OBU Ltd (Obu) is a UK-based fintech SME with a core project team of Sarah King (CEO/Tech Lead/Co-Founder), Claire Dunn (COO/FCA Lead/Co-Founder) and Jennie Robinson (Programme Manager).
The financial services industry is failing to adequately meet the needs of women.
Women are arguably the largest underserved audience within the financial services sector, with current providers being slow to design products and services (Oliver Wyman, 2020) that recognise the life experiences, aspirations and needs of women when it comes to money and wealth. This inequality fails to capitalise on the investment opportunity presented by women who are adding $5trn to the global wealth pool every year. This audience need financial services products designed with them in mind and this is keenly felt in the angel investment sector where just 14% of angel investors are women (UKBAA), 80% of women with a financial advisor confirming that their IFAs don't discuss angel investing with them (CFA institute, 2019).
With more women reaching senior positions in their careers, not only is there a lost opportunity in the form of capital investment but in knowledge, leadership and network capital (just 8% of Chairs in the UK startup ecosystem are held by women - Erevena, 2023).
Supporting the economic empowerment of women has a plethora of benefits for individuals, families, society, economies and our environment as outlined in UN Sustainable Development Goal 5\.
Obu seeks Innovate UK Grant funding to develop a suite of micro-learning resources, developed using an inclusive design approach and therefore recognising the aspirations and needs of underserved, nascent angel investors and the barriers in knowledge they feel they have when it comes to angel investing. This content would be made available via the Obu Angel Collective, hosted by Obu which is a free online membership space for nascent, first-time and experienced angel investors to network and learn together.