A business pitch competition launched today gives women entrepreneurs around Scotland a platform for attracting angel investment.
The AccelerateHER scheme – now in its second year – will also give winners access to US and wider international market opportunities, connecting them directly with potential financiers from around the world at a summit of investors in San Francisco in April.
In addition, the winners will have a chance to work with angel investor Susan Preston, a keynote speaker at Investing Women’s 2016 Ambition and Growth conference in Edinburgh earlier this year, and Silicon Valley mover and shaker Gwen Edwards.
The 2017 AccelerateHER Awards – organised by angel investor organisation Investing Women are open to entrepreneurial women-led businesses throughout Scotland.
Entrants meeting the deadline of January 31 will initially be asked to submit a video pitch via the Investing Women website outlining their business, its ambitions, growth plans and investor potential.
All those who register will have access to free professional pitch advice and webinar training, with finalists also receiving one-to-one coaching to harness their creativity and improve their presentation style.
Twelve entrants will be invited to give their presentations to a judging panel at the end of February 2017, with six going on to make their final pitches at the Investing Women Ambition and Growth conference in Edinburgh on March 9.
Investing Women chief executive Jackie Waring said: “We are delighted to be launching our second annual AccelerateHER Awards programme and would urge all aspiring female entrepreneurs to consider putting their businesses forward.
“The tremendous response we had for the inaugural 2016 awards, where we attracted an impressive 105 entrants, shows just how much dynamism and passion there is within Scotland’s female entrepreneurial community.”
