Urgent call for aspiring women investors to unlock £2.6 billion for the regional economy

Less than a week remains for women to apply for a groundbreaking programme tackling one of the region’s most persistent economic inequalities.

‘A New Era for Women Angels in York and North Yorkshire’ comes after research led by the University of York and the Federation of Small Businesses revealed that male-only founding teams have raised £3.5 million, while female-only teams have secured just £62,000.

Prof Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York and Professor of Entrepreneurship, who led the research, said:

“Female entrepreneurs possess the ambition, the ideas and the capability to transform our regional economy; what they have been denied is the investment and support to match it. This is not a funding gap, it is a missed economic opportunity of enormous scale. Our research reveals that closing this imbalance could unlock £2.6 billion for our region and create 165,000 jobs. The evidence is unambiguous and our responsibility is clear: As a region, we have a responsibility to build the partnerships, networks and influence to turn that potential into prosperity because the cost of inaction is simply too high.”

The initiative, delivered in partnership with Lifted Ventures and Enterprise Works at the University of York, offers 15 funded places on the Lifted Angel Academy, a ten-week programme designed to give women the confidence, knowledge and networks to invest with conviction.

Sam Gardner, Director of Enterprise Works, said:

“York and North Yorkshire has an incredible pipeline of female entrepreneurial talent, but access to investment remains a barrier. This programme is about changing that and will equip more women to invest and drive meaningful growth.”

It’s open to women from all backgrounds, whether you are completely new to angel investing or have already made a few investments and want to deepen your understanding.
Helen Oldham, Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures, added:

“Angel investors don’t just bring capital, they bring connections, insight and self-belief. By increasing the number of women angels, we strengthen the entire ecosystem and open up opportunities for founders who’ve been overlooked for too long.”

Applications close on Wednesday 13th May 2026, with the first cohort launching at York Guildhall the following week.
For more information visit: https://liftedventures.co.uk/university-of-york-angel-programme/

Women do not need to be based in North Yorkshire to apply but should have a genuine interest in supporting businesses in the region.