W2W aims to increase Scottish female angel investor numbers
Scotland’s first all-female business angel syndicate, Investing Women Angels (IWA), and its sister organisation AccelerateHER have launched a new initiative designed to attract more businesswomen into angel investing – an imperative in addressing the equity gap between male and female-led companies. W2W is a first for Scotland which uniquely brings together existing women investors and […]
Scotland must normalise female founder investment
Research published by Young Company Finance (YCF) last month, barely a week after we marked International Women’s Day, raises serious concerns for female entrepreneurs in Scotland. The study found that investment into female-founded businesses actually fell from an already low base compared to male-led businesses in 2023 with the median amount raised by women per […]
Investing in women isn’t a social obligation – it’s an economic imperative
by AccelerateHER CEO and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Heriot-Watt University, Elizabeth Pirrie 2022 saw over 150,000 women in the UK start their own businesses – twice as many as 2018. This groundswell of female entrepreneurship highlights a huge economic opportunity waiting to be tapped, and compelling data shows that backing more women-led firms can accelerate growth, innovation […]
SMASH wins AI accolade as fundraise nears £500K
My SMASH Media, a disruptive AI matchmaking platform for the creative Industries,is nearing half a million pounds of investment as it targets the fast-growing globalcontent streaming market. My SMASH Media matches content creators like script writers with buyers like thestreaming services, production companies and broadcasters, using sophisticatedSector knowledge combined with AI matchmaking, to anticipate industry […]
Dundee showcase to feature ‘next generation’ of Scotland-based Female Founders
Pitch event secures Scottish National Investment Bank and British Business Bank as key sponsors Some of Scotland’s most innovative female-led businesses will take centre stage at Dundee’s V&A Museum later this week at an event hosted by AccelerateHER. The AccelerateHER Showcase, taking place on Thursday, 14 March, will feature 14 exceptional female founders who will present […]
AccelerateHER research reveals appetite for growth amongst UK female founders
92% say businesses are scalable but finance and network-building remain key obstacles The findings of new research by AccelerateHER, released on International Women’s Day (Friday, 8th March), show a strong appetite for growth amongst UK female company founders. The survey, which involved 316 female founders from all four home nations of the UK, showed that […]
Pathways Pledge initiative launches with first signatories
AccelerateHER, CivTech, CodeBase, Deloitte, Eos Advisory, Scottish EDGE, and Scottish National Investment Bank commit to actions aligned with the principles set out in Ana Stewart’s Pathways report Pathways Forward has launched its Pledge initiative with leading organisations committing to actionable steps aligned with the principles set out in the Pathways report, with their performance measured […]
AccelerateHER to stage Inverness Hackathon event for female founders
Aspiring female business founders from across the Highlands are being invited to attend an innovative event aimed at helping them overcome technology challenges in developing a business. The Inverness Hackathon, hosted by AccelerateHER in partnership with Techscaler, is a free-to-attend event taking place in the city’s Kingsmill Hotel on Thursday 7th March. Tailored to female […]
100 companies take part in The Female Founders Accelerator programme
A new programme supporting innovative, female-led technology businesses has been launched with 100 participants from across the UK. The Female Founders Accelerator, powered by Barclays Eagle Labs and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is being delivered by Scottish-based AccelerateHER and will run over nine weeks. There was intense interest in the […]
Winners announced at the Scottish Asian and Business Awards
After months of anticipation the winners of the 16th Scottish Asian & Business Awards 2023 presented by Lookers Glasgow and Jaguar Land Rover have been announced. The Awards showcase the strength of the Asian community, the impact they have on Scotland’s culture & economy, and highlight their progression over the last year. We were delighted […]