Female-focused awards return for 2018

Scotland’s only awards initiative wholly dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial women has launched its latest programme today.

The 2018 Accelerateher awards’ winners will take part in trips to California and Dubai, where they will have the opportunity to meet key industry contacts and investors, showcase their businesses and potentially attract investment.

Now entering their third year, the awards are designed to “inspire and support” more female-led companies in Scotland. To date, more than 300 businesswomen have joined the Accelerateher community with the 2018 awards expected to attract an even larger group of entrants.

The awards programme, organised by business angel group Investing Women and sponsored by Gareth Williams of Skyscanner, are open to businesswomen whose companies have strong growth potential. Entrants will initially be asked to submit a video pitch and executive summary via the Investing Women’s website, outlining their business, its ambitions, growth plans and investor potential.

Jackie Waring, chief executive of Investing Women, said: “We are delighted to be expanding this year’s Accelerateher awards programme to include our newly developed links with the Dubaibased investment community, including female angels based there, and with the Edinburgh Business School at Heriotwatt.

“Finalists over the last two years have gone on to secure more than £3.5 million worth of growth financing.” 0 Jackie Waring has hailed the programme’s success