Wealth Building at ABN AMRO

More than 200 women came together for the “Successfully Build Wealth” event hosted by ABN AMRO Leading Ladies, the bank’s internal women’s leadership network. The shared ambition was clear: understanding how we can meaningfully close the wealth and funding gap for women.

AtVenture Platform was proud to lead the session on angel investing. Not as a theoretical concept, but as a practical and powerful way to create direct impact on both gaps at the same time.

Three perspectives, one shared mission

The afternoon brought together three complementary perspectives that together painted a clear picture of both the challenge and the opportunity ahead.

Veronike Fikse, Inclusive Banking Expert at ABN AMRO, introduced Code-V Vrouwelijk Ondernemerschap. This public-private alliance, initiated by ABN AMRO, focuses on identifying the structural barriers women face in access to finance and, crucially, on how those barriers can be removed through collaboration.

Judith Sanders, Sustainable Investment Strategist at ABN AMRO, shared a sobering reality. Women have 30–40% less wealth at retirement, while on average living longer. Her message was both data-driven and reassuringly practical. One line stuck with many in the room: “Hold your shares, even on bad days.”

From the AtVenture Platform perspective, co-founders Laurie and Tessa explored how angel investing can play a unique role in closing both the wealth gap and the funding gap. By activating more women to invest early, invest with intention, and build portfolios aligned with their values, capital becomes not just a financial tool, but a lever for systemic change. Equally important: angel investing allows women to grow their networks, share expertise, and shape the future economy together.

From hesitation to momentum

One moment captured the impact of the session perfectly.

At the start, only two hands went up when the audience was asked who had ever made an angel investment. By the end of the session, almost every hand in the room was raised when asked who wanted to learn more.

That shift matters.

Because closing gaps does not start with perfect knowledge or large tickets. It starts with awareness, confidence, and access. With showing women that they can participate, can learn, and can play an active role in shaping where capital flows.

That is exactly the change we are building at AtVenture Platform: turning curiosity into confidence and activating the next generation of diverse investors.

A heartfelt thank you to ABN AMRO, ABN AMRO Leading Ladies, Code-V Vrouwelijk Ondernemerschap, Veronike Fikse, Judith Sanders, Gaby van Kesteren, Britt Jacobs, and all participants for creating an open, thoughtful, and energising conversation.

💡 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