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British Business Bank report reveals no improvement in the share of venture capital investment to female founder teams over the past decade

Press release 05 July 2023

  • Share of total equity investment by value for all-female founder teams remained stagnant over the last decade, only receiving 2% of funding

  • Share of equity deals to all-female founder teams increased from 5% in 2011 to 9% in 2022

  • 13% of first-time equity deals went to all-female founder teams in 2022 and 10% to all-Ethnic Minority teams

  • British Business Bank has identified three clear, actionable and evidence-based pathways which venture capital firms can implement to enhance diversity in venture capital investment

Recent research from the British Business Bank found there has been no improvement in the value of investment deals to all-female founder teams over the past decade. While the Small Business Equity Tracker 2023 found that 27% of deals went to teams with at least one female founder, the highest proportion ever, all-female teams accounted for 9% of deals in 2022 but only received 2% of funding, which reflects no improvement since 2011.

A new report published today, Finding What Works: Pathways to Improve Diversity in Venture Capital Investment, reveals that despite some progress, diversity in venture capital investment remains extremely low and identifies pathways to enhance diversity in venture capital. Women, people from Ethnic Minorities, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds (proxied by education) are significantly less likely to receive venture capital investment compared to their male or White counterparts, or those that went to ‘elite’ 1  universities.

However, there are some signs of progress in improving the diversity of investment deals. The report reveals that 13% of first-time equity deals, a useful indicator of the strength of the investment pipeline, went to all-female teams in 2022 and 10% to all-Ethnic Minority teams. All-Ethnic Minority teams also received 19% of first-time investment. Further, founding teams with at least one ethnic minority founder made up 42% of investment value of first-time deals in 2022, up from 14% in 2013.

The journey of raising venture capital can be challenging – but for underserved entrepreneurs, the barriers can be far higher and this needs to change. Our Finding What Works: Pathways to Improve Diversity in Venture Capital Investment report provides clear, actionable, and evidence-based pathways for UK funds to improve diversity in investment, which I hope will stimulate both discussion and action to improve outcomes for diverse entrepreneurs and the wider UK economy. Together, we can create the systemic change needed to unlock the full potential of talented UK entrepreneurs, wherever or whoever they are. Louis Taylor CEO, British Business Bank

To continue and accelerate this positive trajectory, and to reduce barriers to investment faced by diverse teams, the British Business Bank has identified three clear, actionable and evidence-based pathways for UK funds to improve diversity in venture capital investment, based on the experiences of 40 VC investors and 124 venture-backed and ready businesses. This research brings together evidence for the first time on effective ways to improve the industry’s track record on investing in a diverse group of entrepreneurs.

The British Business Bank recommends firms consider the pathways set out in this report, make a commitment to consistent action over a sustained period, and to track and monitor progress. Joining initiatives such as the Investing in Women Code is a further means  to take action with support from others in the industry on a similar journey.

Promoting diversity at the top

Just 3% of those in senior investment and non-investment roles are women from an Ethnic Minority background, with no senior Black women identified in a BVCA UK survey.

The first pathway identifies that the lack of diversity within venture capital portfolios in terms of characteristics of founders is a reflection of low diversity within venture capital firms themselves. Findings from the survey suggest that increasing diversity at the top can lead to better investment decisions, free from biases that may be typical for a single homogeneous group. Implementing such changes can lead to development of a culture of inclusion both for diverse founding teams, who will find it easier to communicate with people they can relate to, and for venture capital staff at all levels.

Fostering inclusion in the investment pipeline

The survey revealed that 65% of venture capital firms admitted they do not approach their search for investment opportunities any differently when they seek to identify underrepresented founders.

Focus on a variety of ways to actively identify diverse founding teams, giving them a chance to secure funding, will lead to a more diverse investment pipeline. Networking within office hours is described as an effective way of increasing diversity, with some consideration for hours to accommodate family care being important, in contrast to more typical evening networking events. Attendance at accelerators is also considered an efficient way to identify high-potential business propositions from underserved groups.

Embracing transparency and accountability

Increased transparency and accountability among venture capital firms is key to delivering change and enhancing diversity in venture capital investment. Survey data of venture capital firms in the report finds that the industry needs to be ‘loud and open’ about the challenges, making themselves accountable for delivering positive, measurable change. This can be enacted by participating in industry-wide surveys to provide better quality data for analysis, ensuring clear communication of their investment strategies and commitments to diversity, and their ambitions to increase the proportion of deals with underserved entrepreneurs.

Venture Capital investment can play a critical role in starting and scaling innovative companies across the country that shape the future of the UK economy. According to the report, equity-backed 2  businesses in the UK directly supported 2.2 million jobs and generated 11% of gross domestic product 3 . The scale of under-investment identified in the report suggests the UK could have significant untapped talent and economic growth potential. To maximise its impact, it is crucial that this investment reaches a diverse group of entrepreneurs.

Notes to editors

About the British Business Bank

The British Business Bank is the UK government’s economic development bank. Established in November 2014, its mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK and to enable the transition to a net zero economy, by improving access to finance for smaller businesses. Its remit is to design, deliver and efficiently manage UK-wide smaller business access to finance programmes for the UK government.

The British Business Bank’s core programmes support over £12.2 billion 4  of finance to more than 96,000 smaller businesses 5 .

As well as increasing the supply and diversity of finance for UK smaller businesses through its programmes, the Bank works to raise awareness of finance options available to smaller businesses. The British Business Bank Finance Hub provides independent and impartial information to businesses about finance options, featuring short films, expert guides, checklists and articles from finance providers to help make their application a success.

The British Business Bank is also responsible for administering the government’s three Coronavirus loan schemes and its Future Fund, together responsible for delivering £80.4 billion in finance to 1.67 million businesses. These schemes are now closed to new applications.

British Business Bank plc is a public limited company registered in England and Wales, registration number 08616013, registered office at Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ. Wholly owned by HM government, the Bank and its subsidiaries are not banking institutions and do not operate as such. They are not authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). A complete legal structure chart for the group can be found at the British Business Bank.

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