UK Business Angels Association

Join us on Tuesday 9th June at the Exeter Innovation Hub for an introductory session exploring how to get started in angel investing.

Hosted for UKBAA members, this session is designed for new and prospective investors looking to gain practical insight into the fundamentals of early-stage investing - from assessing investment opportunities and building a personal investment framework, to understanding the wider angel investment landscape.

The event will feature a fireside-style discussion with experienced investors, followed by audience Q&A and networking opportunities with members of the regional investment community. Alongside supporting those considering their first investment, the session will also provide an opportunity for more experienced investors to exchange perspectives, share knowledge and strengthen connections across the South West angel investment ecosystem.

Book now: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vrsyP0

Whether you are exploring angel investing for the first time or are already active within the space, we look forward to welcoming you for an open, collaborative and insightful discussion.

Join us tomorrow for Future Forward – Investing in the Future of Mobility and Cities, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, as we bring together investors, innovators, and ecosystem leaders to explore the next wave of opportunities shaping transport, infrastructure, and urban living. As cities adapt to the demands of net zero, digital connectivity, and population growth, sectors such as clean transport, smart infrastructure, and data-driven urban solutions are becoming some of the most exciting areas for early-stage investment.

Meet our expert speakers from across the industry:
🔹Giulia Boselli, SME innovation support manager, Connected Places Catapult
🔹Jacob Martin, Future Technologies Manager, National Grid
🔹Adib Bamieh, Managing Director, Bamboo Orchard
🔹Dama Sathianathan, Bethnal Green Ventures
🔹David Dekel, Actia Partners
🔹Naomi Arblaster, National Grid
🔹Roderick Beer, UKBAA

📅 14 May 2026 | 12:00 – 13:30 | Online
Book now: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vjhvK0

DB ESG, established in 1995, is a leading specialist provider of rolling stock engineering solutions for the UK rail industry. Our world-class experts and solutions add value to both our customers and the UK rail sector.

Whether you're looking to invest, collaborate, or stay ahead of the curve, this webinar offers a valuable opportunity to connect with the businesses shaping the future of our cities.

What happens after the investment is made?

Join us for Beyond the Cheque: How Angels Build, Manage and Exit Successful Portfolios with Simon Blakey.

With more than 100 angel investments, including multimillion-pound exits, dividend-paying businesses, and the inevitable write-offs, Simon brings a deeply practical perspective on how experienced angels manage portfolios over time. Drawing on his experience as both an angel investor and during seven years investing with Playfair Capital as Chair of their Investment Committee, Simon will explore:

🔹 When venture capital is the right path for a company, and when it isn’t
🔹 Why angel-only funding can sometimes be the better route
🔹 How investors can support sustainable, profitable businesses without forcing a venture trajectory
🔹 The toughest post-investment decisions: when to bridge, when to stop, and when to sell secondaries
🔹 How to track portfolio performance in ways that improve future investment outcomes

📆 Friday 29 May | 13:00 – 14:00 | Online
👉 Book your place: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0v88K90

This session goes beyond deal selection and focuses on the real decisions that shape successful angel portfolios. A must-attend for angels looking to invest smarter, manage better, and exit stronger.

The future of mobility and cities is being built now, and the investment opportunities are growing fast.

Join us for Future Forward – Investing in the Future of Mobility and Cities, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, as we bring together investors, innovators, and ecosystem leaders to explore the next wave of opportunities shaping transport, infrastructure, and urban living.
As cities adapt to the demands of net zero, digital connectivity, and population growth, sectors such as clean transport, smart infrastructure, and data-driven urban solutions are becoming some of the most exciting areas for early-stage investment.

This session will feature a curated selection of high-potential SMEs alongside an expert panel of speakers from across industry and investment, discussing emerging trends, upcoming opportunities, and where the sector is heading next.

📅 14 May 2026 | 12:00 – 13:30 | Online
Book now: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0v2PV40

Whether you're looking to invest, collaborate, or stay ahead of the curve, this webinar offers a valuable opportunity to connect with the businesses shaping the future of our cities.

Don't miss The Angel Group Symposium 2026, tomorrow in London!

With over 60 angel groups represented, this is the largest gathering of angel groups across Europe and the UK. This year's programme brings together leading voices from across the angel investment ecosystem for a focused afternoon of data-driven insight and practical discussion.

A reminder of the agenda:
🔈 Opening Keynote – Glen Waters (HSBC Innovation Banking UK)
Insights from HSBC’s latest Key Term Sheet Report, exploring trends in early-stage investment terms and shifting founder–investor dynamics
🔥 Fireside Chat – Sara Palmer (Innovate UK Business Connect) & Roderick Beer (UKBAA)
How angel groups can engage with public innovation programmes, including Women in Innovation and ICURe, to unlock funding and access high-quality deal flow
🔎 Research Insight Keynote – Professor Niall MacKenzie
Exclusive pre-launch findings from a 30-year longitudinal study on the impact of angel groups on company growth, capital formation, and regional economies
🤝 Panel – Building, Engaging and Sustaining Angel Groups
Featuring Agata Zborowska (ConceptionX), Bradley Jones (ThatRound), and Anna Colombatti (Diversty x), moderated by Jenny Tooth OBE (UKBAA)
A practical discussion on governance, investor engagement, deal flow, and operational challenges
🌟 Spotlight Session – Susan Nightingale (British Business Bank) & Jonathan Keeling (Haatch Ventures)
Exploring co-investment pathways, including the Pathways Fund, Regional Angels Programme, and Diverse Angel Syndicate Programme
📈 Market Intelligence Briefing – Henry Whorwood (Beauhurst)
A data-led overview of UK angel investment activity, key sector trends, and emerging opportunities

Plus, dedicated networking opportunities to connect with fellow investors and leaders across the ecosystem. Attendance is complimentary for UKBAA members and spaces are limited, but there is still time to book your place.

