Laurie Felker Jones

FSE manages £366m of debt and equity investment capital across the UK to deliver regional funding that supports job creation and economic prosperity. This includes £84m through the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund (SWIF). As a regional investment fund in the South West, the SWIF Equity Fund backs ambitious startups and SMEs across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Somerset (excluding North and North East Somerset) and Dorset with equity investments of £250k-2.5mm. Learn more and pitch us here: https://www.thefsegroup.com/fund/south-west-investment-fund/equity-finance

Alongside GPs Sara Brand and Kerry Rupp on Phase III, we're designing the next iteration of True Wealth Ventures' gender lens investment model. As exit timelines stretch, mega funds dominate, and capital concentrates into fewer sectors, we're testing whether structured equity and donor-advised fund integration can expand who participates, create earlier liquidity, and increase ownership options for women founders, while delivering competitive returns. This work contributes to, and is strengthened by, complementary strategies underway across the field. If you're working on these models or want to join an informal community of practice, get in touch. Learn more here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7445166254740529152/

A twenty-year career built in political campaigns and startups comes in seasons. Between significant in-house roles as a leader and operator, I spent many off-cycles and incubation periods partnering in an entrepreneurial and advisory capacity as “Laurie Felker Jones DBA Special Projects”. Modern Tender now holds and focuses that breadth of experience to offer select partners the best of many worlds. Through Modern Tender, I've helped mission-driven founders, funders and allied organisations explore and build new opportunities at the intersection of purpose and profits. Through advising, trainings, strategy sprints and special projects I've supported partners worldwide to build ventures, markets and capital strategies that drive meaningful results. I believe good design builds better systems, and that who is at the design table matters. By the numbers, I have: 💰 mobilised $40m+ in impact-linked capital across asset classes 🚀 worked in-house and with funders to advance 800+ ventures 🗣️ shaped categories and conversations through go-to-market and PR campaigns generating $1m+ in earned media If you've been looking for a strategic partner to design investible opportunities for impactful, under-capitalised or under-represented founders, ventures and use cases, I'm happy to connect. More at modern-tender.com

As a Newton Fellow, Laurie Felker Jones incubated a “fintech for good” twin-fund model backing Seed–Series A ventures serving under-financed markets. The original structure combined convertible and redeemable equity with debt mechanisms suitable for on-lending, designed to expand financial inclusion while creating liquidity and optionality for funders and founders. 💡Through the programme, here's what evolved: 🔎 Stronger core. Simpler model. Wider aperture. The time is now. 📈 Structured equity and redemption models have sharpened as the primary engine for delivering liquidity, ownership restoration, and impact fidelity. 💰 Working capital remains compelling and under-financed. Allocators seek liquidity, yet post-SVB venture debt thresholds remain narrow, particularly in the UK. Structured equity offers flexibility, near-term liquidity, and upside participation without defaulting to a pure debt underwriting lens. 🔁 Evidence in market: • Multiple GPs actively deploying redemption strategies • Founders prioritising ownership restoration • Tax and legal practitioners shaping viable structures • Portfolio modelling reinforcing cross-sector applicability 🌐 The mechanics extend beyond “fintech for good” into any sector where ventures have a credible path to meaningful revenues within 12–18 months and equity redemption within 3–5 years. ➡️ Current market conditions and modeling support strong conviction: competitive early liquidity for allocators, ownership returned to founders, and stronger long-term impact alignment. 🚀 Post-programme go-forward activities include opportunities tied to regional economic development and DAF-aligned co-investment models. If this is up your street, let’s talk! *** The Newton Fellowship is a world-class training program for experienced investment professionals and key ecosystem players to refine their expertise, enhance their leadership and grow their network. Learn more here: https://newtonprogram.vc/fellowship

Through the Venture Forward Programme, funded by Innovate UK and in partnership with Firstport, Mountside Ventures, Stronger Stories, FirstImpact, and GC Angels, I advised under-represented founders as part of a nationwide investment readiness programme supporting ventures preparing to raise capital within 3–9 months. I delivered a live, in-person investment readiness workshop and 60+ one-to-one advisory sessions focused on the following areas: - Fundraising strategy and capital options - Domestic and cross-border investor value propositions, positioning, and narrative clarity - Financial modeling and fundraising readiness - Curated, targeted introductions to investors and ecosystem partners (UK & US) aligned by stage, sector, and capital needs

Crisis Venture Studio is on a mission to accelerate the end of homelessness through entrepreneurship. Crisis Venture Studio invests in innovative companies that are working to help increase supply of, or access to, good quality, affordable homes, or that prevent or end homelessness through their products and services.

