ACT #195 Check Warner, Ada Ventures

Welcome to the next episode of “At the Cap Table”! In today's episode, we are speaking with a remarkable individual who needs no introduction. Her name is Check Warner, a prominent figure in the venture capital industry in the UK.Check is the co-founder of Ada Ventures, an inclusive venture firm. Ada Ventures finds and funds extraordinary talent building breakthrough ideas for the hardest problems we face. Check invests £250,000-1m in UK technology companies across climate, economic empowerment and healthcare & ageing. One of Check's notable contributions to the venture capital industry has been pioneering initiatives like Diversity VC and Future VC. These initiatives aim to drive positive change and foster inclusivity within the industry. Check also received an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion in Venture Capital for her work with Ada Ventures and Diversity VC in the King's New Years Honours 2022. In this episode of At the Cap Table:- We explore Check's journey into venture capital and what makes her excited about the current state of entrepreneurship in the UK and the opportunities it presents, - We will discuss the origins of Diversity VC and Future VC and explore the impact they have had on creating a more diverse and equitable ecosystem. - We’ll hear about Check’s work with Ada Ventures, a venture capital firm she is dedicated to right now- And finally, raising a fund can be a complex and opaque process, so we'll discuss Check's experience in starting a fund and gaining and maintaining the trust of limited partners. She'll also share key learnings from her years in the VC industry and highlight common mistakes that investors make when embarking on the fundraising journey.