If you’re a female founder building in the UK right now, the timing has never been better.
Not because the gender funding gap is fixed (it’s not), but because something powerful is shifting. More women are becoming angel investors and backing more female-led startups.
That means access to smarter capital, more inclusive investor conversations, and opportunities aligning with your founder journey.
Let’s break down what’s happening and how you can use it to your advantage.
The Data: A Landscape Still Catching Up
The numbers are blunt:
- Only 14% of UK angel investors are women. 1
- Just 2% of UK venture funding goes to all-female founding teams. 2
- Women-founded businesses are far less likely to secure early capital, even with the same credentials.
But here’s what’s changing:
- Angel Academe now has 70% women angels.
- Investing Women is growing its portfolio and community across Scotland.
- A £250M fund was launched in 2024 as part of the Invest in Women Taskforce and Women Backing Women campaign.
- The Rose Review shows female entrepreneurship could add £250B to the UK economy. 3
Translation: the ecosystem is waking up. And real money is moving.
Why This Matters for Female Founders
Female angels don’t just invest differently. They evaluate differently.
Research and observation suggest that female angels often bring distinct perspectives to evaluation:
- More emphasis on team strength, not just technical credentials.
- More openness to diverse routes to traction.
- More empathy for balancing ambition with life outside work.
It also means:
- You may not need to over-justify your vision.
- You may finally feel like your lived experience is your unfair advantage.
But this doesn’t mean the bar is lower. It means the playing field is starting to level.
The Networks Backing Women
Here are the groups you need to know:
Angel Academe
- 70% women angels.
- Invests in female-founded tech startups (founder must hold 20%+ equity).
- Participates in tech funding rounds typically from £250k–£5M, with Angel Academe’s direct investment often ranging from £150k-£1.5M.
- In late 2023/early 2024, launched an EIS fund for female founders, one of the first of its kind in the UK.
Investing Women
- Based in Edinburgh.
- Supports female entrepreneurs through mentoring, pitch events, and angel education.
- Active across Scotland.
Women Backing Women Campaign
- Government and ecosystem-backed movement to grow the female investor base.
- Tied to Rose Review and UKBAA-led initiatives.
- A major fund was announced in 2024 to support women-founded businesses.
Rose Review Insights
- Female entrepreneurs could add £250B to the UK economy.
- Barriers persist: access to funding, networks, and investor bias.
- There is a strong correlation between the presence of female investors and funded female founders.
How to Leverage This Trend as a Female Founder
1. Build Relationships in the Right Rooms
Attend pitch events, webinars, and meetups run by female-focused networks. Join mentoring programmes and ask to get matched with relevant angels.
2. Structure Your Round for SEIS/EIS
Most female-focused angel groups use SEIS/EIS to de-risk deals. Ensure you’re eligible, and apply for Advance Assurance early.
3. Make Your Equity Story Clear
Many networks require female founders to hold a minimum equity share (e.g., 20%+ in Angel Academe). Be upfront about your cap table.
4. Play to Your Strengths
Your domain expertise, story, resilience, and insight into underserved audiences matter. Don’t bury them to look like someone else. Highlight what makes you distinct.
5. Ask for Warm Intros
The right introduction can skip the cold pitch pile. Use alum founders, mentors, or accelerator contacts to help you get in the room.
The Door is Opening. Walk Through It.
Female angel investment in the UK isn’t a future trend—it’s happening now.
More women with capital are choosing to back businesses they believe in. More networks are actively looking for female founders. And more founders like you are raising successfully, on your terms.
You don’t need to change who you are to get funded. You just need the right room.
If you’re ready to raise, but unsure how to navigate the ecosystem or get pitch-ready, I help female founders tell powerful fundraising stories, structure smart rounds, and connect with aligned investors. Let’s help you find it.