Bethany Dudley, director, head of strategic partnerships at Foresight:
“We are seeing an increase in the number of female-founded companies we invest in across our VCT funds, particularly in the healthcare sector.
“A notable example is HomeLink Healthcare, which was founded by Jill Ireland, CEO and clinical director. Formed in 2015, it has provided ‘hospital-at-home’ services since 2018. HomeLink employs highly qualified and experienced nurses and rehabilitation teams to support the NHS – by providing services to patients in their own homes. These services deliver a range of clinical interventions, including wound care, intravenous therapies, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
“Another example is Hexarad, founded by CEO Farzana Rahman, which is an early-stage, high-growth healthcare technology company, providing teleradiology services to NHS Trusts and UK private healthcare customers. Headquartered in London, the company was founded in 2016 by a group of NHS consultant radiologists and differentiates through its clinical leadership and technology-led proposition.
“Another female-founded success story we exited earlier this year is leading Indian restaurant brand, Mowgli. Working in partnership with founder Nisha Katona, Foresight saw Mowgli grow and broaden its footprint from three to 15 restaurants across the UK. The partnership with Nisha was strengthened by the common passion for building sustainable businesses. At Mowgli, each restaurant has a ‘sustainability sergeant’, with the team organising local fund-raising events, focusing on energy usage, and sustainable sourcing.”