HERmesa

HERmesa

HERmesa was set up in London in 2020 by Marla Shapiro, a former media and finance executive who built the firm to channel angel capital toward companies founded or co-founded by women. The firm does not represent a single-family wealth origin; it functions as an investment company that aggregates individual angel investors into a structured syndicate, deploying through direct equity rounds in the UK and Europe. The syndicate targets pre-seed and seed-stage companies, concentrating on technology and science-driven businesses where female founders are underrepresented. Asset-class coverage spans direct venture equity, with an investment posture that blends sector-agnostic screening and a gender-lens mandate. The firm formed a strategic partnership with Science Angel Syndicate in 2021 to co-invest in female-founded deep science companies, and is a signatory of the UK's Investing in Women Code, backed by the British Business Bank's angel syndicate platform. Geographic focus is anchored in the UK, with selective European co-investments. The operating team is led by Shapiro, supported by syndicate members who source and diligence deals collectively. HERmesa is an active member of the UK Business Angels Association, where it has received multiple award nominations. In 2023, the firm collaborated with Alma Angels on research examining how high-net-worth investor eligibility rules in the UK affect angel participation, signalling an advocacy posture alongside its investment activity. The firm also maintains ties to the Financial Alliance for Women, a global network focused on advancing gender equity in finance. HERmesa's architecture sets it apart from typical angel networks by functioning as an investment company with a syndicate structure that formalises decision-making and portfolio construction around a single thesis — female-founded, technology-forward startups. This hybrid model combines the flexibility of angel investing with the governance expectations of an institutional vehicle, a configuration that remains uncommon in European early-stage venture.