/Key points:
– The Gay Investor Network (The GIN) held its inaugural event, “Come Out & Connect,” attracting 140 LGBTQ+ founders and investors.
– GIN announced its first investment of £100,000 in Atlian, an AI company transforming construction insurance.
– Research indicates significant discomfort among LGBTQ+ founders regarding their identity in investment discussions.
– The network aims to provide a supportive space for LGBTQ+ founders and promote inclusive angel investing.
– Plans for expansion across the UK are underway, with the goal of becoming a leading diverse angel syndicate.
The Gay Investor Network Launches with Inaugural Event and First Investment
The Gay Investor Network (The GIN), the UK’s inaugural UKBAA-accredited angel investment syndicate for the LGBTQ+ community, launched its first event, “Come Out & Connect,” at the offices of law firm Cooley. The event, held on October 21, drew 140 founders, investors, lawyers, and fund managers, creating a lively atmosphere in the packed venue.
During the event, GIN proudly announced its first investment: £100,000 into Atlian, a London-based AI company focused on revolutionizing the construction insurance sector. Atlian’s software identifies and presents construction projects to brokers from the moment they are planned. This pre-seed round was co-led by Fuel Ventures, alongside SyndicateRoom’s Access EIS and angel investors, including Chris Mairs CBE, co-founder of Metaswitch.
Founder James Buckley-Thorp has an impressive entrepreneurial track record, starting his first business with £40 and subsequently building it into a Sunday Times Fast Track 100 company before selling it in 2016. He later founded Bequest, the first life insurance app in Britain, and was integral in creating Zego, Britain’s first insurtech unicorn. Buckley-Thorp earned recognition as one of the Gaingels Top 100 global VC-backed founders in 2024.
The Need for The GIN
Research conducted by Proud Ventures revealed that three in four LGBTQ+ founders in the UK feel uncomfortable disclosing their identity to potential investors, with a quarter opting not to share it at all. The study also highlighted significant disparities in fundraising success among different gender identities within the LGBTQ+ community, with gay male founders raising 22 times more than their lesbian counterparts. Mark James, the founder of The GIN, noted that during his 25 years in business and a decade in angel investing, he often struggled with how much of his own identity to reveal in meetings.
The GIN was established to provide a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ founders to pitch to investors who understand and empathize with their experiences. The network has rapidly gained traction, reviewing over 100 pitches and finalizing its first investment in just six months.
Moreover, the GIN launched SIX, a free six-month course designed to introduce new investors to angel investing, emphasizing that such opportunities should not be limited to the wealthy. The network’s LinkedIn group boasts more than 2,000 members.
A Celebration of Community
The launch evening included a panel discussion featuring Anna Colombatti of Diversity X Ventures, Harry Briggs of Astanor Ventures, and James Buckley-Thorp of Atlian, all moderated by Peter Wozny from Btomorrow Ventures. The event also featured entertainment from West End performers and drag artists from X&N Live, with attendees receiving goody bags filled with products from LGBTQ+-founded businesses.
Notably, every contributor to the event, from organizers to performers, volunteered their time. The GIN has been self-funded throughout its first year without a marketing budget.
What Lies Ahead
Looking to the future, The GIN is preparing to expand its presence across the UK, with plans for angel hubs in cities such as Brighton, Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh. The organization aims to establish itself as one of the largest and most diverse angel syndicates in the country.
Mark James, the GIN’s founder and Syndicate Lead, expressed the organization’s mission: “Three out of four LGBTQ+ founders in this country are not comfortable sharing their identity with every investor. A founder who spends their time editing their own story is bad for business and bad for returns. The GIN exists so that every founder and investor can be comfortable showing their true selves.”
James Buckley-Thorp, founder and CEO of Atlian, added, “It was easily one of the best networking events I’ve been to in a long time. Mark is building a great community with The GIN, and I’m proud that Atlian is its first investment.”
Russell Anderson, Partner at Cooley, stated, “It was a pleasure to host The GIN’s first event, and we look forward to supporting and collaborating with the network as it grows.”
