PKC Commits to Two Years of Funding for The Angel’s Share

The Angel’s Share, developed by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC), is an economic development programme designed to support entrepreneurial expansion by connecting growth-ready enterprises with certified investors.

Based around three live pitching events each year, the programme supports entrepreneurs by providing high value expertise and coaching ahead of their presentation to the programme’s audience of certified investors.

Julie Barnsley, PKC Economic Development officer leading on the programme explains, “The Angel’s Share aims to foster a culture of ambition and entrepreneurship across Perth and Kinross by ensuring both entrepreneurs and investors benefit from the pitch experience.

“By facilitating the entrepreneurs preparatory work such as growth strategy, financial model planning, valuation and pitch decks, the programme ensures the business is pitch-ready and has the confidence to withstand the scrutiny of the investor audience.

“On the other side, investors must comply with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations for High-Net-Worth individuals or Sophisticated Investors. By enabling and supporting both sides of the engagement, the aim is to maximise the opportunity both in terms of the capital investment and the long-term business potential.”

Launched in 2012, The Angel’s Share was the first fully funded entrepreneur-investor matching service delivered by a local authority in the UK. 13 years on, and PKC has committed to developing the programme further, awarding Raising Expert - a consultancy business focused on helping early-stage founders raise angel investment - the contract to deliver The Angel’s Share for a further 2 years.

Finlay Kerr, founder of Raising Expert, commented, "We are delighted to have won the contract to deliver The Angel's Share programme for PKC and to support businesses with growth potential across the region.

“I’ve been encouraged by the diversity of businesses presenting through the programme. Many represent what we’d consider traditional industries, but more and more, we’re seeing companies emerge from the digital technology space.

"While the primary objective of The Angel's Share is to facilitate equity investment into local businesses, the forum has also proven to be a fantastic networking platform. Many pitching businesses have developed collaborations, met advisors, and made sales as a direct result of taking part."

Morven Shaw, founder of Selaura, a Perthshire based health and wellbeing company specialising in hormonal change, is one such entrepreneur, pitching at the first event of 2025 to great success.

In February 2025, Morven was awarded the £50,000 winning prize in the Perth & Kinross Regional Edge Awards, which she will use to kick start the next stage of Selaura’s journey.

Commenting on her investment journey, Morven said, “I’m committed to accelerating the growth of Selaura, with a three-year-plan to reach £2m turnover. To deliver on this, we need enough in our pot to cut through the supplement industry noise which is why this next phase includes a £350K funding-round.

“The win at Regional Edge has been a great catalyst for this, and I was pleased to follow up really quickly with a presentation at The Angel’s Share event in Perth Museum. This was a really valuable experience that secured leads with investment groups including Mint Ventures and Invest in Women.

“Feedback has been really positive, and since then I have enjoyed a trip with Mint Ventures to New York as part of Tartan Week, as well as further discussions with interested Mint members.“

Key Features of The Angel’s Share Investment Programme

• Connecting entrepreneurs and investors: The programme is based around live pitching events. These opportunities provide a platform for entrepreneurs to present to certified investors with a view to securing investment and strategic parentships which align with the business’s growth ambitions.

• Comprehensive Support: Beyond the opportunity for financial investment, the programme offers guidance and mentorship, addressing various aspects of business development such as financial planning and growth strategy all aimed at achieving investor-readiness.

• Focus on Long-Term Growth: By nurturing relationships that extend beyond capital infusion, the programme accentuates sustainable business growth and economic resilience for the area.

Finlay continues, “Programmes such as The Angel’s Share bolsters growing businesses, allowing them to move to the next level and to deliver a positive impact on the local economy. In my opinion, by offering this service and by encouraging meaningful inward investment, Perth and Kinross Council is providing innovative and creative business support for economic growth.”

About Raising Expert

Raising Expert works with growth-stage businesses to create pitch decks, business plans and financial models that investors find clear, appealing and informative and most importantly get you results.

Investment ready businesses, or those with growth ambitions, as well as individuals or groups seeking investment opportunities, can contact Finlay Kerr for an informal discussion by emailing [email protected]