Travel business secures £500,000 business angel funding

AN ANGEL investor has invested nearly £500,000 in a women’s business travel organisation.

Leeds-based Maiden Voyage, launched by Carolyn Pearson in 2008, has now been backed by private investor Tony Rice.

Mr Rice, who has been a chief executive at several listed businesses, has also joined the board as chairman to help grow the 8,000-strong organisation.

The company specialises in travel safety for the female business traveller and works in more than 80 countries.

Ms Pearson launched the site after seeing the lack of opportunities for women to explore and meet people in new cities when they travelled with business.

The business recommends female-friendly hotels and accredits business travel providers as well as providing training.

Mr Rice said “I got involved in maiden-voyage.com two years ago when Carolyn and I were speaking at an event at Cranfield School of Management and subsequently stayed in touch. I acted as a mentor to Carolyn as she developed the business concept and model. When she was looking for investment to accelerate the growth of the business I was delighted to participate as Carolyn is a very dynamic and creative entrepreneur and maiden-voyage.com offers a capability which is not only unique but also beneficial and needed by female travellers, helping employers and travel industry.”

 

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