Sam Smith’s Post

Yesterday we bought together a Leeds female founder ecosystem event on behalf of Zandra Moore as part of the government Women Led High Growth Taskforce conversation. Thanks to Anna Sutton for kicking the session off, and look at the wealth of talent in the room! Just what was required to consider how best to take action in addressing the statistics below: *5% of funding rounds in Leeds go to female led businesses and start ups * 1% of investment £'s goes to female founders. The conversation was uplifting and REAL in equal measure. Positive in that community and collective action is already taking shape, sitting alongside the pragmatism that structural barriers are not easy to shift. Here are some of the takeaways: 1. Male advocates are critical - we were very fortunate to have William Schaffer from Mercia Asset Management PLC and Dirk Mischendahl from NORTHERN BLOC ICE CREAM LIMITED join us, thanks guys 2. Focussing on GROWTH is more, or just as important as sector when it comes to areas of focus. 3. Inclusivity needs to underpin everything - thanks Sharon Kaur Jandu OBE for your insights and challenge on this important topic. 4. How to give everyone in the ecosystem the confidence and encouragement to challenge non inclusive behaviours. 5. Creating a REAL legacy - in terms of high profile success stories and a significant volume of success stories. And lots lots more good stuff....... more, much more to follow! Thanks to Eleanor Baker and Natalie Boswell from Lloyds Banking Group for funding the work behind the conversation and Chelsea Boothroyd from Nexus Leeds for the room and food. Camila Zattar Lorna Holroyd Karrie Tilburn Francesca Dumas Linda Broughton Victoria Tomlinson FRSA Cat Smith Judith Parry CDir FIoD Fiona Bolam Panintelligence Helen OldhamJordan Dargue Alessandra L. Mary Ahern #investment #growthfunding #ecosystem #femalefounders

I joined over 200+ others on Monday at the #womenbackingwomen conference at NatWest HQ in Shoreditch, London to discuss how we continue to build the momentum around early stage investment capacity for female founders. It was a great moment of celebration as we recognised the increasing number of female focussed angel networks and the growing number of investments they've supported. It was also a moment of sobriety as we recognised the significant challenges in accelerating the pace of change and achieving the target of 30% of all UK angels being women (currently 15-18% dependant on your region). Here's a few myths and opportunities we still need to bust; *Because women angel ticket sizes are small they are not significant enough - This is counterbalanced by the fact that women angels are often the first in a round for female founders, and act as a catalyst for other players to join the round, including co-investment funds. * Women angels are more cautious and risk adverse - Women angels may be more risk aware however research from Forbes says that they build the most successful portfolios over time as they tend to stay with their portfolio companies for longer, through challenging times and beyond. * Women led businesses backed by women angels are less likely to be taken seriously by funds in later rounds - It is becoming increasingly important to have a diverse cap table and many of the progressive funds I know are actively seeking companies which have gender diverse backers. Thanks so much to Jenny Tooth OBE, UK Business Angels Association and Yvonne G. for organising the event and growing the movement. And to my fellow panellists and amazing women angel champions Marla Shapiro Jill Jones Kristina Pereckaite Gillian Fleming Amy Newton. In the meantime what do you think? Are women angels important in increasing the flow of capital to early stage female founders? And what needs to happen to increase the effectiveness of women angel groups? Jordan Dargue Lifted Ventures #womenangels #earlystage #investment #patientcapital #preseed #seed

Don’t miss the latest insights from across alternatives at the Women in Private Markets Summit North America this May 15-16. Featuring our keynote session Managing Private Markets in a Fluid Environment, with Andrea Auerbach, Partner and Head of Global Private Investments, Cambridge Associates. Find out more about what’s in store in the latest agenda https://okt.to/MGS9Uk #WiPMNA #womeninprivatemarkets #keynote #privatemarkets

In 2023, Minority, Women, Veteran-owned businesses, and emerging small businesses (MWESB) firms were awarded $120 million, accounting for 27% of total development costs. These firms helped complete 35 affordable housing developments, providing hundreds of new homes to individuals & families. Learn more about the MWESB impact at t.ly/SNh7u.

