Angel Academe
Angel Academe is the UK’s leading angel network backing early-stage, high-growth businesses with at least one female founder. Since 2014, the network has backed 48+ businesses, helping them raise over £150 million from angels, VCs and family offices to continue to grow their businesses.
We invest in early-stage, ambitious and highly scalable technology startups with at least 1 woman on the founding team.
As a network, we have an appetite for calculated risk & potentially higher returns than other asset classes. 70% of us are women, but men who want to be part of a diverse network are also very welcome. We have structured processes for thorough due diligence and supporting the businesses post-investment.
Angel Academe portfolio companies not only benefit from access to smart, engaged, diverse capital, but also timely introductions, industry-specific expertise and a growing community of founders and funders.
Investment criteria:
- You’re a female founder or co-founder who owns at least 20% of founder equity in the business (pre-dilution). You will run the fundraising activity with our investors.
- Your technology startup has an innovative solution to an important global problem in areas including fin tech, med tech (digital and devices), ed tech, cyber security, clean tech and enterprise.
- You have relevant industry, technical and startup experience in your team and a strong vision for the future of your business.
- You have a working product, business model and market traction.
- B2B businesses are preferred but we will consider B2C opportunities with significant and growing revenue, ideally recurring.
- You can articulate clear differentiation from your competition and good barriers to entry for potential new entrants.
- You’re addressing a large global market and can show how you will return a minimum 10X to investors within 3-10 years.
- You’re a UK business with a £1 million – £15 million pre-money valuation and eligible for SEIS and/or EIS tax relief.
- You’re raising £250,000-£5,000,000 of equity investment in a priced round.
- You’re able and willing to work with external advisors and recognise the value of a diverse cap table.
We run weekly screening & selection calls with our screening committee, and monthly pitch events for our investor network. The best way to apply to pitch the network is through the link below – no warm intro needed!