Exceptional women-led companies, that have gone through the Astia Programme, are pitching tomorrow June 18, 2009, in London to the Investor Community at the First European Investor Forum. Astia, the premier Silicon Valley organisation for women-led high growth companies, is known for its greater than 60% funding success rate,  and this year, it has expanded to the UK where it hopes to achieve similar results with its innovative approach to sourcing, screening and advising high-growth start-ups.

The event will present seven pre-screened, women-led, high-growth companies from the high-tech, clean tech, internet services, and life science sectors to leading VCs and angel investors. The companies are an elite group chosen from the class that participated last month in the Astia 'Doing it Right' programme for entrepreneurs. The programme exposes qualified entrepreneurs to investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders with the goal of increasing access to capital and ensuring the high-growth of the businesses.

The conference will include a keynote address by Simon Walker, Chief Executive Officer, British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and the opportunity for companies to network with entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, Corporate VCs, investment bankers, and senior executives of emerging companies.

“We have been delighted with the response by entrepreneurs and investors to the London programme and are extremely impressed by the quality of the companies we are now working with,” commented Sharon Vosmek, CEO of Astia. “I am confident that this group will see similar success to the entrepreneurs we serve in the US,” she concluded.

Simon Walker, Chief Executive Officer, British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association added: “Astia’s work in the US has achieved great success and provided women in technology with a platform to source expertise and financing. The results of the programme are phenomenal. We are delighted that Astia has launched in Europe and hope they can replicate the success over here.”

Among the participants is Jennie Lees, Founder of Affect Labs based in Edinburgh added: "It's never easy starting a business. Any help and advice you can get is always very welcome in what can be a very lonely pursuit. We've come up with a great idea and see huge potential for our business globally, but the road to success has many pitfalls and we want to avoid as many as possible. The Astia programme has given us a great deal of insight into the world of investment as well as experienced mentors and the opportunity to pitch to some of the leading investors in Europe. As a result I'm more committed and excited than ever to be running a tech startup, even in this difficult economic time."

About Astia

Astia is a unique, not-for-profit, with a distinct focus and mission - to foster the full participation and leadership of women in entrepreneurship and as accelerators of high growth businesses. Astia provides innovative programs that ensure companies gain access to capital, achieve and sustain high-growth, and develop the executive leadership of the women on the founding team

Headquartered in Silicon Valley with programs in Silicon Valley, New York, and London, Astia is well positioned to work with start-ups from around the globe as they access venture capital. Astia’s Venture Conferences, which commenced in 2003, have attracted 151 presenting companies that have raised over $500 million and resulted in 12 exits, including 2 IPOs. The Astia conference has differentiated itself with an exceptional screening and qualification process that has resulted in greater than 60% of the presenting companies achieving funding or an exit within one year of the conference.