Article:
To coincide with International Women’s Day (8 March), Michelmores’ angel investor network, MAINstream, is thrilled to be hosting its debut Bristol pitch event, followed by a Q&A with an experienced panel of investors, advisors and founders. The aim of the event is to secure investment for the four brilliant companies that are pitching and to recruit more female angel investors, to help accelerate the growth and diversity of angel investing in the South West.
The Firm launched MAINstream, the UKBAA registered network, in 2019. It now has over 65 member investors, seeking opportunities to actively invest in, and provide ongoing support to, innovative start-ups and exciting disruptive ventures – many who have themselves started, scaled, and exited successful businesses.
On Tuesday 27 February, Partners Chloe Vernon-Shore and Harry Trick will be hosting a MAINstream special in the Wiper and True Tap Room in Bristol. The event will give female founders the opportunity to pitch to a full room, and, hopefully, reach and recruit more female investors for the benefit of future female founders.
Chloe is an experienced Partner in Michelmores’ Commercial team, advising a wide range of clients on a spectrum of commercial issues that affect their businesses. Harry is a Partner in the Firm’s Corporate team and acts for scale-up companies on all stages of their equity fundraising journey through to exit, as well as regularly advising those who invest in them – including angel investors, venture capital funds, family offices and private equity.
Chloe comments: “True equity in investment is something that I feel very strongly about. Being an angel investor means investing in an early-stage business before institutional investors are likely to be interested. This means that there can be a lot of risk but also incredible rewards, with some investors realising 10, 20 sometimes 100 times on their investment.
“Women identify market gaps that men might not see (for example a female urinal to combat crazy lavatory queues) for the benefit of other women. It is great to be playing a small part in achieving that equity, and just before International Women’s Day.”
MAINstream regularly holds pitch events throughout the year where high-growth, early-stage companies are invited to present their businesses to the network. Upcoming events can be found here.
The Firm is proud that its female partnership stands at around 50 per cent, which highlights a positive step towards gender parity at Michelmores, as the Firm remains committed to promoting and sustaining the inclusive culture for which it is known.
For more information about MAINstream, visit our website. RSVP to the event here.
