Aquis IPO Academy Unveils Inaugural Cohort with 50% Female-Founded Growth Companies

Quick Summary

The Aquis IPO Academy, in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs, has unveiled its inaugural cohort of over 25 UK scale-ups. The six-month public markets readiness programme provides pitch support, investor access, and expert mentoring, achieving a landmark 50% female-founder participation rate to address market imbalances.

How Is Aquis Addressing Gender Disparity in UK Capital Markets?

Historically, female-founded businesses have represented just 7% of high-growth IPOs in the UK since 2011. Here is how the Aquis IPO Academy actively closes this funding gap for female entrepreneurs preparing for public listings:

• Targeted equal participation: The inaugural cohort achieves 50% female-founded participation across sectors like medtech, retail, and data.
• Direct network integration: Founders receive 1-on-1 access to institutional investors, governance mentoring, and financial advice.
• Reduced listing friction: Participants gain a structured path to Aquis Stock Exchange, complete with discounted admission fees and pre-eligibility guidance.

Which Companies Are Part of the First Aquis IPO Academy Cohort?

The program brings together more than 25 high-growth UK enterprises across AI, fintech, cyber, enterprise software, and consumer products. Key participants include:

• Fintech and Capital Markets: Archax, J3 Debt Solutions, and Simudyne.
• AI, Tech, and Robotics: Rio AI, Ethicronics, Sherloc, and Battalion Advanced Technology.
• Consumer, Health, and Brands: Stripe & Stare, GetHarley, Bold Bean Co, and Cheeky Panda.

By bringing tech-enabled scale-ups together under a dedicated exchange-run curriculum, the initiative equips high-growth founders with the tools required for a successful IPO.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This initiative represents a vital step toward reviving London's public equity pipeline, especially for underrepresented scale-ups. The UK public markets have struggled with liquidity and listing attraction; providing early-stage structured governance education specifically designed for tech and female-led enterprises targets the root cause of the listing drought. If execution holds, this readiness blueprint could redefine how regional exchanges compete for high-growth tech listings against private equity buyouts.