Lifted Ventures Angel Awards 2026
Wednesday 4th February 2026
Amy Pierechod and Stephanie Houghton from our corporate team were honoured to present the Lifted Angel Awards in January 2026 at Aspire Leeds.
The awards recognise not just financial investment, but also the leadership, collaboration, and commitment that the angel community demonstrates. And what the Lifted Ventures network stands for – backing bold founders, supporting one another, and creating impact far beyond capital. It was a fantastic day and a great event that we are proud to support.
Winners on the day
Angel Ambassador of the Year – Suzanne Donovan
The Angel Ambassador of the Year award recognised an angel investor who has gone above and beyond to champion the Lifted Angel Network, focusing on impact within the community – celebrating advocacy, mentorship, and a deep commitment to growing and supporting women investors. Suzanne was recognised for her continued support and commitment to the Lifted Angel Network through her advocacy, visibility, and consistent presence at founder demo days. She has shown up time and again for founders and for the angel community.
Deal of the Year – xigxag
The Deal of the Year recognised a standout investment backed by Lifted Angels that demonstrates strong founder-market fit, meaningful progress, and the power of collective support.
xigxag is an EdTech business co-founded by Kelli Fairbrother, combining text, audio and visual learning in one accessible platform. Lifted Angels backed the business as it scaled its technology and expanded globally, improving accessibility and engagement. This deal was selected because of the strength of collaboration between our angels and the impact the investment has had in helping the business scale and grow.
Angel Newcomer of the Year – Kelda Style
The Angel Newcomer of the Year award celebrated enthusiasm, engagement, and a strong commitment to learning and participating in angel investing.
Kelda has been chosen for this award because she has made a significant impact in a short period of time – through the deals she’s backed, her commitment to the community, her expert knowledge around IP and the consistency of her engagement.
Co-Investment Round of the Year – WAC
The Co-Investment Round of the Year award recognised the collaborative effort, strong due diligence, accelerating growth, and amplifying impact.
WAC’s co-investment round brought together Lifted Angels to support a £500,000 bridge round, following an earlier £1 million raise, enabling continued growth and impact.
This round was chosen because it recognises the angels who came together to leverage co-investment, unlock greater opportunities for founders, and demonstrate the strength of collective investing within the Lifted Angel Network.
Angel of the Year – Sandra Patel
Representing the very highest level of commitment within the Lifted Angel Network. The Angel of the Year award recognises individual angels who have made an exceptional impact through their investments, leadership, and consistent support for founders and the wider community.
Contributing to multiple rounds this year this award reflects Sandra’s dedication and leadership within the network.
Find out more about the work we do with angel investors here.
