Apply by the 30th September
According to The Gender Index, just 7% of West Midlands based companies receiving angel investment and 6% of those receiving VC investment so far this year, are female led.
The Women Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition aims to promote high potential women led businesses in the region and create a platform for female founders to connect, build their investor networks, hone their pitching skills and develop their knowledge of how to attract investment.
It will see up to five high growth potential women led businesses pitch live to a panel of leading investors. At the end of the evening, just one business will be selected as the judges “one to watch” and winner of the competition.
Our 2024 judges will include:
- Sandy Reid, Fund Principal for the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II for the East and South East Midlands at Mercia Asset Management
- Jordan Dargue, Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures, a founder, senior executive, investor, NED and seasoned investment expert
Applications will also be reviewed by a Finalist Selection Panel:
- Sharonjit Clare, Independent Chair of the WMCA Race Equalities task force, entrepreneur & investor
- Deb Leary OBE, Scale Up Director – Innovate UK Business Growth, tech entrepreneur and DBT export champion
- Nigel Hall, Chair, Board Advisor, NED, Mentor to Founder Entrepreneurs in Tech & Innovation startups and scaleups
Shortlisted applicants will receive a one-to-one briefing with a trained advisor to review and refine their pitch before taking part in the competition on the evening of the 13th November.
Slingshot