Lifted Ventures has unveiled a new partnership with the British Business Bank aimed at shifting the investment landscape for women beyond London. This joint effort will focus on improving access to funding for female founders while expanding the number of women participating in angel investment. The initiative will roll out a mix of events, educational content, and community-building activities to inspire and equip more women to invest in early-stage businesses.
Since launching just 20 months ago, Lifted Ventures has helped deliver 19 investments into women-led companies, unlocking a total of £6.5 million in funding. In that time, they have brought 57 angel investors on board and provided support to more than 400 female entrepreneurs through training and mentoring. Additionally, 100 women have completed the Lifted Angel Academy, an education programme helping to create new investors in regions such as the North East, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.
Currently, only 14% of angel investors in the UK are women, and more than half of those are based in London. Lifted Ventures is aiming to address this imbalance by expanding angel investment opportunities in 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, also a Co-founder of 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 lead to a series of initiatives being delivered across the North of England and further afield. These will include support programmes for early-stage founders, investor-readiness sessions, and a growing catalogue of angel education opportunities designed specifically for women.
