Unlocking inclusive capital at ImpactFest

When people are shown how they can make an impact even in a small, concrete way, something powerful happens. Small actions add up. Momentum builds. And real change starts to feel accessible.

That is exactly what we witnessed at ImpactFest during our session “Unlock Inclusive Capital through Angel Investing.”

From insight to experience

The session started with the fundamentals. Participants were introduced to the basics of angel investing and the realities of the funding gap. Not as abstract theory, but as something tangible and actionable. We then moved into practice.

Participants stepped into different roles. Some became “angels,” reviewing real startup cases. Others played the role of “founders,” answering questions and defending their vision. Together, they assessed opportunities, discussed risk, and made investment decisions.

Learning quickly turned into doing.

Then came the surprise

Just when participants thought they had seen it all, we took it one step further. The real founders behind the cases stepped onto the stage and pitched live:

• Dieuwertje Drexhage – LAYCO

• Carolina Bongers – Jungle the Bungle

• Ellyne Bierman-Hagen – Reflower

The energy in the room shifted immediately. Questions became sharper. Engagement deepened. The distance between “investor” and “founder” disappeared. And then we asked the audience to act.

Micro-investments, real impact

Participants were invited to “invest” for real by donating to one or more of the startups. No pressure. No huge tickets. Just a conscious choice to support a founder they believed in.

And of course, we celebrated the impact that followed.

🏆 The Inclusive Founder Award went to LAYCO, for receiving the most donations. AtVenture proudly doubled the amount raised.

🏆 The Inclusive Angel Award went to Carolina Bongers, who surprised everyone by not only pitching on stage but also being the angel who donated the most. She received a one-year membership to the AtVenture Angels community.

Why this matters

What stayed with us most was seeing learning turn into action in real time. The session sparked follow-up conversations between investors and founders about actual investments. Connections were made. Doors opened. Exactly what we set out to do. Inclusive capital is not an abstract ideal. It becomes real when people are given the tools, confidence, and structure to participate. One question at a time. One decision at a time. One (micro)investment at a time.

A big thank you to ImpactFest and everyone who joined us for leaning in, participating fully, and helping make inclusion tangible.

💡 Curious to learn how to start investing yourself? Join our Angel Accelerator — a hands-on program designed to turn aspiring and new angels into confident, connected investors.👉 Learn more and join the next cohort