© Anna Moffat Photography 2025.
- Pathways Forward signs up Connect Three, the University of Edinburgh, Geovation Scotland, BGF, Mint Ventures, and Firstport to Pathways Pledge, totalling 32 Pledge partners to date
- Pledges in the fifth cohort include hosting events to enhance DEI understanding in entrepreneurship, data collection to inform interventions and support for female entrepreneurs, educating more women to participate in panels, and the creation of a network of female investors in Scotland to encourage more female participation in Scotland’s investment community
- Pathways Forward is also announcing that the 2025 Female Founders Growth Summit will take place at RBS Gogarburn conference centre on 16th September, with Pathways partnering with Female Founders Rise, Buy Women Built, the ScaleUp Institute, and SuperScalers
Ana Stewart’s Pathways Pledge initiative has welcomed its fifth cohort, with Connect Three, the University of Edinburgh, Geovation Scotland, BGF, Mint Ventures, and Firstport signing up, totalling 32 Pledge partners to date.
Pledges in the fifth cohort include hosting events to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) understanding in entrepreneurship, data collection to inform interventions and support for female entrepreneurs, educating more women to participate in panels, and the creation of a network of female investors in Scotland to encourage more female participation in Scotland’s investment community.
Also, existing Pledge partners including AccelerateHER, Eos, and CodeBase have completed their first year of pledge involvement, and have committed to second year pledges – which include new partner leave policies, the creation of a growth lab for female entrepreneurs in Scotland, unconscious bias training, the formation of new partnerships, and the inclusion of secondary school pupils in entrepreneurship events.
Ana Stewart, Founder of Pathways Forward, who was recently appointed as Scotland’s Chief Entrepreneur, said: “The Pledge initiative is a key pillar of Pathways Forward and we’re motivated to see its continued growth. Our focus is on consolidating efforts across the ecosystem to drive change through collaboration with each organisation contributing its share to achieve a greater collective impact.
I’m encouraged to have such a diverse group of organisations from all sectors continuing to align with our objectives.”
Pathways Forward has announced that the 2025 Female Founders Growth Summit will take place at the RBS Gogarburn conference centre in Edinburgh on 16th September, with Pathways partnering with Female Founders Rise, Buy Women Built, the ScaleUp Institute, and SuperScalers.
Ana Stewart added: “This year’s Female Founders Growth Summit will deliver a unique combination of inspiring keynotes, dedicated workshops, impact networking with peers, and curated connections with investors. By collaborating with organisations across the UK, we’re able to ensure attendees leave the summit feeling motivated and armed with practical, actionable takeaways to drive their own sustainable and accelerated business growth.”
People can request to join Female Founders Growth Summit at https://lu.ma/ed8sdig7.
Notes:
The Pledge partners in the first four cohorts are AccelerateHER, CivTech, CodeBase, Deloitte, Eos Advisory, Scottish EDGE, Scottish National Investment Bank, Converge, The Open University in Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, SIS Ventures, Social Investment Scotland, South of Scotland Enterprise, the University of Strathclyde, FDM Group, Elevator, Equity Gap, EY, Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC), Entrepreneurial Scotland, Dechomai, Ooni, Archangels, Par Equity, and the University of Glasgow.
Pathways Forward was launched in September 2023 following the publication of the Scottish Government-commissioned Pathways: A New Approach For Women in Entrepreneurship report. In February, an Advisory Group was appointed to work alongside Pathways Forward’s chair Ana Stewart to amplify and progress the recommendations outlined in the Stewart Report.
The Stewart Report also led to the launch of The Scottish Government’s Pathways Pre-Start Fund in 2023 and 2024, the Entrepreneurial Education Pathways Fund in 2024 totalling over £3 million and being awarded to 39 different projects across Scotland to date.
