Women, STEM and Investment: Closing the Gender Gap

As part of the Women Backing Women campaign this event brings together female STEM researchers and female founders of STEM based spinouts with female Business Angels. STEM based spinouts play a key role in the UK innovation ecosystem, yet only 15% of these companies have at least a female founder. Our research highlighted that a major challenge for female founders is securing investment to develop and grow their businesses. The Women Angel Insights Report shows that female business angel investors are more likely to invest in female founded companies. However, female angel investors represent only 14% of their investment community.

About the event

This event will offer an opportunity for female researchers, founders and investors to join forces to increase women’s representation in the innovation ecosystem by providing a forum for:

• High level debate
• Sharing experiences and expertise
• Fostering dialogue to develop solutions
  Networking
• Female researchers and founders Poster Showcase (please see registration form)

Who should attend?

• Female researchers in STEM at different stages of their careers, including early career researchers and PhD students, interested in spinouts and start-ups
• Female investors and women interested in becoming Business Angel Investors, especially from the STEM community
• Technology Transfer Officers and other professionals that support spinouts and start-up development
• Other stakeholders and anyone interested in the topic

Speakers

• Prof Michele Barbour – Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Bristol
• Jenny Tooth OBE – Executive Chair at UK Business Angels Association
• Dr Natalie Curtis – Co-Founder and CEO of Oxford Target Therapeutics
• Dr Olivia Champion – Founder and CEO of Entec Nutrition
• Dr Emma Hayhurst – Co-founder of Llusern Scientific, Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award Winner 2022
• Ana Avaliani – Director of Enterprise and Sustainable Development at the Royal Academy of Engineering
• Priya Guha – Advisor & Venture Partner in technology and innovation
• Dr Emily Nott – Head of Diversity and Inclusion Programmes at Innovate UK
• Pam Garside – Partner Newhealth, Chair Cambridge Angels, Fellow Judge Business School University of Cambridge
• Professor Kylie Vincent – Oxford University Academic Champion for Women in Entrepreneurship

Find out more