Dahlia is joined by Helen Oldham, Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures and NED to discuss all things founder related.

Helen shares her perspective on when to start when founding a business covering everything from understanding your market to developing your brand to gaining investment to having the confidence to turn ideas into action.

Included in the conversation are Helen's views on the rise of personal branding, the challenges that stop women from investing in organisations and some top tips on building your network.

Helen's top tips on where to start as a founder are:

- Know your market

- Know your brand

- Know your worth

- Know your network

- Turn your knowledge into confidence and take action.

Helen is Co Founder of Lifted Ventures. Lifted exists to increase the flow of early stage capital to female founders and promote the significant business benefits of backing women.

The Lifted Ventures flywheel has an angel network at its core, alongside investment literacy and preparation, a lively female founder community and consultancy.

She is a Board member of the UKBAA, and a member of the Women Angel Investment taskforce.Helen is also interim CEO of Conduit Connect, an EIS impact investment fund, impact investment educator and angel network.

Previously Helen was a Founding Board Director of multi award winning NorthInvest, and in 2020 she founded Fund Her North, a collective of women in VCs who support female founders to get equal access to finance.Prior to this Helen was Managing Director of the Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman.