The Athena VC Festival, the UK’s largest women in VC event outside London and the South East, is heading to Leeds University on 13 May 2025.
Uniting women venture capitalists, aspiring investors, and industry allies, this landmark event is designed to promote equity, innovation,
and collaboration in venture capital.
Organised by Lifted Ventures and named after the Greek goddess associated with the attributes of wisdom, bravery and resourcefulness, the conference builds upon its mission to increase the flow of capital to female founders and amplify the influence of women investors.
The festival will address critical challenges facing women in venture capital and provide actionable strategies for driving systemic change in the industry.
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Female-led start-ups are 500% more likely to be a billion dollar company compared to businesses that are male-led, according to research from Rogue Women’s Fund. However, 90% of all VC’s are men and 86% of all start-ups funded by VC’s have only men on their team.
The festival will focus on several key themes designed to inspire and empower participants. Central to the event is the celebration and elevation of women in venture capital, coupled with a commitment to supporting their career growth. Additionally, the festival aims to
explore innovative ways to bring together angel capital and early-stage VC funds, expanding the investment pool available to regional female founders. The festival will bring together a vibrant community of changemakers, bridging connections across both regional and national venture capital ecosystems.
“Although female investors are more likely to invest in female founders, only 18% of decision-makers in venture capital are women. Women continue to face systemic barriers in venture capital, from limited access to influential networks to biases in decision-making,” said Jordan Dargue, co-founder of Lifted Ventures and the Athena VC Festival.
“Athena VC is set to be the largest Women in VC event outside of London and the South East. In this inspiring event we provide practical tips on how to succeed as a woman in the nvestment sector, hear from women who’ve already pathed the way to creating successful
careers and discuss the impact that women leaders are having in the investment sector.’’
Event Highlights include:
- Keynote Presentations and Panels: Insights from leading women VCs, advocates, and thought leaders on advancing gender equity in venture capital.
- Collaborative Opportunities: Forge new partnerships for syndications, collaborative deals, and mentorship initiatives.
- Workshops and Advocacy: Expert-led sessions on navigating career challenges and promoting actionable industry reforms, from hiring practices to board representation.
- Live Pitch Sessions: Female-led startups will present their innovative ideas to a panel of influential investors. The live pitches will be the culmination of an investment readiness programme Athena VC Elevate which has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
“The festival embodies the attributes of the Goddess Athena – wisdom, bravery, and resourcefulness,” added Helen Oldham, co-founder of Lifted Ventures. “Our goal is to celebrate and elevate women in VC, build a community of change-makers, showcase success stories and opportunities, and drive inward investment to the North and beyond. Together, we can reshape the landscape for the better.”
Click here for further information, tickets and spomnsorship opportunities.
