Made to Inspire: Angel Networks and Platforms for Women Entrepreneurs to Check Out

As much as starting a business is tricky and challenging on various fronts, so is obtaining the right investment in the business. If it is a women-led organisation, needless to say, the challenges double owing to even socio-cultural barriers attached with women in entrepreneurship. However, the easy way out is to reach out to the angel networks — those that are especially working in the same direction. 

The network that consists of people or groups possessing high-net-worth investment funds mostly personal in early-stage startups, aiming to provide capital, mentorship, and connections. The networks also act as a bridge between acquaintances and other investors, and they have an edge over traditional investors. 

Women entrepreneurs can browse online for support based on their industries. Here are a few to start with: 

Women's Angel Investor Network (WIN)

The network is focused on offering early-stage investment opportunities with a specific focus on women-led businesses. The platform provides not just the capital, but also expertise, and connections for helping these women-led companies in the sectors ranging from technology, life sciences, and business services, from seed to Series A and B funding rounds. 

Indian Angel Network

IAN, is termed as one of the world's largest angel networks, co-founded by Padmaja Ruparel, and it includes a good number of women investors. The platform works for offering funding, mentoring, and access to a vast network. It works in various sectors like technology, retail, healthcare, and e-commerce.

AngelCentral 

A community of angel investors in Southeast Asia, it also connects them, aiming to promote startups and provide educational resources. Along with the funding, they also conduct events like pitch sessions and workshops, and run masterclass series as a helping hand for better decision-making.

Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)

An initiative by Indian's NITI Aayog, WEP provides a one-stop solution for women entrepreneurs in India as it connects them with government schemes, private sector support, funding, and mentorship. They claim to work on strengthening the women's entrepreneurship ecosystem and support women in scaling their operations through resources, collaborations, and partnerships. 

Punjab Cultural Project

Considering a shift towards “culture”, the co-founders of the Punjab Cultural Project started this platform to support entrepreneurs, not just women,  through a start-up that can further accelerate the start-up economy and ecosystem. Through PCP, both founders have been working with businesses in experiential tourism, food and beverages, home decor and furnishing, health, beauty and wellness and fashion and accessories, emphasising the need for providing capacity building, market access, and investor readiness to cultural brands.

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