THE POWER TO INVEST IS FEMALE

This Angel Investing Program is designed for women who are ready to explore the world of startup investing — whether you're curious about venture capital, eager to diversify your portfolio, or passionate about supporting bold, early-stage innovation.

Over the course of two intensive in-person days, and through a blend of academic insight and real-world practice, you’ll learn how to identify, evaluate, and invest in high-potential startups around the world. Organized by Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece, Greece’s leading business school, Blossom Ventures, the country’s first female angel investor syndicate, and WE LEAD, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gender gap in tech and innovation, this program combines academic rigor with hands-on experience to help you launch your investing journey and thrive.

This isn’t just about investing money - it’s about building access, confidence, and community in a space that’s long overdue for more diverse voices.

Participation fee (covering training, instruction materials, in-session meals and coffee breaks, access to the project phase):

Early Bird: €600 (paid until Oct. 31,2025 for November 2025 cohort and Jan. 9, 2026 for January 2026 cohort)
Regular fee: €800

A discounted fee applies to Blossom Venture Syndicate members, Alba Graduate Business School alumnae and WE LEAD graduates.

Please note: The fee of €800 applies only to the currently announced cohorts (November 14–15, 2025 & January 30–31, 2026). Future pricing and structure may change based on demand and format evolution.

Seats are limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Secure your spot now.

WHY THIS PROGRAM

Women represent less than 25% of angel investors in Europe (EBAN, 2025), and in some regions, the number drops even lower. Despite this gap, women are founding companies at record pace, building personal wealth faster than ever before, and driving outsized impact in their communities. The problem? They’re still underrepresented at the table where funding decisions are made.

Angel investing has long been dominated by a narrow demographic - but that’s changing. Women investors bring diverse perspectives, and a unique lens on untapped markets. When women invest, they’re more likely to back diverse teams, fund community-led innovation, and support solutions that serve real-world needs.

But it’s not just about representation. It’s about RETURN. Research shows that diverse investor groups consistently financially outperform homogeneous ones!

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN

A deep understanding of how angel investing works
Key concepts: portfolio theory, valuations, deal structures
Real talk from experienced investors & startup founders
Hands-on pitch analysis - not just theory
A personalized investment thesis & action plan, with expert mentorship over 3 months
Certificate awarded upon thesis submission

WHO IS THIS FOR

Women located in Greece, across Southern Europe and beyond, who are:

exploring angel investing for the first time
building wealth & influence
seeking to understand the investor perspective
driving change through capital

TRAINERS

Maria Koletsou is the founder of Blossom Ventures, a Greek-based angel investor network supporting female-led ventures globally. With over 20 years of experience in capital markets, angel investing, and startup growth, she has backed female led companies across healthtech, femtech, and innovation-driven sectors. Previously, Maria co-founded Novus Finance, a boutique Investor Relations agency while She has been an active angel investor since 2005 through ARATOR Holdings, focusing on disruptive and strategic investments. He career started in Fixed Income Sales & Trading Emerging markets with. posts in Moscow and London. Maria holds a PhD/MPhil in Econometrics from the London School of Economics and an MSc & BSc in Economics from the University of Essex. She speaks English, French, and Greek fluently.

Nikolas Karouzakis is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Alba Graduate Business School. Prior to joining Alba, he held the position of Lecturer in Finance at the University of Sussex Business School (2015- ) and the position of postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Statistics at the London School of Economics (2013-2015). Dr. Karouzakis received his PhD in Finance from Cass Business School, City University London. He teaches Investments, Fixed Income Analysis, Financial Modelling, Advanced Equity Analysis and Portfolio Management.

Alexis Komselis is the co-founder and director of AHEAD - Alba Hub for Entrepreneurship and Development at Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece. He is an an experienced trainer and practitioner in entrepreneurship, SME management and family business management. Alexis designs and leads outreach programs for entrepreneurs and family business stakeholders that engage a wide range of communities, such as VentureGarden for aspiring entrepreneurs and NextGen Mentoring that supports younder family business members to prepare for succession. He teaches at graduate and undergraduate level courses related to his field of expertise, bridging academia and practice, while he has contributed to the design of academic programs. Alexis is engaged with the local and regional entrepreneurship ecosystem, and supports incubators, accelerators and hackathons as a trainer, mentor or judge.

FAQs

Which dates is the current waiting list for?
Our first cohort (October 3-4, 2025) is fully booked. We’re now building a waiting list for the upcoming cohorts on November 14–15, 2025 and January 30–31, 2026. When you complete the application form, you’ll be able to select your preferred dates and will automatically be added to the waiting list for those sessions.

Do I need to apply again later?
No, you won’t need to reapply. Once you’ve submitted your application with your preferred dates, you’re all set. Our team will contact you closer to the date with next steps. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us at ahead@alba.acg.edu if you have any questions.

Is there an evaluation process for applications?
There’s no formal evaluation process - we welcome anyone with a genuine interest in learning about startup investing. That said, spots are limited for each cohort, so we recommend applying early to increase your chances of joining. If demand exceeds capacity, we’ll prioritize applicants based on their motivation and clarity of goals, and we’ll do our best to offer additional cohorts to meet interest.

Is there a fee to participate?
Yes, a €800 participation fee applies that will be paid as a donation to Alba, a registered not for profit association. It covers instruction, workshop materials, guest speakers, mentorship, meals during the in-person sessions, and access to the three-month post-program phase. Early bird offers apply. Please note that the fee of €800 applies only to the currently announced cohorts (November 14–15, 2025 & January 30–31, 2026). Future pricing and structure may change based on demand and format evolution.

What language is the program in?
The entire program, including workshops, materials, pitch events and mentorship, is conducted in English.

Do I need to have a background in finance or startups?
Not at all. This program is designed to make angel investing accessible and approachable, even if you’re starting from scratch.

What is the time commitment after the in-person sessions?
After the two-day intensive workshops, you'll be invited to complete an Investment Thesis & Action Plan over a three-month period, supported by mentors. This part is flexible and designed to fit around your existing schedule.

Do I need to be located in Greece to participate?
No, while the in-person sessions will take place in Athens, the program is open to participants from across Southern Europe and beyond. You’ll just need to be available to attend the in-person dates.

Will there be an online option in the future?
We're exploring hybrid and online formats for future cohorts. If you’re unable to attend this round in person, we encourage you to apply and express your interest in future online versions, or join the waiting list to stay updated.

TRAINING PARTNERS

SUPPORTING PARTNER

OVERVIEW

WHY THIS PROGRAM

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

DAY 1

DAY 2