Category: Latest News

The past couple of weeks have been incredibly busy – and hugely rewarding at angelgroups!

Last week alone, we hosted two pitching sessions, one online and one in London, where we saw 10 ambitious businesses step forward to seek investment funding. It’s always inspiring to hear founders share their vision, growth plans, and the impact they’re aiming to make, and the quality of businesses presenting continues to grow with every session.

We also celebrated the final of AIRA – our angelgroups Investor Readiness Accelerator. Over the course of 8 weeks, the programme supported SMEs in refining their investment propositions, strengthening their pitch delivery, and preparing for meaningful conversations with investors. The feedback from participating businesses has been incredible, with many highlighting the value of the accelerator, workshops, and connections made throughout the programme. Seeing founders grow in confidence and clarity over the eight weeks has been a real highlight for the team.

At the same time, we’ve officially reached the halfway point of the angelgroups Angel Accelerator. The programme continues to bring together aspiring and active angel investors who are developing their understanding of early-stage investing, due diligence, portfolio strategy, and the wider investment landscape. The engagement and enthusiasm from the cohort so far has been fantastic, and we’re excited for what the second half of the programme will bring.

A huge thank you to everyone involved – our founders, investors, speakers, and partners for contributing to such a productive and energising few weeks.

There’s plenty more to come, and we’re looking forward to continuing the momentum.

If you’re an SME founder looking for funding the process can feel slow, opaque, and stacked against you.

That’s exactly why we built angelgroups.

angelgroups connects ambitious SMEs directly with engaged angel investors – cutting through the noise and making fundraising more efficient, transparent, and founder-friendly.

What we do:
• Help SMEs access a network of active angel investors
• Streamline the fundraising process
• Provide a structured way to present your business and traction
• Increase your chances of securing the right angel investor

We’re not just about money – we’re about building meaningful investor-founder relationships that support long-term growth.

If you’re currently raising (or planning to), this is the easiest way to get in front of investors who are actively looking.

Register your business with us and start your angelgroups funding journey, Martin Avison would love to discuss – register here

The feedback from Session 1 of AIRA this week has been incredible!

Hearing directly from the founders in this cohort about the value they’re already getting – from the insights shared to the conversations happening in the room – has been hugely rewarding for the angelgroups team.

One of the things we’re most passionate about is creating a space where founders can access practical knowledge, honest discussions, and the kind of insights that genuinely help move their businesses forward.

The best part? It’s not too late to join this cohort!

If you’re a founder looking to gain valuable information, connect with experts in the industy, and learn what it really takes to grow and raise capital, there’s still time to get involved.

If you’re interested in joining AIRA, register here – https://lnkd.in/epM6Ajvb

At our most recent London pitching session, we were thrilled to receive such fantastic feedback from both SMEs and Angels in the room:

“Sincere thanks to Martin and the team for putting together this impressive set of presentations. A good turnout too – a sign you are hitting the right note for these events.”

“Great day – enjoyed doing our pitch to a bunch of knowledgeable Angels – thanks all.”

Receiving feedback like this reminds us why we do what we do: connecting innovative SMEs with experienced Angel investors who can help take their businesses to the next level.

If you’re an SME looking for investment and the chance to pitch to a group of engaged, supportive Angels, we’d love to hear from you – register on our platform here – https://lnkd.in/eVS35nCt or get in touch with Simon Chuter MBA FRSA for more details!

There’s nothing better than hearing directly from founders about their experience with angelgroups – and this one really made our week.

“I had a really great experience working with angelgroups in Leeds. Martin and Simon were both excellent to work with, supportive, approachable, and generous with their time throughout the process. The wider angel network was very easygoing and made me feel genuinely welcome, which makes a big difference when you are pitching and looking for constructive input. I also appreciated the practical support and feedback around the pitch itself. Overall, a very positive experience and one I would happily recommend to other founders considering an angel round.”

Hearing feedback like this is a great reminder of why we focus so much on creating a supportive environment where founders can get real input and encouragement.

A huge thank you to all the founders and angels who make the angelgroups community what it is. Have a great weekend everyone!

Last week, Martin travelled to Leeds for angelgroups first pitching session of 2026, marking an exciting milestone for the year ahead

After several weeks of intensive preparation with Simon Chuter, the participating SMEs arrived confident, well-rehearsed, and ready to present their businesses to the angelgroups investor network. The session showcased a high standard of pitching, with clear visions, strong growth ambitions, and compelling investment opportunities on display.

Our angel investors were highly engaged throughout the session, offering valuable experience, practical insights, and constructive feedback to help founders refine their strategies and accelerate growth. It was a powerful demonstration of how the right preparation, combined with access to experienced investors, can unlock real opportunity.

