An introduction to angel investing for women

What is an angel investor? Why do it? Is it for me? How much does it cost? How do I go about it? Experienced angel investors from the Angel Academe network will be answering these questions and any others you might have at our next event.

As one of our members said recently, "The key thing for me when I attended my first event at Angel Academe was that it de-mystified angel investing and also made me aware of how relevant my background and skills were to support some businesses as an active investor."

Women control about half of the net wealth in the UK, yet only 6% of us are angel investors (UKBAA). At Angel Academe, we believe that this makes it far harder for high growth potential, women-led businesses to raise the funding they need. In turn, early stage businesses are less likely to benefit from the advice of women non-execs, and women are missing out on financial returns that can out-perform other asset classes as well as the experience (and fun) investing and advisory roles can bring.

By helping women with extensive professional experience become angel investors through education, collaboration and practice we are changing that. Our members include entrepreneurs and senior managers from all types of organisations: from startups to multinationals in technology, media, finance, retail, consulting and law. In particular, we have skills including finance, HR, legal and marketing through to engineering, PR and sales. Some of us are experienced angel investors while others are new, but we all have value to add. We pool our funds and expertise to support to women-led technology businesses with the potential to scale in a fun and collaborative environment.

Speakers

Bridget Connell - Bridget spent over 20 years leading very large and high profile digital and mobile projects in telecoms and logistics. She is now a coach, start up mentor and angel investor.

Kerri McKechnie - Kerri previously led the Finance, Customs, HR and IT functions for EMEA for a large multinational corporation. She is now involved in her own startup as well as investing in and advising early stage tech businesses.

Priyanka Lilaramani - Priyanka is an experienced angel investor as well as business operations and strategy advisor to startups. Prior to that she held significant roles with Goldman Sachs across US, India, China, Korea and UK.

Ramona Liberoff - As SVP for Nielsen's Innovation Practice, Ramona leads a global team of >150 focussed on innovation and transformation. She is also an NED for several startups and serial angel investor.

Sarah Turner - Sarah is an angel investor and digital and innovation strategy advisor to both corporates and tech startups. She founded Angel Academe to attract more women into angel investing.

We will also hear from Kal di Paola of BuyMyWardrobe and Lauren Hine of Zealify, both investment-ready businesses from the Angel Academe network.

Who should attend?

This event is for aspiring and experienced angel investors who are interested in learning more about angel investing. We are particularly keen to attract women, but men are very welcome to attend as well.

Why attend?

• Meet other angel investors

• Learn about the benefits of angel investing

• Understand how to get started with angel investing

Angel Academe would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors:

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial and risk, legal, tax and accounting, intellectual property and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organisation. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs approximately 60,000 people and operates in over 100 countries.

Kingsley Napley is an internationally recognised law firm based in central London. Our wide range of expertise provides support for clients in all areas of their business and private life. Jane Keir (senior partner) and Linda Woolley (managing partner) are the only women in the most senior posts of a top 100 UK law firm and with 40% of our partnership also being women, Kingsley Napley is proud to support the objectives of Angel Academe through mentoring and sponsorship.