FUNDING FOR FAST GROWTH workshop

"All the workshop participants I got to know at your event are of the same opinion: your workshops are just what one needs. I've learnt more today than during 10 months of knocking on many so-called 'funding opportunity doors' and approaching other start-up support organisations!" - Wilfried Rimensberger

Why aren't investors interested? You've dreamed it, you've planned it, you've pitched it and still...no money. You need to turn the business plan into capital. And it all comes down to just one thing ...your ability to successfully play "The Funding Game"

The Funding for Fast Growth one-day workshop will provide you with the tools to -

1. Find out the best source of capital for your business

2. Quickly secure the capital your high growth company needs to launch and grow

3. then importantly ensure you retain a large equity stake of your own company.

Who's it for?

The Funding for Fast Growth workshop is ideal for ambitious entrepreneurs who have:

• Already created a company and are looking for growth capital, or are in the start-up phase and are unsure of where or how to raise the capital to launch.

How you will benefit

The Funding for Fast Growth workshop packs two-day’s worth of valuable content into one informative day. At the end of the workshop you will leave with:

• Invaluable insights from successful angel investor Colin Coghlan  
• A DIY approach to finding angel investors
• How to create a compelling executive summary
• A template for a winning exec summary 
• Six bootstrapping secrets
• A formula for realistic valuation of your company ahead of investment
• How to develop credible and attractive business forecasts for investment
• Low cost marketing initiatives that can be implemented instantly to help reduce your capital spend
• An insiders’ list of recommended, small-business-friendly VCs, bankers, angel networks, lawyers, accountants and more
• Methods for dramatically increasing the credibility of your team for investors
• An alternative route for debt funding to support your business
• Invaluable tips on how to pitch your business to an angel investor
• Advice on how to assess the true value of an offer from an angel investor
• Direction on how to give away the least amount of equity stake for the capital you require for your next stage of business development
• Guidance on investor "term sheets"
• A clear understanding of how to play the funding game

After the event all attendees will recieve further email guidance with ideas, plans and contacts. Our aim is to collect as many success stories as possible to inspire future delegates.

Expert speakers

Paul Grant founder of The Funding Game

Paul knows what it’s like to be on both sides of the funding fence. As an entrepreneur he raised funds for his own business, securing capital from business angels, bankers, family and friends, and even a government grant.

After seven years of trading he exited his business in 2003 and was invited to join a private equity company, Capital Partners, eventually heading up the business angel division. Here he had access to nearly 5,000 angel investors and reviewed more than 1,000 business plans every year.

During this time Paul learnt a lot about why so many businesses fail to secure the funding they need in the start-up and growth phases. Paul has met with many investors, bankers, and venture capitalists over the years and in the course of his work has uncovered what they are really looking for.

More importantly, Paul has developed an approach to raising capital that works. He is keen to share with you what he has learnt as an entrepreneur and as an industry insider.

Paul is currently an associate director of BA Capital and Bergstrom Capital and is a regular speaker at events on the subject of raising capital. 

William Robins, Partner, Keystone Law will be demystifying the legal investment jargon

William has closed hundreds of investment deals within the early stage sector. He is a specialist lawyer within the area of private equity and is extremely knowledgable and experienced about the challanges to small business owners and raising capital. William also has a clear understanding of what angel investors are looking for. 

Why the traditional approach does not work

If you search the web, speak to business advisors and buy small business books you’ll find that common wisdom says: write your full business plan, go out and find funding, then start your business or take it to the next growth phase.

Yet the majority of successful early-stage companies did not get started using this approach. It may have worked during the internet boom of the 1990s, when everyone with a dot.com plan needed £1m to launch. Today things are very different. There are a new set of rules, and today’s entrepreneur needs to do more than write a business plan and expect investors to line up.

In today's economic climate the funding game is all about learning how to reduce the risk to investors and making it easier for them to invest. Investors and bankers are savvy and expect realistic business valuations and forecasts. More importantly, they are looking for a team that is focused, knows their market and has a plan for raising and using their capital wisely. At The Funding Game we show you where the bad plays are and give you the skills to win at funding your company - all the way from start up to exit. These skills will be invaluable to you as you build your current business… and perhaps your next one!

What is this event worth to you?

• Ultimately this one-day workshop is all about saving your valuable time as you seek the finance you need to fund your business. For some entrepreneurs this can take years of mistakes and trips down many blind alleys. We aim to fast-track your learning and deliver practical resources you can use to get a head start quickly. How much is your time worth?
• Once you find the funding you need we provide you with the strategies to make sure you hold on to as much equity stake in your business as possible. When it comes to an exit this advice alone could save you hundreds of thousands of pounds.
• We have known some entrepreneurs spend up to £100k in professional and marketing fees. More commonly small-business owners spend £2-3k. We aim to ensure you spend much, much less - ideally nothing outside of this event.

What other entrepreneurs say

“This is a great resource for new businesses” “Extremely insightful and informative”

“Nice to hear from somebody who has achieved what they are talking about”

“I’ll recommend this event to others” "Inspiring and kick-started me into action"

"Clear, concise, basically excellent" "Really worthwhile attending this event"

“You’ve given me a completely new perspective on funding”