News

Published: June 16, 2025 Perci Health, an all-female founded digital health company, has just raised £3 million in new investment, bringing its total funding to £7.7 million. The round was led by Octopus Ventures, with backing from Guinness Ventures, The Conduit Impact Fund, and Macmillan Cancer Support, among others. The company is pioneering a virtual cancer clinic, powered by AI and human…

The UK’s ongoing gender funding gap is back in the spotlight as MPs call on the British Business Bank (BBB) to take decisive action. At a recent summit, government representatives urged the Bank to implement quotas on venture capital investment committees—a move designed to unlock more funding for female entrepreneurs. While the BBB has made strides in recent years—including…

A new study by AXA UK highlights the enduring challenges faced by female entrepreneurs when it comes to accessing investment and being taken seriously in the business world. Based on a survey of 500 women business owners, the report reveals that nearly 1 in 3 female founders (30%) believe investors don’t take them seriously—a troubling insight that continues to…

At Invest in Women Hub, we often shine a light on female founders—but just as crucial to their success are the people on the other side of the table: the investors. A recent Financial Times article has reignited an urgent call: we need more women making investment decisions. Why? Because female investors are significantly more likely to back female-led…

In a landmark step toward inclusive economic growth, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has appointed Alex Depledge MBE as the UK Treasury’s first-ever Entrepreneurship Adviser. A seasoned founder and tireless advocate for women in business, Depledge’s appointment signals a welcome shift in how the UK government is approaching startup and scale-up support. As co-founder of Resi—a digital architecture platform—Depledge brings firsthand experience of…

In a strong indication of growing momentum within the female founder ecosystem, startups led or co‑founded by women secured over $145 million in venture capital across the UK and Europe last week. This concentrated activity reflects increasing investor confidence in women-led innovation—particularly in high-growth sectors such as AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, and e-commerce. 🔹 Treefera (UK) raised $12M to expand…

Cambridge, UK – 19 June 2025The Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge Business School today hosted a highly anticipated Female Founders Day – Peer Mentoring event, bringing together women entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and business leaders for a day dedicated to collaboration, mentorship, and shared growth. Organised under the Accelerate Cambridge programme, the event aimed to foster stronger networks and provide…

n a bold move to address the chronic funding gap for female entrepreneurs, Angel Academe—co-founded by Sarah Turner—has launched the UK’s first Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) fund specifically dedicated to backing tech companies with women in leadership. The fund, which aims to raise £1.2 million by September 2025, is already off to a strong start with £120,000…

The British Business Bank has committed £7m to a new platform enabling it to invest alongside five emerging angel syndicates. The platform will be managed by Haatch, who are an existing partner of the Bank. The initial cohort of five angel syndicates have been selected by the British Business Bank, including two female-led groups: HERMESA and…

The Invest in Women Taskforce has unveiled the newly-selected Fund of Funds Manager – Bootstrap Europe. Bootstrap Europe will manage the groundbreaking “Women backing Women” fund. This is what Stephanie Heller, Bootstrap had to say: “As a general partner of an asset management fund and a founder of a fintech startup, I have witnessed first-hand…