About Us
Welcome to Women Angels of Wales (WAW), a female-led angel investing syndicate dedicated to investing in – and supporting – female-led businesses located in Wales.
We believe in the power of women entrepreneurs:
to drive innovation
create successful ventures
and make a lasting impact on the Welsh economy.
Who are we?
Set-up by the Development Bank of Wales in 2022, Women Angels of Wales is Wales’ first female focussed angel investing community and network. Jointly supported by the Development Bank and the British Business Bank, the syndicate of over 30 women can access co-investment of up to £250,000 per deal from the £8 million Development Bank of Wales Angel Co-investment Fund.
We are women who want to use our experience, skills and smart money to help other Welsh women build great Welsh businesses. Our aim is to get as many women involved in supporting female led Welsh businesses as possible.
And of course, men who want to enjoy the benefits of taking part in a diverse investment portfolio are very welcome to join us.
Our Mission
We share a mission to work collaboratively together along with other angel groups and external partners to support each other; investing in ambitious women in business to help them to achieve great things in Wales, for Wales.
Our Vision
To enjoy using our collective experience, skills and resources to make a difference to our environment, our society and our economy by inspiring and investing in female-led businesses.
Meet our Lead Investors
Jill Jones
Jill has spent the last 30 years building and selling two of the UK’s most successful domiciliary eyecare companies. She is now an ESRC funded PhD student at Cardiff University Business School, an experienced business angel investor and passionate supporter of women in entrepreneurship.
Jill also owns and manages a diverse portfolio of commercial and residential properties.
Rachel Ashley
During her 20 year corporate career, Rachel has established and grown joint venture businesses across Asia Pacific and Australia. She has defined new growth strategies, participated in M&A, and led transformational change for global listed financial services and insurance organisations including Commonwealth Bank, Zurich Financial Services and QBE Insurance.
Rachel now holds a number of Non-Executive Director positions.
Sharon Pipe
With a career in venture capital and investment banking, Sharon was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GE Capital Partners European Equity Fund before establishing TH Lee Putnam Ventures. She raised over $1billion to invest in later stage venture companies, buyouts, spinouts and public entities deploying information technologies to re-engineer and scale.
Sharon has also advised a number of venture backed companies and now holds various Non-Executive Director positions.
WAW is a women-led business angel investment syndicate, working in close partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, British Business Bank and the wider business angel community in Wales and beyond. It is a friendly and supportive network which welcomes new and aspiring female investor members across Wales who are committed to supporting the Welsh economy and the creation of Welsh jobs.
We are also members of the UKBAA and are signatories to the Investing in Women Code
Lead Investor Jill Jones said: “By encouraging more women to become angel investors, we give them the opportunity to support the businesses that matter to them and to create new sources of capital for innovative businesses.”
Joining WAW
By joining forces, we can pool our talents – and our money – to help female-led businesses in Wales thrive. With that in mind, and provided you are able to satisfy the self-certification requirements here, the only commitment you have to make to become a member of WAW is to invest a minimum of at least £4,000 per annum (or two investments of £2,000).