Lifted Ventures

🌟 We’re thrilled to share some amazing news! Lifted Ventures has been shortlisted in the Best Visual Identity from the Professional Services Sector category at the Transform Europe 2025 Awards! 🏆 This recognition highlights the incredible work that WPA Pinfold has done to craft a visual identity that not only stands out but also captures the heart of who we are: a UK-founded angel investor company dedicated to empowering and elevating female founders. Our brand identity, crafted in collaboration with the exceptional team at WPA Pinfold, reflects our mission, values, and innovative spirit. From the modern aesthetics to the strategic integration into our assets, this design perfectly positions us as a forward-thinking leader in the professional services sector. Thank you to everyone who has supported our journey - we’re just getting started! 🚀 You can view the case study here: https://lnkd.in/ewgXfnW6 #TransformAwards #BrandIdentity #FemaleFounders #Innovation #LiftedVentures Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham

We are really grateful to the team at WPA Pinfold for the work they’ve done in the brand creation for Lifted Ventures and the Athena Festival. Having an identity which fully connects with our audience and represents the potential for female founders to drive innovation and economic growth has been fundamental to our launch story, and in helping to generate results; 13 deals done, 44 women in our angel network and growing. It’s great to see their work being recognised in these prestigious awards. Thanks so much Emma Hughes Emily Sumner Stuart Morey Richard Hurst and well done. 👏👏👏👏👏🤞🤞🤞 Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham

🚀 Fueling Innovation and Opportunity: Female Angels Take Flight On Tuesday, December 17, our cofounders Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham joined angels from our network, Beth Crosier and Shkun Chadda, at the House of Lords for the launch of Gaining Altitude - a powerful new report from The Entrepreneurs Network and the Invest in Women Taskforce. This report celebrates the remarkable contributions of female angel investors in driving innovation and uplifting women-led ventures. Over the past decade, female angels have: 💼 Helped create 10,000+ jobs 💰 Contributed to deals worth £2.34 billion These investments go beyond funding - they are reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape, empowering founders who might otherwise be overlooked, and creating lasting social and local impact. Companies like Lifted Ventures exemplify how women investors are turning startups into success stories. But there’s more work to do. The report outlines key challenges and bold proposals to unlock the full potential of angel investing: ✨ Raise Awareness of Tax Relief Schemes Launch a Government-led campaign to increase awareness of initiatives like EIS and SEIS, driving more capital into startups. ✨ Improve Accessibility to the Regional Angels Programme Revise eligibility criteria so smaller and emerging angel groups can access vital funding and support. ✨ Address Resource Constraints Allocate £1M annually to fund grants that foster new angel groups, enabling more growth and support for female-led businesses. ✨ Facilitate Deal Sharing & Co-Investment Standardise co-investment protocols to promote collaboration across angel groups, overcoming challenges of scale. ✨ Reduce Educational Barriers Create a centralised platform offering beginner-to-advanced angel investment resources to attract and equip new investors. This vision is bold but achievable. By lowering barriers, expanding mentorship, and strengthening regional networks, we can grow an even stronger ecosystem. 💡 Let’s champion this change - because when women invest, we all rise. Read the full blog to learn more. https://lnkd.in/gUEenNmr #AngelInvesting #WomenInBusiness #Innovation #Entrepreneurship Jenny Tooth OBE Hannah Bernard OBE

