AwakenAngels Celebrates One Year of Empowering Women in Investment in Ireland!
Time flies when you're on a mission for change! AwakenAngels, proudly supported by InterTradeIreland and the British Business Bank, is thrilled to celebrate our first birthday. In just 12 months, we have made significant strides toward democratising investment for women connected to Ireland—and we’re just getting started.
“We are excited about the ongoing development and growth of our community and the high-quality, curated deal flow we can offer to our investors. The enthusiasm and support from our syndicate members is incredible, and we are committed to fostering an environment where women entrepreneurs based anywhere in Ireland can thrive.”
— Mary McKenna, Chair, AwakenAngels
The Challenge: Bridging the Gender Gap in Investment
The statistics are sobering: globally, less than 2% of VC funding goes to women-founded teams, and in the UK, only 14% of angel investors are women. Here in Ireland, women-led companies made up just 24% of those raising funding in 2023. These glaring disparities highlight a critical challenge that demands our attention—and, most importantly, action.
The Opportunity: A Transforming Landscape
Positive change is on the horizon - Women are set to inherit 70% of global wealth over the next two generations, with projections that they will own 50% of wealth in Ireland by 2025. As financial independence grows, more women are seeking investment opportunities to enhance their wealth and achieve their financial goals. Research shows that women entrepreneurs not only generate higher revenues but also create more jobs and provide better returns on investment than their male counterparts. The potential for growth in the investment landscape is undeniable.
Our Mission and Progress: Empowering Through Education, Community, and Investment
At AwakenAngels, we are committed to closing the gender and diversity gap in early-stage funding and entrepreneurship in Ireland through three key pillars:
Education: We believe that knowledge is power. That’s why we offer a comprehensive, CPD-certified nine-module training programme designed for both novice and experienced investors. With the support of our partners, we've successfully trained 57 new angel investors, and our fourth cohort begins on October 8th.
Community: Building a vibrant, supportive community is at the heart of what we do. Our diverse members—60% from the Republic of Ireland, 24% from Northern Ireland, and 16% from the Irish diaspora—enrich our ecosystem. We've hosted 15 innovative events, including pitch nights and fireside chats, to connect aspiring investors with seasoned experts. This diversity enhances our capacity to support a wide range of ventures and drives success across different sectors and regions.
Investment: We’re not just about education; we’re driving real change through action by facilitating investments directly into women-led businesses. Our growing portfolio includes leading names like Precision Sports Technology and ITUS Secure Technologies, with five more exciting ventures in the pipeline in sectors ranging from deep tech to food manufacturing.
A Year of Progress and Reflection
“It has been an incredibly busy first year for AwakenAngels, but one that has had a meaningful impact. From training angel investors and hosting community events to appointing an advisory board packed with experience and a US Ambassador, there has been a lot of heavy lifting. Additionally, ongoing investments will help significantly move the dial when it comes to funding female founders. The British Business Bank is proud to partner with AwakenAngels, and we look forward to the strong momentum continuing into year two & beyond.” Susan Nightingale, Director Devolved Nations, British Business Bank
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to reshaping the investment landscape for women in Ireland and beyond. Together, we can break down barriers, create opportunities, and champion equity for women founders. Join us on this exciting journey. Let’s awaken the angels within us and lead the charge towards actively deploying capital into women-led businesses. In the words of Elvis, “A little less conversation, a little more action”
Achievements and Future Outlook
During our first year, we have expanded our reach and influence significantly. We appointed Jane McCooey as our first AwakenAngels US Ambassador, based in New York, joining our Global Diaspora Ambassador, Mary Ann Pierce, to grow our US-based community of investors.
Additionally, we formed an advisory board of directors, bringing together a distinguished array of expertise in business growth, investment, and the start-up ecosystem, poised to make a significant impact on the landscape for women founders in Ireland.
Meet our Advisory Board Members:
Ronan Dunne: Chairman of Six Nations Rugby, Non-Executive Director at Marks & Spencer, and former CEO of Verizon and O2.
Áine Kerr: Entrepreneur, exited founder, journalist, and broadcaster.
Gillian McColgan: Angel investor, expert advisor, board member, and exited entrepreneur with a proven track record in guiding startups to success.
Dr. Bryan Keating, CBE: Managing Partner at CIP Partnership and a Board Member at Catalyst, with over four decades of experience as a director and investor in technology businesses.
“InterTradeIreland would like to congratulate AwakenAngels on the significant progress they have made over the last year in their quest to create even more opportunities for women founders and investors across the island. We are confident of even more progress in the future as we support AwakenAngels with planned Angel Investor training later in the year. We wholeheartedly support the drive to empower women investors and create a supportive community across the island that allows women to collaborate, grow, and scale their businesses.” — Alison Currie, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland
The momentum we are building is undeniable. As we enter our second year, we look forward to achieving even greater milestones together. Our mission to empower women investors and founders is stronger than ever, and we invite you to join us in driving change in the investment landscape.
Join our next information session on September 20th at 1pm to learn how you can get involved! Whether you are an experienced angel investor or new to angel investing, we have something for everyone. Register now, or if you would like to speak directly with a member of our team, email us at hello@awakenangelshq.com.
