Nicole Velho is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in both the startup and investment banking sectors. Her career began in South Africa, where she co-founded a B2B Edtech startup that successfully scaled software solutions for the Big Four audit firms—Ernst & Young, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC. This experience provided her with a solid foundation in entrepreneurship and the complexities of scaling technology solutions within highly regulated industries.

After moving to London, Nicole transitioned into the world of investment banking, holding key roles at prestigious institutions such as Deutsche Bank, Barclays Bank, and Macquarie Investment Bank. Her work in these organizations honed her skills in finance and investment, further enhancing her strategic approach to business and her understanding of global markets. This period of her career was marked by a focus on high-level financial analysis and investment strategies, which would later become invaluable as she returned to the startup ecosystem.

Nicole’s passion for fostering innovation led her back to the startup world, this time as an angel investor. She has invested in a variety of female-led companies, achieving significant success, including a notable exit. While residing in Bangkok and the English countryside, she expanded her influence in the entrepreneurial community. Later, in Barcelona, she co-founded Sie Ventures, where she launched the Catalyst fundraising program and led the investment arm of the venture. Her efforts at Sie Ventures have been instrumental in supporting over 100 female founders and connecting them with a network of more than 200 venture capitalists and angel investors. Nicole’s achievements have been recognized with nominations for UK Angel Investor of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and in 2024, she won the prestigious UK Angel Group of the Year award.