High-Level Overview
Lifted.vc is an early-stage fundraising support organization specializing in pre-seed and seed rounds, founded and operated by experienced founders-turned-coaches. Their mission is to help tech startups, particularly early-stage founders, navigate the complex venture capital landscape efficiently and successfully, having collectively helped founders raise over $50 million from top-tier VCs. They focus on providing expert coaching, founder education, and personalized fundraising strategies to accelerate startup growth and capital access. Lifted.vc serves primarily tech startup founders in the United States, aiming to reduce the barriers to early-stage funding and improve fundraising outcomes through hands-on support and founder-centric programs.
Separately, there is also Lifted Ventures (UK-based), which is a gender-smart investment connector focused on increasing capital flow to female founders across the UK, especially in regional areas like the North East and Yorkshire. They operate an angel network and co-investor network to support early-stage companies, emphasizing sectors such as Women’s Health, Med-Tech, AI, Digital, Clean Growth, and Ageing Society. This entity promotes gender diversity in venture capital and aims to make the North of the UK a hub for gender-smart investing.
Origin Story
Lifted.vc was founded by Adam Roberts, a former US Sailing Team member turned tech entrepreneur and sales leader, who has experience scaling startups and raising capital, including participation in Y Combinator. After founding and exiting his own company and working in sales leadership roles, Roberts focused on coaching early-stage founders through fundraising challenges, leveraging his network and experience to create Lifted.vc as a platform for founder support and fundraising acceleration.
Lifted Ventures (UK) was co-founded by Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham, with a strong background in supporting startups through grant funding and fundraising processes. Their goal emerged from recognizing the underrepresentation of female founders in venture capital and the significant economic benefits of investing in women-led businesses. They have built a regional network of over 100 angel investors and 250 co-investors to support female-led startups across various sectors.
Core Differentiators
*Lifted.vc (US)*
- Founder-led coaching: Run by founders who have successfully raised capital and scaled startups, providing practical, empathetic guidance.
- Fundraising expertise: Specialized in pre-seed and seed rounds with a track record of 70% of founders meeting or exceeding their fundraising goals.
- Personalized support: Offers free consultations and responsive communication, unlike many traditional VCs.
- Network access: Connects founders to top-tier venture capitalists and diverse funding sources including equity crowdfunding and 501c3s.
*Lifted Ventures (UK)*
- Gender-smart investing focus: Dedicated to increasing capital flow to female founders, leveraging data showing higher revenue and exit rates for women-led businesses.
- Regional emphasis: Focus on Northern UK regions, addressing geographic disparities in startup funding.
- Robust angel and co-investor network: Over 100 angels and 250 co-investors, providing a broad funding ecosystem.
- Sector expertise: Deep knowledge in Women’s Health, Med-Tech, AI, Clean Growth, and Ageing Society, among others.
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Lifted.vc rides the growing trend of founder-centric venture support, recognizing that early-stage fundraising is often the hardest hurdle for startups. By providing coaching and network access, they help democratize venture capital and reduce founder isolation, which is crucial as startup ecosystems become more competitive and complex.
Lifted Ventures addresses the critical need for gender diversity in venture capital, aligning with broader market forces emphasizing inclusion and the economic benefits of backing female entrepreneurs. Their regional focus taps into the increasing recognition that innovation and startup growth are not confined to traditional tech hubs, supporting the decentralization of the UK’s startup ecosystem.
Both entities contribute to evolving the startup funding landscape by focusing on underserved founder segments—early-stage founders needing guidance (Lifted.vc) and female founders needing capital access (Lifted Ventures)—thereby fostering a more inclusive and effective investment environment.
Quick Take & Future Outlook
Lifted.vc is poised to expand its coaching programs and deepen its network connections, potentially integrating more data-driven tools to further streamline fundraising. As venture capital continues to evolve with more diverse funding models and founder support services, Lifted.vc’s founder-led approach will remain highly relevant.
Lifted Ventures is likely to grow its angel network and co-investor base, further solidifying the North of the UK as a gender-smart investment hub. With increasing awareness of the superior performance of women-led startups, their influence in shaping inclusive investment practices and regional economic development is expected to strengthen.
Both organizations exemplify how targeted support and investment strategies can unlock startup potential and drive systemic change in the venture capital ecosystem.