Welcome to our February Update!

As we approach International Women’s Day next month, it’s disappointing to see statistics showing the funding gap for female founders has actually worsened.

At PACP, we’re proud of our extensive portfolio of female founder clients and our shared successes with scaling up and fundraising. We’re also delighted to theme 2 events on Female Founders next month, showcasing investment opportunities and a workshop with expert insights.

Online Speed Pitch Event

• Female Founders Pitching Investment Opportunities
• Wednesday 12th March 2025, 2pm-3pm (UK Time)
• Click here to register

Online Female Founder Event

• Are You Ready To Scale?
• Wednesday 26th March 2025, 2pm-3pm (UK Time)
• Click here to register

The Challenge Continues For Female Founders As Funding Gap Worsens…

Recent data from Beauhurst highlighted that the funding gap for female founders in the UK has actually worsened in the last year; in the first half of 2024, female founders received just 1.8% (£145m) of total equity investment of £8bn, down from 2.3% in 2023.

The disappointing data prompted Co-Chair of the government-backed Invest in Women Taskforce, Debbie Wosskow, to say “we are heading in the wrong direction, and this trend isn’t simply unjust, it’s a missed opportunity.”

The missed opportunity is massive, as highlighted in The Times this week in an article headlined “Female-Led Firms Outperform Rivals: So Why Is Raising Cash So Hard?”

It referred to statistics that suggest women are actually better at running businesses and more likely to achieve success, citing research from the Kauffman Foundation that found female-led tech teams generated a 35% higher return on investment than all-male teams.

The evidence is there, but communicating it and breaking the glass ceiling continues to be a challenge.

Our Partner Successes With Female Founders Scaling Up and Fundraising

Despite these challenges, we’re incredibly proud of our growing portfolio of Female Founder clients, who our partners support with scaling up and preparation for fundraising, often continuing on the journey all the way through to advising on exit strategies and deals.

Our female partners have a unique depth of understanding to support women entrepreneurs, helping them to survive, pivot, succeed, achieve rapid growth and maximum value through hands on, practical advice delivered peer to peer.

Their first-hand experience of navigating the complexities of growing a business and fundraising has shaped their approach to mentoring and championing female founders as they scale up.

Our partners Sharon O’Connor, Hanim Dogan-Jain, Caroline Liddon and Pippa Bazalgette have extensive knowledge and expertise across various sectors, including Consumer, Healthcare, Tech, AI, ClimateTech and EduTech, and also internationally, including the Middle East and Africa.

And our female founder clients love working with our female partners…

Jen Fuller – Founder of Etta Loves:

“Sharon is the ultimate adviser for my business. She is supportive, knowledgable and full of empathy for the challenges that being a sole female founder brings.”

Janice Schekter – Founder of KasiKonnect:

“Hanim’s insights into the investment market have really supported our fundraising journey. As a seasoned multi-exit entrepreneur, she brings invaluable guidance.”

Founders looking for scale up support or investors looking for investment opportunities with our founder clients, please get in touch with our partners – click here for all our partner profiles.

• Online Speed Pitch Event
• Female Founders Pitching Investment Opportunities
• Wednesday 12th March 2025, 2pm-3pm (UK Time)

Featuring several of our Female Founder clients pitching their early-stage and growing businesses to an audience of venture capital investors, angel investors, family offices and UHNWI’s.

Our experts will give insights and feedback and there will be an opportunity for investors to ask questions directly to the founders.

Investors – click here to register to attend.

• Online Female Founder Event
• Are You Ready to Scale and Fundraise?
• Wednesday 26th March 2025, 2pm-3pm (UK Time)

Featuring a panel of experts giving insights into how to breakthrough, grow and be investor ready.

A great opportunity to learn from sector specialists who have experienced it all first-hand and gain tips and advice on scaling up and fundraising.

Click here to register to attend.