Evelyn Partners, the leading integrated wealth management and professional services group, has joined forces with investment platform Ethical Equity to support the launch of a community of angel investors in Bristol to drive social change.
Evelyn Partners co-hosted the first in a series of regular meetings for aspiring angel investors with a social conscience at its Bristol office in Portwall Place. The aim of the event was to create a network of like-minded investors who want to support ethical start-ups in underserved communities.
The event was co-organised with Bristol-based Ethical Equity which is the UK’s first investment platform dedicated to connecting ethical start-ups with like-minded investors.
Helen Bassett, a partner at Evelyn Partners in Bristol who heads the firm’s business outsourcing services team, said:
“The inaugural meeting of aspiring angel investors was a great success and there are more events planned across the country.
“Ethical Equity’s mission is to empower and nurture a community of 1,000 new impact investors by the close of 2024. These investors will play a pivotal role in fostering growth within underserved communities, ensuring equitable distribution of venture capital throughout the UK.”
To fulfil this mission, Evelyn Partners and Ethical Equity are hosting more aspiring investor meet-ups in key cities, including Bristol, Birmingham and London, throughout 2024.
“These gatherings provide an excellent opportunity to meet fellow aspiring angel investors, share experiences, and gain valuable insights from seasoned experts in the field,”
she added.
“Whether you're new to investing or have some experience, they will provide you with the knowledge and connections needed to take your first steps as a change-making angel investor.”
Ali Kazmi, CEO and founder of Ethical Equity, said the group aimed to see 1,000 new angel investors investing an average of £500 in early stage start-ups in several key cities by the end of next year.
“Communities who have been shut out historically have told us that this is what has been needed for some time. We are democratising the angel investor process so that everyone has a chance to participate in private markets – a powerful movement has started and people are beginning to gravitate towards it,”
he said.
Denis Lindsay, COO, added:
“Our aim is to secure greater representation of underserved groups in the room and we were very pleased to witness the diversity of the people who came along to our event.
“Part of our mission is about demystifying the myths around investing and our partnership with Evelyn Partners is already proving hugely beneficial. They were proactive from the very start and we didn’t need to push the door open – it swung open and they pulled us in.”
For more information about future ethical investor events please email Bristol-Events@evelyn.com