Supporting early-stage founders on the next steps of their journey as they expand into MENA and scale their growth across a new region.

Techstars Washington DC Powered by J.P. Morgan focuses on startups that can benefit from tapping into the unique strengths of DC’s innovation and startup ecosystem including our tech talent and diversity, and being a national and global center for policy making. Sector focuses include: health and wellness, education, finance, government and civic engagement, cybersecurity, and more. Open to founders of all backgrounds, the program is designed to provide equitable access to funding and support for Black, Hispanic and Latino, Indigenous American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs. Through game-changing investment and community partnerships, together we will take steps towards dismantling institutional, structural, and systematic barriers that often limit opportunities.

Techstars Equitech, in partnership with Upsurge Baltimore, is investing in startups from any sector that are grounded in the values of diversity, led by founders from underestimated communities, or developing technologies that increase access and equity across society. Techstars Washington DC Powered by J.P. Morgan focuses on startups that can benefit from tapping into the unique strengths of DC’s innovation and startup ecosystem including our tech talent and diversity, and being a national and global center for policy making. Sector focuses include: health and wellness, education, finance, government and civic engagement, cybersecurity, and more. Open to founders of all backgrounds, the program is designed to provide equitable access to funding and support for Black, Hispanic and Latino, Indigenous American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs. Through game-changing investment and community partnerships, together we will take steps towards dismantling institutional, structural, and systematic barriers that often limit opportunities. It's my pleasure and privilege to serve as an Entrepreneur in Residence, where I: • support the Techstars team in recruiting and selecting top-caliber companies and mentors for investment and the program; • assist portfolio companies with their growth through the fundamentals of customer discovery, business model development, marketing, financials, pitching and fundraising; • help the Techstars team connect founders to investors, mentors, talent and customers during program; • and, other activities that the MD may assign in support of the overall success of the program.

Building upon a MVP I created at LSE, I'm fortunate to work with the innovation team and an advisory board to develop, Capital Explorer, an interactive product for alternative startup financing. To do this, I draw upon my knowledge of a full spectrum of financing vehicles as it relates to their suitability for many different business models, stages of financing, possible capital stack permutations, and alignment with risk/return considerations of capital allocators across asset classes.

Antler is one of the most active early-stage investors globally and leads in ‘Day Zero’ investing, an approach to venture capital focused on partnering with founders pre-launch. Antler systematically removes capital and network constraints for early-stage technology entrepreneurs by providing co-founder matching, deep business model validation, initial capital, expansion support, and follow-on funding. The firm is present in 30 cities across most leading technology ecosystems globally and has made over 1,000 investments into early-stage startups, with the goal of backing more than 6,000 by 2030. Pitchbook has repeatedly recognised Antler as the world’s most active angel and seed-stage investor.

As a contracted advisor for UAL's Creative Futures programme, I provided a mentoring series that built upon a fundamentals of fundraising seminar to develop alternative funding routes for participating businesses. Working with a small group of founders, we developed specific fundraising plan, built a case for investment, and shared challenges and provided accountability along the way.

Conceived as an antidote to the MBA, the programme is aimed at students who wish to combine entrepreneurialism and business rigour with a commitment to public benefit, and conversely those who want to bring a social focus to business.

Essential participants reflect the diversity of Greater Austin, ensuring different experiences and points of view are brought to the program. By focusing on regional issues, deepening leadership skills, and building relationships with others equally committed to their community, alumni are poised to have increased impact through their civic engagement.