A group of Scotland-based female business founders will head west to California later this month to take part in a five-day market-building trade mission.
Supported by the Scottish Government, the event runs from November 28 to December 2 and is led by AccelerateHER, in partnership with Gwen Edwards of Golden Seeds, a US-based angel investor group that backs high-potential businesses led by women.
Ms. Edwards is also President of the Angel Resource Institute, a US-based nonprofit organization focused on research and educational activities related to angel investing.
This will be AccelerateHER’s first in-person trade mission since the pandemic, where participating founders will showcase their companies and meet with venture capitalists, angel investors and industry leaders from Silicon Valley and beyond. other parts of the United States.
The event provides a springboard to growth by sharing current market information and business insights and opens the door to new connections through the AccelerateHER global network.
Participating company founders represent companies with global growth potential, all of which are in the process of mobilizing external investment. These are past winners of the AccelerateHER Awards Kate Cameronfounder of Cytochroma; Ishani Malhotra (Carcinotech); Lynne Darcey Quigley (Know-it Global); Danae Shell (Walla); and Rebecca Goss (X-GENIX). are also present fiona gillies and Christine Hartland, founders of SMASH.
The five-day program includes a key investor event hosted by Jaclyn Mason, regional director for Silicon Valley and the US North West at the UK Department for International Trade.
It will include a session with former Apple and Microsoft adviser Ron Weissman, who is the current vice president of the Angel Capital Association in the United States and president of the Software Industry Group at Band of Angels. Other speakers include Cal Henderson, co-founder and CTO of Slack; Michele Colucci, Founder and Managing Partner of DigitalDx Ventures; Duncan Davidson, general partner and co-founder of Bullpen Capital; and Dr. Faz Bashi, President of Life Sciences of the Angel Capital Association.
Jackie Waring, President of AccelerateHER, said, “After hosting virtual trade missions for the past two years, we are excited to once again host this latest market-making expedition on US soil.
“The event, our 10e international trade mission, will provide valuable insights to participating founders and give them direct access to some of the leading figures in the US tech industry and the global investment community.
“We are grateful to Gwen Edwards for helping organize this latest trade mission to California, which remains a key center for global technology innovation.
“We would also like to acknowledge the great support from the Scottish Government, which is a strong endorsement of the quality of the female founders and innovative companies emerging from the AccelerateHER programme.”
Ms Edwards said: “The innovation and business focus of Scottish women-led businesses that we have seen emerging from their network is impressive and inspiring. We look forward to getting to know the six companies participating in this next mission better.
The 2023 AccelerateHER Awards launched earlier this month (November) seeking entries from the women behind companies focused on being a “force for good,” with four new entry categories: technology; Health; Environment; and cultural. There is also a “Rising Star” award category for the founder with the best early-stage business idea.
To apply for the 2023 AccelerateHER Awards, entrants will complete a short entry form, which includes a description of how their business is a force for good, and submit a brief video pitch outlining their business, ambitions, growth plans and its international potential. More details can be found at: www.accelerateher.co.uk/awards2023
The deadline for registration is December 9, 2022. Shortlisted companies will be announced at the start January 2023. Winners will be selected for each category at the final awards ceremony to be held at the new Barclays campus in Glasgow on March 16.