A new government initiative is to boost the next generation of fast-growth female founders.
The ‘Taskforce on Women-Led High-Growth Enterprises’ aims to support women entrepreneurs, tackle investing barriers and increase the number of women-led fast-growing businesses.
Chaired by Anne Boden, CEO and founder of Starling Bank, the Taskforce features a star-studded array of women from the business and investment community. You can see the full list below.
The members will use their combined expertise and connections to work collaboratively with organisations across the UK to support the government target of increasing the number of female entrepreneurs by half by 2030 – equivalent to nearly 600,000 – with a particular focus on growth capital.
The government said the Taskforce will build on the work of the Rose Review, which found that breaking down the barriers for women entrepreneurs could boost the economy by £250 billion.
It will use its convening power to influence high-growth investors, the wider business community, and to raise the aspirations of the next generation of female entrepreneurs, especially looking to encourage women based outside of the capital.
Only 1 in 3 UK entrepreneurs is a woman – a gender gap equivalent to 1.1 million missing businesses, and male-led SMEs are five times more likely to scale up to £1 million turnover than female-led SMEs.
Boden said: “More women than ever are starting new businesses and many of them are scaling-up their companies.
“The Taskforce aims to give women entrepreneurs the tools to take their businesses to the next level: access to finance and growth capital, technology adoption and leadership skills.
“The Taskforce’s work will provide a blueprint for all entrepreneurs to follow.”
The Taskforce members
June Angelides MBE – investment manager, Samos & CEO and founder, Mums in Tech
Alexandra Depledge MBE – CEO and founder, Resi
Poppy Gustafsson OBE – CEO and co-founder, Darktrace
Judith Hartley – CEO of British patient capital & British business investments, British Business Bank
Zandra Moore – CEO and co-founder, Panintelligence
Deepali Nangia – partner, Speedinvest and co-founder, Alma Angels
Jan Putnis – partner, Slaughter and May
Angela Scott – founder and COO, TC BioPharm Ltd
Emma Sinclair MBE – co-founder and CEO, EnterpriseAlumni
Helen Steers – partner, Pantheon Ventures
Sam Smith – founder and CEO, finnCap Group Plc
Francesca Warner – co-founder and partner, Ada Ventures