Helen Oldham
Angel Investor
Current investment sectors
Helen Oldham is a prominent figure in the Northern tech startup scene, serving as a Founding Board Director of NorthInvest, a not-for-profit organisation connecting early-stage investors with Northern-based tech startups.
A very active startup investor
In 2020, she established Fund Her North, a collective of 28 women in venture capital and angel groups aimed at supporting female founders in gaining equal access to finance.
Additionally, Helen is involved in various roles, including being a Non-Executive Director (NED), advisor, mentor, angel investor, and Chair of the Trustees for Smart Works Leeds, a charity supporting unemployed women.
Her career spans leadership roles in notable newspapers like The Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman. Helen's passion lies in supporting female entrepreneurs, leaders, and Northern SMEs to achieve their potential and implement ambitious growth strategies.
Helen is also the Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures with the angel investor Jordan Dargue, an early-stage investment connector focused on making regional funding accessible to all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or diversity.
She is actively involved in the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA) and the Women Angel Investment taskforce.
Helen’s thoughts on the Leeds startup ecosystem.
Discussing the economic outlook for Leeds and the wider region, Helen draws attention to the existing collaboration, particularly in innovation and digitization. Despite economic challenges, she sees positivity in these sectors, fostering the growth of early-stage businesses.
Helen believes that Leeds has a wealth of innovative startups, especially in medtech, biotech, green energy, and clean tech. To accelerate growth, she highlights the need to promote the success of these startups and attract more businesses to scale in the region.
The Leeds Innovation Arc, a strategic plan for inclusive and economic growth, is expected to generate greater investor interest nationally and globally.
In the interview, Helen elaborates on NorthInvest's role in driving regional growth. As a fast-growing Angel investor network, NorthInvest actively onboards new investors, including those previously unfamiliar with angel investing.
Helen emphasises the organisation's focus on inclusive growth, running workshops and events to encourage women to become Angel investors. She mentions the success of Fund Her North, supporting female founders and investors.
For startup businesses seeking funding opportunities, Helen advises strategic planning, defining propositions, clear business plans, and establishing strong connections with funding partnerships.
She highlights the importance of communities like Nexus, collaborating with them on projects to support business founders in becoming investment-ready and accessing advice and expertise.
Overall, Helen's work showcases a commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and economic growth in the Northern tech startup ecosystem.
