WomenINvestEU: Building on a Strong Legacy and Keeping the Momentum Alive

Over the past two years, BAE has been a key player in the development of a new pan European Network. WomenINvestEU brings together over 260 leading investors, including Business Angels, Venture Capitalists, LPs, banks, wider finance providers and stakeholders.  All of these players have come together to focus on gender conscious investing, with the aim of increasing both the level of investment in women founders and the level of women in investment leadership across Europe. 

WomenINvestEU has been delivered by a consortium consisting of BAE, Bpi France and EuRA and has received funding from the EC under an initiative of the European Parliament. During this time, the consortium has organised a proactive programme of events and roundtables to enable knowledge sharing, networking and engagement, as well as working closely with DG Grow, DG RTD and the EIC to support long term policy development to make a more inclusive investment landscape for Europe. Notably, BAE has taken the lead in the development of a range of new bespoke resources and tools for investors to build knowledge, skills and competences on gender conscious investing, both at strategic and practical level and as a sustainable outcome of this work.

Although the European Commission-funded phase of the project concluded in August 2026, the achievements of WomenINvestEU provide a strong foundation for continued action.  Together with our partner Bpi France, we are working to build long term sustainability of the outcomes of the project. We aim to ensure that the tools and resources remain accessible through the WomenINvestEU website, whilst also continuing to build the Network of gender conscious Investors, offering an important opportunity for our BAE Members and wider community.

The following Resources and Tools can be accessed:

• WomenINvestEU Gender-Conscious Investing Handbook: a practical resource that consolidates the knowledge, tools and best practices developed throughout the initiative.

• The WomenINvestEU Toolbox: provides access to latest information on investment, webinars and interviews, with investor role models, tailored to angel investors, venture capital investors and ecosystem stakeholders who are beginning their journey on gender conscious investment.

• The Good Practice Guide: an EC published guide, showcasing case studies of leading Business Angels and VC investors, banking and corporates taking action in their communities to increase investment in women founders and build women investor leadership from across Europe.

• The WomenINvestEU Capacity-Building Programme (Access the Learning Hub): this bespoke online course provides three modules, based on video interviews with over 50 leading Angel and VC investors and industry experts from across Europe who share their insights and experience on both strategic and practical approaches to gender smart investment, designed to strengthen investor capabilities and women in leadership .

  
  

Together, these resources provide investors with concrete guidance on embedding more inclusive investment practices and unlocking opportunities for diverse founders and investment professionals.

A key legacy has been the development of a new European Commitment to Action on Gender-Conscious Investing. The initiative has created a shared framework for investors, finance providers and ecosystem players seeking to actively advance gender-conscious investing. Committing to action on three key levels, participating organisations are publicly demonstrating how they are fostering a more inclusive investment market, promoting greater diversity in investment decision-making, and increasing opportunities for women entrepreneurs across Europe. 

The new European Commitment to Action has already attracted a significant number of leading investment organisations and wider stakeholders across Europe who have signed up as Partners and Allies.

Business Angels Europe invites all our Member organisations and our wider community including Angel networks and federations, venture capital firms, other financial institutions and ecosystem organisations to become a Founding Partner or Ally in this new growing European movement, helping to make lasting change to ensure an inclusive investment landscape.

You can get involved by submitting an Expression of Interest or signing the dedicated Partner or Ally letters.

Keeping the WomenINvestEU Legacy Alive

To ensure that the project's outcomes remain accessible and continue to inspire action, Business Angels Europe is launching a dedicated WomenINvestEU section on its website, to be available shortly.  This new online hub will provide access to these valuable resources, as well as news, updates and opportunities related to gender-conscious investing across Europe. The objective is simple: to preserve the knowledge generated through WomenINvestEU, nurture the community that has emerged around it, and continue fostering collaboration among investors and ecosystem stakeholders committed to creating a more inclusive innovation economy.

Jenny Tooth OBE, VP for Diversity, Business Angels Europe, leader of the WomenINvestEU Network:

The WomenINvestEU Network has demonstrated that many investors and wider stakeholders across Europe are willing to come together to share, knowledge, insight and experience with others to drive the benefits of a gender conscious investing approach. We have proved that collective action and working together across the finance supply chain is essential to achieve sustainable impact on the European investment landscape. Our journey may have entered a new phase, but its mission remains as relevant as ever. By preserving the project's resources, maintaining an active community and expanding the Commitment to Action, Business Angels Europe, together with our Partner Bpi France aims to ensure that the momentum generated over the past two years continues to drive meaningful and lasting change. We invite you to stay connected, join the Commitment, and help shape a more inclusive European investment ecosystem. Be part of the Change!”

Stay Connected

As Business Angels Europe continues to build on the WomenINvestEU legacy, we invite all members of the community to remain engaged and connected.

If you would like to receive updates on future activities, access new resources, share relevant initiatives, or learn more about opportunities to support gender-conscious investing, please contact us at: womeninvesteu@businessangelseurope.com