First Investment for Welsh All-Women Angel Investor Syndicate

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Development Bank of Wales , 27th June 2023

Wales’ first all-female angel investor syndicate has marked its first investment into a new business intelligence platform, supported by the Development Bank of Wales.

Women Angels of Wales (WAW) backed Newport-based Talent Intuition and CEO Alison Ettridge with £60,000 into its Stratigens software, a SaaS product which brings together labour market, economics and location data to provide the insight businesses need to shape radically smarter decisions.

Headquartered at Tramshed Tech, the business’ customers include major brands such as BP, EY and Netflix.

The investment was also backed with £20,000 from Matthew Epps – who came into the deal via the Angels Invest Wales network – along with £80,500 from the Development Bank of Wales’ Angel Co-investment Fund, and £50,000 from the Wales Technology Seed Fund – a total investment of £211,000.

Bethan Darwin of Thompson Darwin Ltd acted on behalf of the syndicate.

Founded earlier this year, Women Angels of Wales aims to encourage more women to become investors, and aims to support women in the early-stage investment community in Wales. As a syndicate, its deals have access to the Wales Angel Co-investment Fund.

Jill Jones, lead investor at Women Angels of Wales, said:

“We were all very pleased to invest in Alison and the Stratigens software – her passion, drive and knowledge were obvious, and it was very easy for all of us in Women Angels of Wales to work with her. She clearly understood the impact and implications of angel investing, and her ambition, foresight and forward-planning provide us a clear route to exit.

“The software addresses a very clear gap in the market, and the fact Alison runs an established business with a good track record gave us strong cause for confidence.”

Alison Ettridge, CEO at Talent Intuition, said:

“I’m delighted to have received the backing from Women Angels of Wales. They have varied and extensive experience as business leaders and investors, and getting their support means so much more than just capital investment alone – it’s a mark of confidence and trust from respected businesswomen from across Wales.

“I look forward working with Women Angels of Wales and other backers as we continue to expand and increase our offering to the market.”

Carol Hall, regional manager for Angels Invest Wales, said:

“I’d like to congratulate Women Angels of Wales on making what will be the first investment of many, as they continue in their goal to support more female-owned and female-led businesses throughout Wales. It’s especially pleasing to see the syndicate support Talent Intuition, an exciting business which has been in the Development Bank portfolio since 2018.

“This investment is a great example of multiple angels coming together to provide small amounts of capital to help de-risk investment, while bringing together a wide network of support for the company.”

Mae syndicet buddsoddwr angylion benywaidd cyntaf Cymru wedi nodi ei fuddsoddiad cyntaf mewn llwyfan gwybodaeth busnes newydd, a gefnogir gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru.

Cefnogodd Merched Angylion Cymru (MAC) Talent Intuition a’r Prif Weithredwr Alison Ettridge o Gasnewydd gyda £60,000 i mewn i’w meddalwedd Stratigens, cynnyrch Meddalwedd fel Gwasanaeth sy’n dod â data marchnad lafur, economeg a lleoliad ynghyd i roi’r mewnwelediad sydd ei angen ar fusnesau i lunio penderfyniadau mwy doethach.

Gyda'i bencadlys yn Tramshed Tech, mae cwsmeriaid y busnes yn cynnwys brandiau mawr fel BP, EY a Netflix.

Ategwyd y buddsoddiad hefyd gan £20,000 gan Matthew Epps – a ddaeth i’r fargen drwy rwydwaith Angylion Buddsoddi Cymru – ynghyd ag £80,500 o Gronfa Cyd-fuddsoddi Angylion Banc Datblygu Cymru, a £50,000 o Gronfa Sbarduno Technoleg Cymru. – cyfanswm buddsoddiad o £211,000.

Gweithredodd Bethan Darwin o Thompson Darwin Ltd ar ran y syndicet.

Wedi’i sefydlu’n gynharach eleni, nod Merched Angylion Cymru yw annog mwy o ferched i ddod yn fuddsoddwyr, a’i nod yw cefnogi menywod yn y gymuned fuddsoddi cyfnod cynnar yng Nghymru. Fel syndicet, mae gan ei bargeinion fynediad i Gronfa Cyd-fuddsoddi Angylion Cymru.

Dywedodd Jill Jones, prif fuddsoddwr gyda Merched Angylion Cymru:

“Roeddem i gyd yn falch iawn o fuddsoddi ym meddalwedd Alison a Stratigens – roedd ei hangerdd, ei brwdfrydedd a’i gwybodaeth yn amlwg, ac roedd yn hawdd iawn i bob un ohonom ym Merched Angylion Cymru i weithio gyda hi. Roedd hi’n amlwg yn deall effaith a goblygiadau buddsoddi angylion, ac mae ei huchelgais, ei rhagwelediad a’i blaengynllunio yn rhoi llwybr clir ar gyfer ymadael i ni.

“Mae’r meddalwedd yn mynd i’r afael â bwlch amlwg iawn yn y farchnad, ac mae’r ffaith bod Alison yn rhedeg busnes sefydledig gyda hanes da wedi rhoi achos cryf i ni fod â hyder.”

Dywedodd Alison Ettridge, Prif Weithredwr Talent Intuition:

“Rwyf wrth fy modd fy mod wedi derbyn cefnogaeth Merched Angylion Cymru. Mae ganddynt brofiad amrywiol ac eang fel arweinwyr busnes a buddsoddwyr, ac mae cael eu cefnogaeth yn golygu llawer mwy na buddsoddiad cyfalaf yn unig – mae’n arwydd o hyder ac ymddiriedaeth gan wragedd busnes uchel eu parch o bob rhan o Gymru.

“Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weithio gyda Merched Angylion Cymru a chefnogwyr eraill wrth i ni barhau i ehangu a chynyddu ein harlwy i’r farchnad.”

Dywedodd Carol Hall, rheolwr rhanbarthol Angylion Buddsoddi Cymru:

“Hoffwn longyfarch Merched Angylion Cymru ar wneud yr hyn a fydd y buddsoddiad cyntaf gan lawer, wrth iddynt barhau â’u nod o gefnogi mwy o ferched i fod yn berchen ar fusnesau a chael eu harwain gan ferched ledled Cymru. Mae’n arbennig o braf gweld y syndicet yn cefnogi Talent Intuition, busnes cyffrous sydd wedi bod ym mhortffolio’r Banc Datblygu ers 2018.

“Mae’r buddsoddiad hwn yn enghraifft wych o angylion lluosog yn dod at ei gilydd i ddarparu symiau bach o gyfalaf i helpu i leihau risg buddsoddiad, tra’n dod â rhwydwaith eang o gefnogaeth i’r cwmni at ei gilydd.”