What Lifted Ventures does

Lifted Ventures is a Leeds-headquartered, gender-smart investment network founded in September 2023 by Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham to increase early-stage capital flow to female founders in UK regions outside London and the South East. It operates a two-sided model combining founder investment-readiness programmes (Athena Labs, Athena Scale, Elevate Her, BREE, UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator) with angel investor education (Lifted Angel Academy, TECH SY x Lifted, University of York programme) and a curated angel investment network (Lifted Angel Network) that holds monthly pitch events and produces flagship conferences (Athena Festival, Athena VC, Women Angels Conference).

The firm's core technology is operational rather than productised: HubSpot CRM, Zoom, Eventbrite, and WhatsApp communities support programme delivery, deal flow, and community management; no proprietary platform, AI models, APIs, or patents are disclosed. Selection of founders follows a multi-stage funnel (online pitch deck submission, two selection meetings with the co-founders, legal due diligence via Gordons LLP, pitch deck refinement, monthly pitch event).

Revenue is generated primarily through a 5% success fee on investments facilitated through the Lifted Angel Network; supplementary revenue comes from commissioned programme delivery fees paid by regional partners (West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Combined Authorities, Innovate UK, UK Export Finance, British Business Bank, National Innovation Centre for Ageing, universities of Bradford and York), a 15% equity stake in the BREE 18-month programme, and modest participant fees (£100 University of York commitment). The company operates with a 1-10 employee team (effectively co-founder-led) and runs a hybrid go-to-market combining community-led, event-driven, and partner-channel motions.

Name

Lifted Ventures

Legal name

Lifted Ventures

Website

https://liftedventures.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lifted Ventures is a Leeds-headquartered, co-founder-led investment network that combines founder investment-readiness programmes, angel investor education, and a curated angel network to channel early-stage capital to female founders in UK regions outside London and the South East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel investment network and venture capital facilitation

NAICS

Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Venture Capital Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI), Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Angel investment network
• Gender-smart investing
• Female founder accelerators
• Investment readiness education
• Venture capital facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Success fee on angel investments: Lifted Ventures works on a success fee basis, charging 5% on all investments made through their connections. All advisory and support services provided to founders on the journey to landing investment are free to access. This is the primary disclosed revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Lifted Ventures is a UK-based gender-smart investment network and accelerator that connects female founders seeking early-stage capital with angel investors, primarily in UK regions outside London and the South East. Its core commercial activity is the Lifted Angel Network, which curates deal flow, runs monthly pitch events, and earns a 5% success fee on investments facilitated through its connections. Around this it wraps free founder investment-readiness education (Athena Labs, Athena Scale), angel investor education (Lifted Angel Academy and partner programmes), and flagship events (Athena Festival, Athena VC Conference) that build community and pipeline.

Product overview

Lifted Ventures operates as a gender-smart investment organization offering a multi-layered portfolio of products and services for female founders and angel investors across the UK. The core offering comprises the Lifted Angel Network (investment platform connecting investors with female-founded businesses), supported by education through Lifted Angel Academy and specialized regional programmes (TECH SY x Lifted Angel Academy, University of York Angel Programme). For founders, Lifted provides Athena Labs (investment readiness accelerator), Athena Scale (scale-up programme), the UK Export Finance Female Founder Export Accelerator, and BREE Innovation Programme. The company also hosts flagship events including Athena Festival and Athena VC Conference, maintains a Female Founder Community, and publishes Blueprints for investors. All offerings are designed to increase capital flow to female founders and build regional investment ecosystems outside London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lifted Angel Network: Inclusive angel investor group on a mission to make the regions a hub for gender-smart investment.
• Athena Labs
• Athena Scale
• Athena Festival
• Athena VC
• Elevate Her Accelerator
• Lifted Angel Academy
• Lifted Female Founder Community

