The Scotsman

Accelerate­her reveals core sponsorshi­p

- By HANNAH BURLEY

The 2020 Accelerate­her Awards, a programme to support and promote Scotland’s female entreprene­urs, has unveiled new sponsorshi­p as it announced this year’s semifinali­sts.

Global IT and business consultanc­y CGI will join core supporters Barclays Ventures and Skyscanner, while Aberdein Considine will sponsor this year’s Rising Star Award for the female founder with the best early-stage business idea.

Behavioura­l science firm Sonas and online “death tech” service Biscuit Tin Planning are among the two dozen semi-finalists in this year’s Accelerate­her awards.

These will be whittled down to a shortlist of 12 who will progress to the final on Thursday 26 March at Barclays Eagle Lab in Edinburgh’s Codebase.

The programme, which connects participan­ts with a network of angel investors, commercial advisers and other businesspe­ople, is this year focusing on companies in four sectors: medtech and science; fintech and cyber security; cleantech and climate; and disruptive innovation.

Jackie Waring, chief executive of Investing Women, which organises the awards, said: “These and other sponsors add so much value to the Accelerate­her Awards and our wider programme through their own immense experience of supporting a broad range of businesses.”

Lindsay Mcgranagha­n, business unit leader for CGI in Scotland, described the awards as “a fantastic initiative which recognises and supports female-founded businesses in Scotland”.

 ??  ?? 0 Jackie Waring: Sponsors bring ‘immense experience’
0 Jackie Waring: Sponsors bring ‘immense experience’

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