105 How to improve the prospects for female founders with Jordan Dargue of Lifted Ventures

The EIS Navigator

The lack of female founders and investors in UK venture capital is much discussed, but inconsistently addressed: Jordan Dargue is trying to do something about it. A former entrepreneur and active business angel, she co-founded Lifted Ventures and has several initiatives going to improve the eco-system. We take advantage of this to dig into where the market is at, what needs to change, the benefits of changing and how to go about it.

In a great discussion, Jordan talks about:

• the current state of the venture capital market
• how education can lead to enablement for founders
• the lack of high profile examples
• how having more female gatekeepers can change the market
• the importance of male allies
• how to reach founders and investors
• cultural norms
• building a new virtuous cycle of female founders and angels
• why making angel investing accessible will help
• how long before we see a real improvement
• Lifted's blueprint for helping ADHD founders
• how the resilience from a disability can help make a good founder

Jordan is a superb champion of bringing the neglected parts of the population into venture capital and this should be compulsory listening for anyone interested in broadening venture capital founders and investors.

00:50 Jordan introduces herself

02:50 what Lifted Ventures does: angels, VC community, consulting and blueprints

07:00 how good are things for women and diverse founders

10:00 how education can lead to enablement

11:00 the challenges of dealflow and lack of high profile examples

15:00 fundraising is hard and lack of female gatekeepers

19:00 the importance of male allies

25:45 how Jordan reaches female founders

26:50 differences in cultural norms

30:40 educating angel investors

34:00 constructing a virtuous cycle between founders and angels

36:00 how do to broaden the initiatives around the country

37:50 how long before we see a significant improvement

40:40 blueprint for ADHD - how should investors address their processes

43:15 encouraging self-disclosure

47:00 how disability can breed the resilience that founders need

48:45 favourite questions

Links

Lifted Ventures website - https://liftedventures.co.uk/

Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listen

Suggested books and media

Zero to Hero: the Gareth Southgate Story by Rob Mason

Bio

Jordan Dargue,

Co-Founder, Lifted Ventures

Jordan Dargue, is a founder, senior executive, investor, NED and seasoned investment expert. Her boundless passion for innovation, coupled with a remarkable track record of achievements, positions her within the realms of growth and investment.

Jordan's transformative influence is evident through her leadership in orchestrating multi-million equity-based investment rounds, cultivating award-winning investor networks, and offering unwavering support to thousands of SMEs on their journey toward expansion and investment. Jordan is Co Founder of Lifted Ventures. Lifted exists to increase the flow of early stage capital to female founders and promote the significant business benefits of backing women. The Lifted Ventures flywheel has an angel network at its core, alongside education, community and consultancy.

Previously Jordan was co-leader and Board Director of multi award winning NorthInvest, and in 2020 she co-founded Fund Her North and Women Angels of the North, a collective of women in VCs and Angel investors who support female founders to get equal access to finance.