📅 30 April 2026 | 13:30 - 20:00 | London
🔗 Apply to attend here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tX4F-0

A huge thanks to HSBC, Innovate UK and ThatRound for supporting this event!

Happening this week: The Angel Diaries with Amir Nooriala.

Angel investing is often framed around access to great founders and outsized returns, but far less attention is paid to what actually determines outcomes over time: dilution, control, and the structures behind each deal.

In this session, Amir Nooriala (UKBAA Angel Investor of the Year 2025) shares the lessons many angels only learn after multiple investments - and why education, not deal flow, is often the biggest gap.

🔹How dilution compounds across rounds, and what it means for real returns
🔹Why pro-rata, pre-emption, and preference stacks matter more than most realise
🔹Where angels lose control, and upside, without fully understanding it

If you’re writing cheques without fully understanding these dynamics, this session will change how you think about investing.

📅 Friday 24 April | 11:00 – 12:00 | Online
👉 Register now: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tKRT40

Plus, don’t miss Simon Blakey’s session on Friday 1 May! A practical look at how experienced angels build and manage successful portfolios. Plus, Lynne Cadenhead explores why angels need to think beyond the first cheque. Find out more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tKRH60

Discover the Agenda: Angel Group Symposium 2026, the biggest gathering of angel groups in Europe!

We’re delighted to share the full agenda for the upcoming Angel Group Symposium 2026 - bringing together leaders, investors, and innovators from across the angel investment ecosystem. This year’s programme blends data-driven insight, practical learning, and forward-looking discussion to help you navigate an evolving investment landscape and strengthen your group’s impact.

Here’s what you can expect:
🔈 Opening Keynote – Glen Waters (HSBC Innovation Banking UK)
Insights from HSBC’s latest Key Term Sheet Report, exploring trends in early-stage investment terms and shifting founder–investor dynamics
🔥 Fireside Chat – Sara Palmer (Innovate UK Business Connect) & Roderick Beer (UKBAA)
How angel groups can engage with public innovation programmes, including Women in Innovation and ICURe, to unlock funding and access high-quality deal flow
🔎 Research Insight Keynote – Professor Niall MacKenzie
Exclusive pre-launch findings from a 30-year longitudinal study on the impact of angel groups on company growth, capital formation, and regional economies
🤝 Panel – Building, Engaging and Sustaining Angel Groups
Featuring Agata Zborowska (ConceptionX), Bradley Jones (ThatRound), and Anna Colombatti (Diversty x), moderated by Jenny Tooth OBE (UKBAA)
A practical discussion on governance, investor engagement, deal flow, and operational challenges
🌟 Spotlight Session – Susan Nightingale (British Business Bank) & Jonathan Keeling (Haatch Ventures)
Exploring co-investment pathways, including the Pathways Fund, Regional Angels Programme, and Diverse Angel Syndicate Programme
📈 Market Intelligence Briefing – Henry Whorwood (Beauhurst)
A data-led overview of UK angel investment activity, key sector trends, and emerging opportunities

Plus, dedicated networking opportunities to connect with peers across the ecosystem.

📅 30 April 2026 | 13:30 - 20:00 | London
🔗 Apply to attend here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tKXz10

If you're looking to stay ahead of market shifts, strengthen your investment strategy, and build valuable connections, this is one not to miss.

A big thank you to our partners Innovate UK and ThatRound for their support!

The Angel Diaries: UKBAA Angel Investor of the Year, Amir Nooriala, shares his strategy.

🔍 Next session
Angel investing without illusions: risk, control, and understanding what you really signed up for.

Since beginning his angel journey in 2020, Amir has built a portfolio of over 25 pre-seed and seed investments, investing alongside Claire Valoti. He has seen first-hand how outcomes are shaped not just by founders and ideas, but by structure, timing, and risk.

In this session, he shares what that experience has really taught him:
🔹Why understanding risk, time horizons, and dilution is critical from the start
🔹The key mechanics that shape returns - from preference stacks to pro-rata rights
🔹Why education, not deal flow, is often the biggest gap for new angels

📅 Friday 24 April | 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
👉 Register now: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0txxJ80

This is a clear-eyed look at the realities of angel investing, and what you need to understand before writing your next cheque.

The series continues with sessions on portfolio strategy and exits (Simon Blakey), follow-on discipline (Lynne Cadenhead) and more. Book your place: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0txz5b0

More announcements soon!