Women to Women (W2W) Programme

Applications currently closed - register your interest for future programmes:

A peer-powered investment accelerator for female founders and investor-curious women

Where founders meet funders, and investment becomes accessible, practical and powerful

From previous cohorts, there’s been more than £1.6 million raised by founders, and 45% of investor participants have gone on to become angel investors. That’s the impact of the Women to Women Programme only so far.

Applications are currently closed. Please register your interest for future programmes below to be the first to hear about open applications.

The W2W Programme Experience

The Women-to-Women programme is not a typical accelerator.

It’s an in-person programme designed to bridge the gap between female founders seeking investment and women ready to explore angel investing for the first time.

Delivered by AccelerateHER and Investing Women Angels, W2W is where knowledge meets community, and ambition finds its runway.

Founders learn from real founders who’ve raised millions, investors who’ve backed some of Scotland’s most exciting startups, and women just like you, navigating investment for the first time with curiosity and courage.

Investor Curious?

“You don’t need to be wealthy. You don’t need to be experienced. You just need to be curious.”

– Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO and Owner of AccelerateHER

Investor Curious?

“Women don’t need permission. They need education, support and a network to invest in others.”

– Lucy Henderson, Chair of Investing Women Angels

Why the W2W Programme Matters

W2W was created to close the gender gap in investment by supporting women on both sides of the table.

Whether you’re raising capital or learning to deploy it, W2W gives you the tools, mindset and network to act with clarity and confidence.

And it’s working.

From previous cohorts, there’s been more than £1.6 million raised by founders
45% of investor participants have become angel investors.
Lasting relationships formed between founders and first-time investors
Confidence unlocked, not just knowledge delivered

Is W2W For You?

Yes, if you’re:

A female founder in Scotland running an early-stage, innovation-led company and preparing for investment
A woman who’s curious about angel investing but unsure where to start
Ready to learn in an open, ego-free, in-person environment designed for beginners and builders alike

W2W creates space for real conversations and real learning. There’s no question too small, no jargon left unexplained. Just shared ambition, practical advice, and women lifting women.

What You’ll Gain as a Participant

By the end of W2W, you’ll have:

Built trusted peer connections with founders and investors
Gained a clear understanding of early-stage investment, and what makes a business fundable
Learned how to pitch, answer investor questions, and understand what they’re really asking
Explored deal mechanics like SEIS/EIS, cap tables, due diligence and valuation
Created a personal action plan – whether you’re preparing to raise or ready to make your first investment
Heard real, unfiltered stories from women who’ve done it all before
Become part of a long-term movement to increase female representation in Scotland’s startup ecosystem

Why This Programme Works

“You do not know what you do not know. Be open, trust the process and let yourself be guided. The clarity comes quickly once you’re in it. You’re not just learning about investment, you’re learning to see your business through an investor’s eyes.”

“W2W pushed me beyond the ‘doing’ and into a leadership mindset. I’ve levelled up.”

“The best thing about W2W is the honesty and openness in the room. Everyone’s there to learn, share, and support each other.”

“W2W helps shift that mindset. It helps women turn up to those conversations with clarity and confidence, and the belief that they belong in the room.”

What The Programme Looks Like

Format: Five in-person sessions across five weeks
Location: Central Edinburgh
Cost: Free to participants, thanks to support from the Scottish Government, Burness Paull LLP, and Johnston Carmichael
Commitment: All sessions are in-person and designed to build trust. Full participation matters.

Based in England?

We also saw a significant level of interest from founders and investor-curious women based in England for our last cohort.

This demand matters.

We are actively testing interest in bringing the Women to Women programme to England and speaking with potential partners who could help make that happen. The level of demand (which we are already seeing) will directly shape what comes next.

If you are based in England and would love to take part in a future W2W programme, please register your interest now so you are the first to hear when applications open again.

If you are an organisation that would be keen to partner with us on this programme in Scotland, England, or UK-wide, then drop us a line; we’d love to talk

“The value of W2W isn’t just in the content, it’s in the connection. It’s what happens when women show up for each other and learn side by side.”

Powered by Partnership

W2W is made possible through the generous support of:

Scottish Government
Scottish National Investment Bank
Burness Paull LLP
Johnston Carmichael
AccelerateHER
Investing Women Angels

“Every time someone from the Bank attends, we walk away both humbled and inspired. W2W is changing the face of investment in Scotland, and we’re proud to play a part.”

What The Programme Looks Like

Format: Five in-person sessions across five weeks
Location: Central Edinburgh
Cost: Free to participants, thanks to support from the Scottish Government, Burness Paull LLP, and Johnston Carmichael
Commitment: All sessions are in-person and designed to build trust. Full participation matters.

“The value of W2W isn’t just in the content, it’s in the connection. It’s what happens when women show up for each other and learn side by side.”

Powered by Partnership

W2W is made possible through the generous support of:

Scottish Government
Scottish National Investment Bank
Burness Paull LLP
Johnston Carmichael
AccelerateHER
Investing Women Angels

“Every time someone from the Bank attends, we walk away both humbled and inspired. W2W is changing the face of investment in Scotland, and we’re proud to play a part.”

Interested in the next Women to Women Programme?

If you’ve ever thought:

“I’m not sure if I’m ready to raise.”
“I’ve always wanted to learn about angel investing.”
“I just want to be in the room with women who get it.”

Then W2W is the place for you.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to be curious.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

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