A fast-growing investment platform for eCommerce entrepreneurs, Fearless Adventures, has made two senior appointments to its management team in newly created roles.

Oli Connolly joins the Wilmslow-headquartered company as investment director and will be responsible for all of its deal flow origination, from curation to execution, accelerating the business’s coverage and capacity. 

Across his career, Connolly has worked with high-growth startups and private equity-backed firms across the North, having previously served in senior deal origination roles with prominent corporate law firms in the North West. 

Emily Smithies joins as investor relations director. This will see her manage relationships with Fearless Adventures’ growing investor community, supporting stakeholders, driving growth plans and working with the financial community to deliver efficient and successful fundraises. Previously, she held senior positions in the North West at Coutts Bank and Natwest. 

“In addition to the strength in depth that Emily and Oli bring, our new hires reinforce our commitment to senior female leaders in business,” said Rachel McDonald, Fearless Adventures MD. 

“We support female founders, our senior management team is majority female and we’re a recent signatory to the Investing in Women’s Code, which means we support the advancement of female entrepreneurship in the UK. 

“I’m super excited to work with them, and I know our investors and partners will benefit hugely from their experience, expertise and enthusiasm.”

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Smithies said: “I joined because we’re bringing a fresh approach to the investment space. From the way we model our investments to the support we provide for our founders, it’s something I’ve not come across before. 

“We are genuinely challenging the status quo when it comes to what an investment partner should look like. Our co-founders understand exactly what a founder needs to succeed, which has ultimately shaped our investment model – it’s built by founders, for founders.”