Prime Highlight
- AwakenAngels has formed a global partnership with Women in Innovation to expand access to capital for women-led businesses by increasing the number of women angel investors.
- The collaboration aims to build a strong international pipeline of trained, confident investors to tackle funding gaps faced by women founders.
Key Facts
- Women in Innovation’s 6,000-plus members will gain access to the CPD-accredited AwakenAngels Academy, with cohorts running through 2026 starting on February 17.
- Founded in 2023, AwakenAngels has helped eight portfolio companies raise over €4.3 million, including Gigi Supplements’ recent €1.5 million funding round.
Background
Ireland’s only all-island, women-led angel investment syndicate AwakenAngels has secured a new global partnership aimed at unlocking more capital for women-led businesses. The group announced a strategic collaboration with Women in Innovation (WIN), a global organisation with more than 6,000 members, following its latest trade mission to the United States.
The partnership will focus on increasing the number of women becoming early-stage investors. Through the agreement, WIN members across innovation, technology, finance, and enterprise will gain access to the AwakenAngels Academy, a CPD-accredited programme designed to train and support women interested in angel investing.
WIN members will join Academy cohorts throughout 2026, beginning with the next intake starting on February 17. The programme will help participants build the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to invest in early-stage companies, including startups founded by Irish women. A limited number of sponsored places remain open for the upcoming cohort.
Founded in 2023, AwakenAngels has already played a key role in supporting women founders. The syndicate has helped eight portfolio companies raise more than €4.3 million to date. One of its standout investments, Gigi Supplements, recently closed a €1.5 million funding round and is now stocked in over 200 retail outlets across Ireland, including Boots and Holland & Barrett. Four additional investment deals are expected to close in the coming weeks.
The partnership was announced in New York at a reception hosted at the British Consul General’s residence, attended by senior diplomatic representatives. The event formed part of AwakenAngels’ fourth St Brigid’s Day trade mission, during which 13 women founders pitched funding requests ranging from £1.5 million to £7 million.
AwakenAngels said the collaboration with WIN will create a strong global pipeline of informed women investors, helping to address one of the biggest challenges faced by women founders: access to capital.