🌟 Advice for New Investors: Start with Building Your Network 🌟 Starting your investment journey can feel overwhelming. We sat down with Alina-Faith Cameron Cameron who has worked supporting startups and scaleups as they venture on their investment journey for her advice to ambitious founders. She said one of the best pieces of advice she can offer is to build a network of experienced investors. This could include: 💜 People in the VC community 💜 Those in the equity landscape 💜 Angel investors Why? Because the investment world is full of jargon, and it’s easy to feel lost at first. But remember, every industry has its own language - whether it’s marketing, retail, or finance. The key is to start breaking down those barriers by asking questions and exploring what you don’t understand. Watch the full video below. If you’d like to meet like minded women starting out on their investment journey, join one of our angel education programmes, launching in January in Manchester and Birmingham. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gagSxtmN 💬 What helped you most when starting out in investing? Let’s share insights in the comments! #Networking #InvestingTips #GrowthMindset #FinanceJourney Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham Heather Waters Jessica Jackson Delyth Lloyd Edwards Vicky Mears Sophie Dale-Black PhD Katherine Megson Naomi N. Ian S Dixon Lorna Green Claire Lewis Tara Attfield-Tomes Hephzi Pemberton Lifted Ventures facilitates and introduces investment opportunities to investors but does not recommend investing. We encourage all investors to seek professional advice before making investment decisions. This video is not an offer or invitation to invest according to UK law.  Videos provide information only and do not offer investment, legal, or tax advice.

Bettii Pod raises £337,000 to transform menstrual product hygiene “Supporting Bettii to realise their ambitions has been particularly satisfying, knowing that our women angel investors understand the product and the potential of it.” Pioneering FemTech start-up Bettii Pod is set to revolutionise menstrual product hygiene with a £337,000 investment aimed at advancing sustainable and practical solutions. Find out more about the company and the "invaluable" guidance and support offered by Lifted Ventures: https://lnkd.in/edDW9ZBs Elaine Galston Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham Bettii Ltd Equity Gap Scottish Enterprise

🚀 Exciting News from The Bettii Pod! 🚀 We're thrilled to announce that The Bettii Pod Ltd, a trailblazing FemTech start-up founded by Elaine Galston, has secured £337,000 in funding to transform menstrual hygiene with their innovative menstrual cup/disc washer for public toilets. 🌟 This game-changing investment was led by Equity Gap and Scottish Enterprise, with Lifted Ventures introducing 12 angel investors to the round. We firmly believe in their mission to normalise menstruation and drive adoption of sustainable menstrual practices. 💬 Elaine Galston, CEO, shared: “Lifted Ventures brought more than funding - they brought expertise, networks, and a shared vision. Raising funds as a sole female founder isn’t easy, but their commitment and encouragement, particularly in engaging female investors, have been game-changing.” 💬 Jordan Dargue, Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures, added: “We’re proud to support Elaine and help Bettii tackle the unique challenges of FemTech hardware. This product has massive potential to improve lives and accelerate sustainable practices.” 💬 Fraser Lusty, Managing Director of Equity Gap, noted: “This collaboration between Equity Gap and Lifted Ventures reflects the strong opportunity presented by The Bettii Pod. We’re proud to support this transformational FemTech solution.” This funding marks a significant step toward making sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions more accessible, addressing the needs of 15 million people in the UK who menstruate. Thank you to all our investors, partners, and supporters for believing in The Bettii Pod’s mission! 💪 💜 Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/ezpK3x4t #FemTech #Innovation #Sustainability #MenstrualHealth #LiftedVentures #EquityGap #TheBettiiPod Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham Elaine Galston Fraser Lusty Jem Henderson Denise Elena Androne

Our co-founder Jordan Dargue is one of the judges in the #UKFinTechAwards. The awards celebrate the best of the UK fintech ecosystem, recognising those companies and individuals truly making a difference. Entries close on 24 January, with the winners announced as a prestigious black-tie ceremony in London on 24 April. Find out more about the awards, and enter now, here: https://lnkd.in/gq2bEtZ Helen Oldham Julian Wells Joe Roche Denise Elena Androne Jem Henderson

