded – and who gets to fund. By educating, activating, and connecting more women angels, we’re helping build a virtuous circle of investment where women are empowered to back other women. Partnering with the British Business Bank allows us to do this at greater scale and pace.”
Helen Oldham, Co-founder at Lifted Ventures, added: “To close the gender funding gap, we must focus on both sides of the table. That means giving women founders access to capital and entrepreneur education – and ensuring more women are in a position to deploy it. Our work with the British Business Bank is a powerful step toward a more balanced, inclusive, and sustainable investment ecosystem in the North.”
The partnership will see the delivery of a range of initiatives across the North of England and beyond, including early-stage founder support, investor-readiness programmes, and a growing portfolio of women-focused angel education programmes, all designed to unlock new opportunities for women to raise and invest capital with confidence.