A huge congratulations to all the companies who pitched. This Leeds session was a fantastic start to 2026 for angelgroups, and we’re looking forward to supporting even more ambitious businesses on their investment journey this year.

Reflecting on an incredible year at angelgroups as we host our final pitching session of 2025 today.

As we look back on the past 12 months, one thing stands out above everything else: the strength of our community.

This year has been one of meaningful growth, new milestones, and shared achievements – and none of it would have been possible without the continued support of our investors, founders, and partners.

Over the last year, we’ve:

– Delivered 40+ events across the UK, bringing together talented founders and engaged investors in rooms full of energy, ideas, and opportunity. Every pitch, workshop, and social has reinforced just how powerful the right connections can be.

– Expanded our team, welcoming two brilliant new colleagues who’ve brought fresh skills, energy, and perspective. Their passion for supporting early-stage businesses has helped us level up the experience for both founders and investors.

– Strengthened key partnerships, collaborating with organisations and individuals who share our belief in backing ambitious businesses and fuelling innovation – amplifying both our reach and impact.

– Supported an even broader range of businesses, working closely with founders pushing boundaries across sectors – from emerging tech to transformative solutions in more traditional industries.

– Grown our investor network, welcoming new members whose insight, experience, and enthusiasm continue to raise the bar. The engagement and feedback at each event speaks volumes about the quality of this community.

This year has reminded us why we do what we do – the conversations, the connections, and those moments of shared excitement when a business takes it’s next step.

To everyone who’s been part of our journey this year: thank you. Your commitment, collaboration, and belief in our mission drives everything we do.

We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and even more excited for what lies ahead.

Here’s to another year of growth, impact, and opportunities created together.

We’re excited to share that a business that recently pitched with us has received interest from 27 angels – a new all-time record for angelgroups!

This milestone highlights not only the strength of the business and its outstanding team, but also the power of our incredible community of passionate, engaged investors who believe in early-stage innovation.

Every pitch session reminds us of what’s possible when ambitious founders connect with experienced angels eager to support their growth.

A huge congratulations to the team involved, and a heartfelt thank you to all the angels who continue to make angelgroups such a dynamic and supportive network.

In just under a week’s time, we’ll be returning to the capital for our second pitching session – and we couldn’t be more excited after the fantastic success of our recent London launch event.

Date: Tuesday 14th October
Time: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Venue: Womble Bond Dickinson, London

Join us as a fantastic lineup of founders showcase their innovative businesses to our community of engaged investors. It’s set to be another inspiring afternoon filled with connections, conversations, and opportunities.

If you’d like to find out more or get involved, please reach out at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you!

At angelgroups, what happens behind the scenes is just as important as what happens on screen or in the room.

Every event we host is the result of hours of preparation, strategic founder coaching, and careful investor matchmaking. We’re not just lining up pitch decks – we’re curating connections, aligning values, and ensuring both startups and investors are set up for meaningful engagement.

We take a hands-on approach with every founder, helping them refine their pitch, anticipate tough questions, and present their business with confidence. For investors, we focus on quality over quantity, surfacing opportunities that are well-prepared, high-potential, and aligned with their investment focus, because at angelgroups, we’re not just a platform or a database – we’re a community. One that’s built on trust, experience, and a shared mission to support the next generation of standout startups.

Curious to learn more about how we work with founders and investors alike? Get in touch – [email protected]

Whether you’re based at a university, considering a move into venture capital, or already immersed in the innovation ecosystem, you’ll know how challenging it can be for founders to secure early-stage funding. If you’re passionate about changing that, this is your chance to learn how to build a thriving community of investors who back exceptional entrepreneurs.

Martin Avison, Founder of angelgroups – one of the UK’s largest and most active angel networks is hosting two online sessions. He’ll be joined by Charles Harrewyn as they have a fire-side chat, where they will share practical insights and lessons learned from Martin’s years of building, managing, and growing a successful angel group.

Who should attend?
– Aspiring angel network founders
– University and accelerator programme leaders
– Angels looking to expand their impact
– Anyone curious about the inner workings of angel networks

📅 Session 1: 22nd October – 4 – 5:30pm (Zoom)
🔗 Register here – https://lnkd.in/eKh-7Rt4
📅 Session 2: 29th October – 4 – 5:30pm (Zoom)
🔗 Register here – https://lnkd.in/eJJ8nbpw

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable knowledge and connect with others shaping the future of early-stage investing.

Our Leeds Pitching Event Returns Next Week!

After a summer break, our Leeds Pitching Event is back – and we’re really looking forward to it.

Six founders will be pitching their businesses to our investors, from sectors such as Software, Consumer Products, Finance, and Technology. It’s set to be a fantastic session!

If you’re interested in joining us, please email [email protected] for more information. We’d love to see you there.