Products and services

• Lifted Angel Network Inclusive angel investor membership network connecting angel investors with female-founded businesses outside London and the South East. Members access curated deal flow through monthly online pitch events where carefully selected female founders present five-minute pitches followed by investor Q&A, with Lifted Ventures earning a 5% success fee on investments closed through the network.
• Lifted Angel Academy Structured beginner and advanced angel education programmes equipping aspiring and experienced investors with skills, knowledge, and confidence to navigate angel investing. Delivered through expert-led workshops and practical learning sessions covering EIS/SEIS investing, deal evaluation, and portfolio construction.
• Athena Labs Investment-readiness accelerator for female-led startups, offering workshops, pitch coaching, mentorship, and direct access to the Lifted Angel Network to prepare founders for fundraising. Includes the Athena Labs NICA Cohort 3 programme delivered in partnership with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing.
• Athena Scale Scale-up accelerator for women business leaders and female founders ready to grow beyond early stage. Provides strategic workshops, one-to-one coaching, curated investor introductions, and peer-to-peer support focused on growth-stage capital raising.
• Athena Festival The largest annual festival for female founders outside London, held in Leeds. Features inspiring keynotes, actionable workshops, curated networking, and a pitch competition. Serves as a flagship brand event and top-of-funnel acquisition tool for both founders seeking investment and investors seeking deal flow.
• Athena VC Conference The largest women-in-VC conference outside London and the South East, held in Leeds. Brings together 160+ investors, founders, and finance professionals and serves as a relationship-building event for investors and ecosystem partners.
• Female Founder Investment Support End-to-end investment facilitation service for female founders, from online application through pitch deck submission (HSForms), First and Second Selection meetings with the co-founders, legal due diligence with Gordons LLP, pitch deck refinement, and participation in monthly online pitch events. Operates on a success fee basis: founders pay nothing for advisory or support; a 5% fee is charged on investments made through Lifted connections.
• TECH SY x Lifted Angel Academy Fully funded angel education programme for up to 20 women in South Yorkshire, delivered in partnership with TECH SY, Barnsley Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, and the British Business Bank. Provides expert-led workshops, networking events, and practical learning sessions on angel investing fundamentals.
• University of York Angel Education Programme Ten-week angel education programme run by Lifted Angel Academy in partnership with University of York Enterprise Works. Targets 15 women in York and North Yorkshire, offering 15 funded places at a £100 commitment per participant. Runs mid-May to July 2026 with primarily virtual delivery.
• UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator Four-month accelerator programme in collaboration with UK Export Finance supporting 20 women-led businesses to expand globally. Combines UKEF's export finance expertise with Lifted Ventures' investment readiness support, including workshops, mentoring, coaching, and access to a Global Growth Showcase where founders pitch international growth plans to investors.
• BREE West Yorkshire Innovation Programme Innovation programme in partnership with Bradford-Renduchintala Enterprise Ecosystem (BREE), West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and the British Business Bank, offering women-led businesses in West Yorkshire two tracks: a six-month free investment accelerator and an 18-month equity-for-support track (15% shareholding for fully funded support, with option to reacquire 7.5% as the business grows for a capped sum of £12,500). Targets 20 women founders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every £1 of Lifted angel investment mobilises £35 in co-investment (2025)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TECH SYcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Launch of TECH SY x Lifted Angel Academy, a fully funded angel education programme designed to support up to 20 women investors across South Yorkshire. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (through Tech Town status awarded to Barnsley), South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Barnsley Council, and the British Business Bank. Provides expert-led workshops, networking events, and practical learning sessions on angel investing fundamentals.
• University of York Enterprise WorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026University of York in partnership with Lifted Ventures launching an Angel Education Programme (Lifted Angel Academy) designed to equip 15 women with the knowledge, confidence, and networks needed to begin investing in high-potential regional businesses. The 10-week programme runs mid-May to July 2026 with a £100 commitment per participant.
• National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) / Internet of Caring ThingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Partnership between Lifted Ventures and the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing's Internet of Caring Things (IoCT) to deliver the Athena Labs Growth and Funding Programme for female founders in the North East. NICA funds and commissions the programme
• Tilz ProsperitasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026UK-based multinational e-commerce and B2B company that hosted a cohort visit for the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator, providing founders with an inspiring and practical session focused on growth, funding, and international expansion from a fast-growing business's lived experience.
• UK Export Finance (UKEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026First-of-its-kind collaboration between UKEF and Lifted Ventures to deliver the UKEF Female Founder Export Accelerator — a four-month programme supporting women-led businesses to expand globally, scale faster, and access export finance. Culminates in a Global Growth Showcase where 20 female founders pitch their international growth plans to investors. The partnership combines UKEF's export finance expertise with Lifted Ventures' investment readiness support.
• Gordons LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 May 2025Strategic partnership with Leeds-based law firm Gordons LLP to provide legal expertise and support to female founders and angel investors in the Lifted ecosystem. Gordons provides due diligence support for founders selected for pitch events and contributes thought leadership (e.g., data management guide by Lauren Wills-Dixon, Head of Privacy).
• University of Bradford (BREE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2025Partnership with University of Bradford's Bradford-Renduchintala Enterprise Ecosystem (BREE) to deliver a women-led business innovation programme in West Yorkshire. The programme offers two tracks: a six-month free investment accelerator and an 18-month equity-for-support track. BREE provides academic facilities, technical resources, and international growth opportunities.
• Bruntwood SciTechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2025Partnership with Bruntwood SciTech to deliver a Female Founder Incubator targeting businesses in Leeds and Manchester. Part of Bruntwood SciTech's commitment to supporting diverse founders in the innovation ecosystem.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alma Angels: UK-based female-focused angel investor network that pools angels to invest in female-founded businesses. Direct comparable on customer (women angels + female founders), business model (syndicate/network), and gender-focused thesis; differs in being London-anchored without Lifted's regional exclusivity.
• Angel Academe: UK female-focused angel network investing in technology businesses led by or targeting women. Closely comparable in mission (gender-smart angel investing), service mix (angel education, curated deal flow), and revenue model (success fees / carried interest via syndicates).
• Women's Enterprise Angels: UK angel network focused specifically on backing female entrepreneurs with curated pitch events and syndicate investing. Comparable target audience (women angels + female founders) and deal-closure mechanism, although with a longer operating history.
• Mint Ventures: Female-led UK angel syndicate that has led rounds into Lifted-backed companies (e.g., MyBliss). Comparable business model (angel syndicate investing in female-founded businesses) and serves overlapping communities of women investors and female founders.

