Highline BETA relaunches Female Funders with new Angel Academy accelerator program

Female Funders' Angel Academy will accelerate the learning curve for the next generation of women angel investors

VANCOUVER, May 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, Highline BETA, a startup co-creation and new venture development company, announced the relaunch of Female Funders Angel Academy, an investor accelerator program for women corporate and technology executives to level up as they pursue angel investing. In the current ecosystem, only six percent of deal-making venture capitalists and 20 percent of angel investors are women. The revamped Female Funders program, which was acquired by Highlined BETA in 2017, will focus its acceleration programming on three key pillars designed to speed pathways to first investment for women angel investors: blended education, investment opportunities supported by expert and peer guidance, and a curated network of women executives, investors and innovators.

"There are a handful of incredibly talented women investors today—but we need more," said Lauren Robinson, Executive Director of Female Funders and COO of Highline BETA.  "We talk a lot about the growth of female entrepreneurship, and we see the tides starting to shift. But without representation on both sides of the table — among both entrepreneurs and investors — we won't see real change. Women corporate and technology executives have the networks and expertise to impact startups and to source great investment opportunities that others may overlook. We're relaunching Angel Academy to give women the edge they need to become standout angel investors."

Female Funders has partnered with the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) to create a new standard of education in angel investing—Female Funders' Angel Academy. Members of Angel Academy's first cohort will undertake an eight-week self-paced training program that covers the fundamentals of angel investing, including the mechanics of a successful deal; effectively sourcing high-potential startups; and creating an investment thesis and portfolio strategy.

In the year following the training program, Angel Academy members will have the opportunity to write their first investment cheque for startups that are sourced independently or through the Female Funders syndicate, and to co-invest alongside Highline BETA. The Highline BETA executive team (which has made 42 pre-seed investments) and Female Funders advisors will provide cohort members with guidance and support throughout the investment process. Angel Academy members will also have access to a curated deal flow of early-stage, high-growth startups through Highline BETA accelerator programs.

"We are proud to be partnering with Female Funders to reach Canada's technology and corporate executives," said Yuri Navarro, Executive Director of NACO. "Women executives have the networks and industry expertise to become exceptional angel investors and to help entrepreneurs at the most critical stages of a company's development."

To celebrate the relaunch of Female Funders, Highline BETA is hosting a Female Funders & Founders Lounge at BC Tech Summit. The Lounge is a space where attendees can host meetings, make connections, join the conversation on women in venture capital, and learn more about Female Funders. The Lounge will also include open office hours, providing attendees with the opportunity to schedule meetings with industry leaders in venture capital including Kensington Capital Partner & BC Tech Fund Managing Director, Gerri Sinclair, Relentless Pursuit Partners & Relentless Venture Fund Managing Director, Brenda Irwin; Vanedge Capital Principal, Amy Rae.

To apply for Angel Academy, visit apply.femalefunders.com.

To learn more about Female Funders, visit femalefunders.com.

To learn more about Highline BETA, visit highlinebeta.com.

Social media links:

Twitter: twitter.com/femalefunders
Facebook: facebook.com/femalefunders
Instagram: instagram.com/femalefunders/

About Highline BETA

Highline BETA is a startup co-creation and new venture development company.

By leveraging the operating model of startups, the best practices of the country's premier accelerators, and the strategic lens of VCs, Highline BETA works closely with enterprises to launch market-leading ventures.

Highline BETA has partnered with leading enterprises, including Royal Bank of Canada, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and Morneau Shepell to build the future of their industries. They do this in three ways: Corporate programs—Highline BETA programs help innovation teams speed paths to partnership, investment, or launch; New venture development—Highline BETA partners with enterprises to launch new ventures; Funding—Highline BETA provides seed and pre-seed funding to co-created companies and to startups that are tackling corporate challenges.

About Female Funders

Female Funders provides corporate and technology executives with the edge they need to become great angel investors. Through their blended education programs, curated investment opportunities, and global community, Female Funders is creating the angel investors of tomorrow.

SOURCE Highline BETA

Jamie Gillingham, Eighty-Eight, Account Manager, [email protected], 1 416 944 2722