We all know the stats, we see them time and time again, but they don't really change and nobody is shocked by them anymore. I am part of a number of 'women in business' networks to find kinship in the difficulties of owning a female founded business, however we are in stark competition against one another for 1% of the funding available. I watch male business owners have the luxury to collaborate within their networks to grow their businesses with access to more funding opportunities whilst women need to fight for the crumbs left over, often at the expense of other female founders. I can't see how new government investment zones backed by VC funding will lead to anything other than further inequality. I would welcome any recommendations on how female founded businesses can survive or thrive in this environment. https://lnkd.in/eKG_Zeiy. Lee Chambers Simone Roche MBE Sam White The Women's Organisation Carla Crivaro Rina Sowler 吴日娜 Raina Heverin Melanie Lewis Jen Fenner ⚡️Jennifer Greenan Elaine Parker Gary Millar FJMU Victoria Brown MCIPD Kaylie Grimes Jayne Moore

Stop giving women access to education and coaching to ‘break through the glass ceiling’. The money needs to be diverted into gender bias training aimed at men - those who predominantly hold the glass ceiling. Unfortunately, it’s ‘easier’ to point the finger at women ‘not doing enough’. When it’s clear to everyone and the stats show that women are over-qualified and over-educated. If companies are SERIOUS about women doing well in business, they need to begin with offering men training to bring to awareness their unhealthy affective gender biases, then, they can CHOOSE to do differently.

Explore the latest trends in key asset classes this May at the Women in Private Markets Summit North America. Hear from 150+ speakers paving the way for your success in private markets. Your chance to save $350 on your place ends next Friday. Find out more on the topics that will be explored and book today! https://okt.to/96CIsZ #WiPMNA #industryinsights #privatemarkets #WomenInPrivateMarkets

"The capital female founders receive in the UK has stagnated around 2% for the past decade." What a stark statistic!! Here are a few reasons why we at Lead5050 believe that investing in female founders isn't just a matter of equity or fairness. 1. Untapped Potential: Historically, women have been underrepresented in entrepreneurship, meaning there's a vast pool of untapped talent and ideas. By investing in female founders, investors can tap into this potential and gain access to innovative solutions and diverse perspectives. 2. Market Opportunity: Women make up a significant portion of the consumer market and often have unique insights into consumer needs and preferences. Investing in female-led companies allows investors to better understand and cater to this demographic, potentially leading to higher returns. 3. Diverse Perspectives: Diversity fosters innovation and creativity. Female founders bring different life experiences, perspectives, and approaches to problem-solving, which can lead to more resilient and successful businesses. Investing in diverse teams reduces groupthink and increases the likelihood of considering a wider range of ideas and solutions. 4. Financial Performance: Research has shown that companies with diverse leadership teams tend to outperform their less diverse counterparts. By investing in female founders and promoting diversity at the top, investors can potentially improve the financial performance of their portfolios. 5. Social Impact: Investing in female founders isn't just about financial returns; it's also about creating positive social change. By supporting women in entrepreneurship, investors can contribute to closing the gender gap in business and empowering women economically, which has broader societal benefits. 6. Alignment with ESG Goals: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has gained traction in recent years as investors increasingly consider the social and ethical impact of their investments. Supporting female founders aligns with many ESG goals, such as promoting gender equality and fostering inclusive economic growth. 7. Risk Mitigation: Diversifying investment portfolios across different demographics, including gender, can help mitigate risk. By spreading investments across a variety of founders, investors can reduce their exposure to specific market or industry risks. Overall, investing in female founders isn't just a matter of fairness; it's a strategic decision that can lead to better financial returns, foster innovation, and contribute to positive social change. Good luck with the Department for Business and Trade's 'Invest in Women Taskforce' Debbie Wosskow, OBE, Hannah Bernard OBE and Kevin Hollinrake - We at Lead5050 HQ will be watching with interest. 👏

Great to see the launch of the 'Invest in Women Taskforce' by Department for Business and Trade- even better to see the areas of focus highlighted. Demystifying, democratising and diversifying angel investment is a critical ingredient to unlocking growth and why at Obu we're so excited (on the back of our Innovate UK Award) to be creating micro learning content on this subject. Optimistic about where this will go under Debbie Wosskow, OBE and Hannah Bernard OBE leadership. #angelinvesting #investinwomen #diversifyinvestment #overbeingunderfunded

Four forums, one summit. Book your place at the Women in Private Markets Summit North America before April 5 and save $175. View the latest agenda to see the key topics that will be discussed, leaving you equipped with actionable insights and strategies to drive your future success. https://okt.to/gh2cai #WiPMNA #WomenInPrivateMarkets #privatemarkets #investorinsights