Logo of Laidlaw Scholars Ventures next to text that says "Turbocharging good businesses".

Laidlaw Foundation Launches $50 Million Venture Capital Fund To Accelerate Laidlaw Scholar-Led Businesses

Laidlaw Scholars Ventures (LSV), a venture capital fund established by the Laidlaw Foundation to invest in businesses led by Laidlaw Scholars, today officially opens for applications.

October 4, 2021

LONDON, UK, October 4th 2021—Laidlaw Scholars Ventures (LSV), a venture capital fund established by the Laidlaw Foundation to invest in businesses led by Laidlaw Scholars, today officially opens for applications. All profits from LSV will be returned to the Foundation to invest in its educational programmes.

Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, Chairman of the Laidlaw Foundation and Founder of Laidlaw Scholars Ventures, commented: “I am always so impressed by the brilliance of our Scholars, I wanted to make it easier for them to access funding to launch and grow their start-ups more easily. All the profits of the Fund will be reinvested into the work of the Foundation, ensuring that these Scholars are part of paying it forward."

Backed by a $50 million fund, Laidlaw Scholars Ventures accelerates start-ups founded and run by Laidlaw Scholars committed to the Foundation’s Good Business Checklist (a charter for ethical leadership). LSV will reinvest all profits into the Foundation’s educational programmes designed to break the cycle of poverty, reduce inequality and develop a new generation of ethical leaders.

Scholars and alumni from the Laidlaw Women’s Business Education Programme that supported over 300 students at Columbia Business School and now funds MBA scholarships at London Business School and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School; as well as alumni from the undergraduate Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme run at the world’s top universities, will be eligible for funding. 

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About Laidlaw Scholars Ventures 

Laidlaw Scholars Ventures (LSV) is a for-profit business investing in start-ups founded and run by Laidlaw Scholars. Backed by a $50m fund, LSV accelerates Good Businesses by financing their growth, providing support services, delivering extensive training and development, and bringing a network of expert advisors and mentors to guide portfolio businesses.  All profits from LSV will be returned to the Laidlaw Foundation to invest in its educational programmes designed to break the cycle of poverty, reduce inequality and develop a new generation of ethical leaders.

To learn more, visit laidlawscholarsventures.com and follow us on LinkedIn

About the Laidlaw Foundation 

The Laidlaw Foundation invests in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented in order to break the cycle of poverty, reduce inequality and develop a new generation of leaders. Our funding supports three core programmes: 

  • Sponsoring the Laidlaw Schools Trust – a growing, Multi-Academy Trust in the North East of England, providing inspirational education to transform lives,
  • Developing a new generation of diverse leaders who embrace research-based decision making and ethical leadership through our Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research programme at the world’s leading universities and
  • Ensuring more women reach the C-Suite by providing MBA scholarships at London Business School and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. 

To learn more, visit laidlawfoundation.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter

Contact

Nikol Chen

nikol.chen@laidlawfoundation.com