A nationwide day of events under the new banner of ‘National Women’s Angel Day’ has been launched to combat the low numbers of female business angels in the UK
Angels Lounge, a joint initiative by Angels Den, Addidi and Finance South East, will stage the inaugural National Women’s Angel Day on Wednesday 9th June 2010.
To mark the launch a day of events will take place across the country to inform and inspire women to become business angels. Angels Lounge aims to double the number of business angels in the UK by 2015, and is calling for women with £5000 or more to invest to consider the UK’s dynamic start-up scene. Thousands of small and medium-sized companies are looking for additional funding at any one time.
The events are intended to provide a platform for female investors to learn more about angel investing, network with other angels and find a suitable forum to invest individually or collectively in start ups and growth businesses.
Despite women owning nearly half the wealth in the UK, women business angels still represent approximately 5% of all angels investing in entrepreneurs today, according to research. This ‘staggeringly low figure’, compares particularly badly when contrasted with the US where 15% of angels are women, and countries like France and Poland where almost a third are women
Anna Sofat, founder of Addidi commented: ‘Women are excellent investors and make natural business angels as they are good at building relationships and working collaboratively.’
‘Shows like Dragons Den where a succession of trembling entrepreneurs are ‘slayed’ by the ‘dragons’ has led to Angel investment being seen as a macho arena and we need to address this urgently.’
Finance South East chief executive Sally Goodsell added; ‘Whilst research shows that angel investing carries risks, investing in SMEs can bring attractive returns.
‘Women are in a position to bring both their financial capacity, business skills and experience to support the growth and success of innovating small businesses, offering the potential for significant returns.’
Angels Lounge is a joint initiative between Angels Den, one of Europe’s leading Angel networks with over 3000 business angels, Addidi, the boutique lifestyle wealth management business for women, and Finance South East, a regional funding organisation that specialises in the identification, funding and development of ambitious, high potential growth businesses.
>> To attend any of the events running on National Women’s Angel Day, which will run in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol and Leeds on 9th June, visit www.angelslounge.co.uk.
http://www.angelsden.co.uk/
www.angelslounge.co.uk
http://www.financesoutheast.com/
Tags: Addidi Business Angels, Alternative Business Funding, Angels, Business angels, Dragons, finacing, small business, small businesses, sme, SMEs, start-up, Starting a Business, tabitha cole, tips
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