In development
Building a more inclusive angel investment ecosystem
The Diverse Angel Syndicate (DAS) programme has been developed to address evidenced disparities in angel investing and strengthen the diversity and reach of the UK’s early-stage investment ecosystem.
Women currently make up around 14% of UK angel investors, while it is estimated that around 11% are from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds. In the wider equity market, all-female founder teams secured just 7% of UK equity deals and 2% of investment value in 2025.
DAS aims to broaden participation in angel investing, increase investment into diverse founders and strengthen the capability and sustainability of diversity-focused angel syndicates across the UK, with a particular focus on supporting activity outside London.
Successful syndicates will receive a package of financial and non-financial support designed to help them recruit, train and activate investors, strengthen their operations and build sustainable operating models. This includes funding, training, guidance on operational tooling and infrastructure, and access to peer learning and ecosystem connections.
Who is this programme for?
The programme is primarily designed to support:
- New and emerging angel syndicates
- Syndicates seeking to recruit and activate more diverse angel investors
- Syndicates focused on investing in diverse founders
- Syndicates operating outside of London
- More established syndicates that are entering a new phase of development or making significant changes to their structure, leadership, membership model or investment approach in order to build a more scalable, sustainable or inclusive syndicate may also apply
Emerging syndicates are typically those operating for less than 12–18 months and with fewer than three completed investments. However, this is intended as a guide rather than a strict requirement.
Why apply?
Participating syndicates receive both financial and non-financial support designed to accelerate growth and support long-term sustainability.
Financial support
Successful syndicates may receive up to £400,000 of grant funding over a four-year programme period to support activities such as:
- Salaries, consultancy & management fees directly related to investment support activities
- Office overheads directly related to investment support activities
- Marketing and promotion
- Meeting and event costs
- Travel at economy class rates
Non-financial support
Participating syndicates will benefit from:
- Structured syndicate development support
- Guidance on operational tooling and infrastructure
- Angel investor education and training
- Peer learning and best-practice sharing
- Access to ecosystem connections and partnerships
- Support to develop a sustainable operating model
The British Business Bank is partnering with the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA) to deliver specialist support to participating syndicates, helping them develop the structures, processes and capabilities needed to grow and operate effectively.
Why a more diverse angel ecosystem matters
Evidence indicates that diversity among investors can influence where capital flows. Although women make up only around 14% of UK angel investors, women angels contribute more than 30% of investment into female-founded businesses.
DAS is therefore focused on widening participation in angel investing and helping a broader range of people become active and confident early-stage investors. The programme has a particular focus on tackling underrepresentation among women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, while supporting broader diversity across syndicate leadership, membership and investment activity.
Sign up for our newsletter
Just add your details to receive updates and news from the British Business Bank
Sign up to our newsletter