We are a UK grassroots collective of LGBTQ+ Investors, VCs and Angel Investors.

Our focus areas as investors range from idea and pre-seed right up to growth and pre-IPO, from accelerators and incubators to Tier 1 funds, from Analysts and Associates to Managing Partners, from multi-exited founders to first-time angel investors.

Our three main focus areas are below:

• Build community - in this post-covid world, we’re all part of too many big Slacks and Whatsapp groups with minimal engagement. We’re building an intimate community where the focus is on genuine friendships and connections over networking, with people who happen to be investors and LGBTQ+. Monthly varied catchups each led by a different member of our team.
• Support LGBTQ+ Founders - we’re very aware of the power of networks, especially in VC where there is such an emphasis on warm intros. As a result, we’re keen to leverage these networks to support LGBTQ+ founders to overcome the funding gap faced by diverse founders. In the future, we also hope to syndicate capital directly into the most exciting LGBTQ+ founders.
• Support future LGBTQ+ Investors - investors are the gatekeepers to financing of the ideas of tomorrow. If the problems faced by different groups within the LGBTQ+ community are to be solved, then we will need LGBTQ+ founders to be funded by individuals who understand these problems, which requires more LGBTQ+ investors.

There are three main ways you can currently get involved:

1. Apply to join Proud Ventures as an Investor

If you are a UK Investor into startups and identify as LGBTQ+, apply below to join Proud Ventures. As we’re focusing on building an intimate community, we’re currently only expanding the group by roughly 3 investors a month.

Click here to apply to join Proud Ventures as an Investor.

2. Apply to Proud Ventures as an LGBTQ+ Founder

Core to our group is looking to support LGBTQ+ Founders. That’s why we’ve pioneered the LGBTQ+ Founder Report to highlight the funding gap and unique barriers faced by founders from across our community. We’re keen to use our networks to support LGBTQ+ founders where possible. If you are an LGBTQ+ founder in the UK, fill out the short form below.

Every month we’ll circulate these applications to our Members with the aim that some will be of direct interest for investment, others we’ll hopefully know someone who could be interested and for some we’ll be keen to get involved, support and mentor. We won’t initially be able to support and reply to every application (something we aim to do in the future) but will do what we can.

Click here to apply to Proud Ventures as an LGBTQ+ Founder.

3. Follow our LinkedIn Proud Venture page

Please follow the **LinkedIn Proud Ventures** page to keep in touch with our efforts and get notified when we publish the results of the LGBTQ+ Founder Report.