Broad incumbents

• Ada Ventures: Venture capital firm investing in underrepresented founders across the UK and Europe. Overlapping thesis (gender and diversity-led investing) but operates a pooled early-stage fund rather than an angel network, making it a broader incumbent rather than a direct peer.

Regional players

• Equity Gap: Scotland-based angel syndicate that has co-invested with Lifted (e.g., leading The Bettii Pod's £337k round). Comparable regional positioning (outside London), angel-syndicate economics, and female-founder-friendly deal flow.

Emerging players

• Worth Capital: UK investment platform enabling retail investors to back female founders via SEIS/EIS funds. Overlapping customer base (women founders, retail/aspiring angels) and gender-led thesis, but with a different capital-raising mechanism (pooled fund vs. angel network).

Others

• UK Business Angels Association: UK industry body for the business-angel ecosystem, of which Lifted co-founder Helen Oldham is a board member. Not a competitor, but an adjacent trade association providing governance standards, deal syndication infrastructure, and policy advocacy that complement Lifted's operations.
• British Business Bank: UK state-backed economic development bank that funds programmes Lifted helps deliver (BREE West Yorkshire). Functions as a commissioning partner and policy adjunct rather than a direct competitor; useful as a comparable for understanding public-sector commission economics.
• NorthInvest: Northern UK angel network previously co-led by Lifted co-founders Helen Oldham and Jordan Dargue. Closely related legacy entity whose regional mission and angel-network model Lifted is effectively superseding; comparable on regional focus and angel network services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liftedventures
• Xx.com/Lifted_Ventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments13 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lifted Ventures