🎉 What a Day to Celebrate Angel Investors! 🎉 On Friday 13 December, we gathered at Aspire Leeds for an unforgettable End of Year Celebration for our Angel investor network, which was kindly supported by Brewin Dolphin. This event was more than a celebration - it was a showcase of the incredible impact diverse investors are having on the angel investment landscape, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in the North. 🌟 Key Highlights from the Day 💬 A powerful keynote by Henri Murison who shared inspiring insights on economic growth, the importance of investing in the North and how investing impacts not just founders, but their families, their employees and the whole ecosystem. It's the people living, working and investing in our regional ecosystems that are the drivers of real change. 🚀A pitch from an incredible female founder working to make period and incontinence products sustainable and dignified. ✨ Founder-investor showcases that demonstrated the innovation and potential thriving in our region. 🏆 Celebrating excellence with our Angel Awards ceremony. Well done to Suzanne Donovan, Phil Fraser, Shkun Chadda, Danielle Dixon and the syndicates for Bettiipod and BindEthics. We are immensely grateful to Henri Murison, Brewin Dolphin, and all our attendees for making this event a resounding success. Together, we’re not just celebrating achievements - we’re sparking dialogue and empowering the next wave of women investors and entrepreneurs to drive progress. Here’s to a brighter, more inclusive future in angel investing! #WomenInInvestment #AngelInvesting #NorthernPowerhouse #EconomicGrowth Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham Michelle Holgate Elizabeth Hancock Victoria Garcia Elaine Galston Frances Lucraft

Celebrating an Incredible First Year at Lifted Ventures 🚀 Today we release our Annual report 2024. As we reflect on our inaugural year, we are overwhelmed with pride and gratitude for the community we’ve built together. When we launched Lifted Ventures, we had a bold vision: to make the UK regions a beacon for gender-smart investment by creating a space where female founders and women angel investors can thrive. Thanks to your unwavering support and the backing of incredible partners like the British Business Bank, we’ve been able to take significant strides toward achieving this vision. Together, we’ve created more than just a platform for investment - we’ve built a community that uplifts, inspires, and empowers women. Here are some highlights from our journey so far: ✨ Facilitating over £4.5 million in investments for female-led businesses. ✨ Building angel syndicates, including one exclusively for women backing women. ✨ Mentoring and training hundreds of founders. ✨ Hosting events that brought together trailblazing women and allies from across the country. This is only the beginning. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to build on this momentum. Our plans include launching new education initiatives, increasing the flow of smart capital, expanding our networks, and continuing to nurture this incredible community of innovators and changemakers. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for gender-smart investment. 💪💼 Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham Alexandra Fogal Hiten Thakrar, MBA Lorna Holroyd Felix Kumi-Ampofo Raffaella Roncone Katarzyna (Kasia) Zmarzly Dan Chilcott Jasmin Davies Adil Mohammed Emma Nolan Kirstie Taylor Nicola Hutchinson Simon Middleton Paul Thorning Sonya Bachra-Byrne MBA Ian Dixon Heather Waters Gemma Snell Luke Willetts Tracey Johnson

🌟 Empowering Women Through Angel Investing 🌟 Did you know women make up a small fraction of angel investors? It's time to change that. Here's why: 💡 Diversity Drives Innovation Women bring unique perspectives to the table, helping identify opportunities that might be overlooked by others. Your insights can shape the next wave of game-changing startups. 💰 Building Wealth & Impact Angel investing isn’t just about financial returns - it’s about creating impact. By supporting founders who align with your values, you can contribute to building a better, more inclusive future. 🤝 Role Models Matter When women invest, they inspire others to do the same, creating a ripple effect of empowerment across industries. Your involvement can pave the way for more diverse funding ecosystems. Let’s close the gender gap in investing and create opportunities for women to thrive-both as investors and founders. The future needs your voice! Are you ready to make a difference? 🚀 We're running angel education programmes in Manchester and Birmingham starting in January 2025. Sign up now! https://lnkd.in/gagSxtmN #AngelInvesting #WomenInBusiness #DiversityAndInclusion #InvestingForImpact Jordan Dargue Helen Oldham Heather Waters Jessica Jackson, Delyth Lloyd Edwards, Vicky Mears, Sophie Dale-Black PhD Katherine Megson Naomi N. Ian S Dixon Lorna Green Claire Lewis Tara Attfield-Tomes Hephzi Pemberton