Money Talks: Closing the VC Gap for Women Entrepreneurs
Thursday, 12th March, 6:00 pm
Venture capital continues to overlook women-founded businesses, with only 2.1% of total investment in the US and Europe going to female-led startups. This isn’t just a funding gap – it’s a major roadblock to innovation, economic growth, and a more inclusive future.
As part of our International Women’s Day campaign, this powerful fireside chat with Akansha Dimri, Paola Cuneo, Melinda Nicci and Frances Spooner brings together trailblazing investors, founders, and industry leaders to challenge the status quo. They’ll dive into why the current VC model is failing women and, more importantly, what we can do to fix it.
Expect an evening of bold insights, real-world strategies, and a candid conversation on breaking barriers and unlocking funding for female entrepreneurs. Gain an insider’s perspective on the systemic challenges in VC funding and hear first-hand stories from women who have navigated—and disrupted—the investment landscape. Walk away with actionable strategies to drive real change in your business, industry, and network.
Panellists and biographies:
- Akansha Dimri
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Tech Funding News, a prominent media outlet dedicated to showcasing the diversity of founders and teams within the tech ecosystem. Prior to this, Akansha held the position of Editor-in-Chief at UKTN (UK), Silicon Canals (Netherlands) and Gizbot.com (India).
- Frances Spooner
Partner at law firm Marriott Harrison and has deep experience in both Venture Capital and Tech M&A transactions. Having spent time on secondment within VC funds, Frances understands what start-ups and VC investors want from their legal advisers from start-up through growth to exit. Frances is recognised as a Next Generation Partner for VC by Legal 500 UK.
- Melinda Nicci
Entrepreneur and author, best known as the founder and CEO of Baby2Body, an award-winning wellness platform dedicated to women’s health. Melinda has been recognised among the UK’s Most Influential Women in Tech for four consecutive years and was awarded the UKBAA High Growth Founder of the Year in 2019/20.
- Paola Cuneo
Joined Rathbones in January 2020 to head up the engagement with entrepreneurs. Previously, Paola worked for the London Stock Exchange Group, where she led the community of entrepreneurs and the Private Market, connecting companies with capital. Paola also ran the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, and she set up and ran a programme for the Department of International Trade aimed at helping foreign graduates to set up their businesses in the UK, providing access to capital, mentoring and business advice. Paola is a mentor and a regular contributor for RisingWISE, a combined initiative of Cambridge and Oxford University supporting women in STEM who have aspirations to become entrepreneurs
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*Event might include photography and videography, if you are not keen on being filmed or photographed, please let our team know.
