Bates Wells supports long-standing client Entrepreneur First C.I.C. on the restructuring of Code First Girls to facilitate the next stage in its growth

Bates Wells has advised Entrepreneur First C.I.C. on their restructuring of Code First Girls in connection with the business receiving incoming Series A investment of £4.5million

Code First Girls was founded in 2011 by Alice Bentinck MBE and Matt Clifford MBE, who also co-founded start-up accelerator Entrepreneur First, and provides the skills, space and inspiration for women and non-binaries across the globe to become developers and future tech leaders. The business, which has a community of over 20,000, supports women and non-binaries into coding education and employment for free. Their aim is to develop the next generation of data scientists and software developers.

The transaction comes as part of the business’ transition in recent years from a social enterprise to a rapidly accelerating profit-making business. The business will use the investment to work towards its goal of providing over one million opportunities for women to learn to code for free and enter the industry over the next five years.

The Bates Wells team was led by Nirav Patel, and supported by Isabelle Harris, Damian Ward and Oliver Hunt, as well as specialists from across the firm.

Nirav Patel, who heads Bates Wells’ Corporate team, commented:

“It was a real pleasure to work with Anna, Matt and Anne-Marie in restructuring Code First Girls in order for it to take the next step in its growth. Code First Girls is doing an immensely important job in eliminating the tech diversity gap. We are delighted to have played a role in this stage of the business’ journey and ultimately to facilitate the business to continue delivering on its fantastic mission.”

Matt Clifford, Co-Founder of Code First Girls, said:

• on the transaction:

“There is a desperate need for more diversity in tech and we founded Code First Girls to deliver it. Following the success and astounding growth we’ve had, investors are clearly sitting up and taking notice. Their faith in our model will support us to significantly scale up the company and bring our work to more tech businesses.

This is an exciting new chapter for Code First Girls, and we have ambitious plans to reach even more women, providing one million more opportunities for education and employment, turbocharging the tech industry and boosting the economy.”

• on working with the Bates Wells team:

“We are grateful for Bates Wells’ support and diligence throughout this complex transaction. They were able to draw on experts from across the firm to help us get this restructuring and investment over the line and start the next chapter of Code First Girls’ exciting journey.”