Finding an Angel Investor

Tuesday 12 March – 6pm (for 6.30pm start)

Workshop, followed by panel of Angels and Startups

Drinks and networking included

Following very high interest and a very successful first session in December, we are returning to the topic of finding an Angel to help provide some guidance to this essential process.

You’ve got an idea, you probably got started, have some traction... you need some funding, support, advice to get to the next level. Business Angels are investors and business advisors who come on board to with capital, experience and connections to help you get to the next level.

How do you find them? How do you approach them? How do you get them interested? How do you choose the right one for you? How do you retain a majority stake? What are the common errors?

We’ve put together an evening to help you get the answers you need.

We will begin with a workshop, covering all the aspects of getting investment, such as:

• What is the right type of investor for your business
• When is your business "investor ready"
• Why full business plans are not as important as you think
• How to obtain funding and give away as little equity as possible
• How to get your deal seen by investors
• A practical approach to finding a business angel
• What angel investors are really looking for
• How to find and approach angel investors
• Tools you must have when looking for investors
• Main approaches to raising angel capital
  

Following the workshop, we’ll bring the angels to you so you can learn from them, speak to them, get some useful pre-investment advice and even have a drink with them after.

Agenda

6.00pm Arrival and networking

6.30pm-8.00pm Workshop: How to find an angel investor, Paul Grant – 90min

8.00pm-8.15pm Break – 15min

8.15pm-9.00pm Panel of Angels, Networks and Startups – 45min

9.00pm Drinks and networking

Paul Grant
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.

Paul has been a regular presence at the Academy. His practical, straightforward approach has helped many entrepreneurs understand the process and prioritise.

Panelists (More panelists joining - please check back for final list)

ANGELS

Judy Piatkus

Judy Piatkus is a self-made entrepreneur. She founded Piatkus Books from her home and together with her team grew it into one of the most successful global independent book publishing companies. The company was particularly well-known for being a pioneer in the area of personal development, for bestselling American novelists of commercial fiction, and for continually taking risks with a leading-edge publishing programe. Judy managed to grow the company and retain a 100% shareholding until she successfully exited in 2007. Since then she works with entrepreneurs and SMEs on a variety of projects and has become an angel investor with a portfolio encompassing a range of companies.

Kasia Robinski

Kasia has been investing in private equity actively for nearly 20 years mainly in development capital/growth capital - the next step post the angel stage. Currently a partner in private equity fund Prospect Investment Management, whose deals have included MessageLabs - acquired by Symantec in 2008; Venture Production - acquired by Centrica in 2009; PayPoint; UK-SH - acquired by Care UK in 2013; and Duon SA. Alongside this, she has set up businesses and made a range of angel investments in the media, internet, property and travel sectors. Kasia is also an advisor to entrepreneurs on 2nd stage funding and/or on strategic sales of businesses they have created.

David Groom

David has over 20 years sustained success in building large scale, high growth software, data / analytics and consulting businesses, with a particular focus on serving multi-national TMT and Financial Services providers. He currently invests in and advises various high growth international data and technology businesses. David previously led Experian’s Decision Analytics business in EMEA and before that held various leadership positions in firms such as Amdocs Inc, Sema Group and Cable & Wireless.

Alexander Sleigh, London Business Angels

Alex manages the day to day operations of the London Business Angels network, one of the oldest and most established angel network in the UK having been in operation since 1982. Alex plays a key role in the sourcing and assessment of investment opportunities. He then works closely with the selected entrepreneurs in preparation for each Company Presentation Event, and beyond as they look to secure funding. Further responsibilities include management of investor relations, communications, marketing, events and administration

STARTUPS

Simon Walker, Glopho

Simon is CEO of Glopho a photo-sharing service for news photos where anyone can share news photos and get paid when their photos are used. Glopho raised £150k from angels, with help from London Business Angels. Before founding Glopho, Simon worked for 15 years as an award-winning photojournalist for internationally renowned newspapers, magazines and photographic agencies, including The Independent, The Sunday Telegraph, The Sunday Express, Stern magazine, Gamma Liaison Photo Agency and most recently as a senior staff photographer on The Times newspaper. During this time he travelled extensively covering global news stories including numerous wars and conflicts.

Azmat Yusuf, Citymapper

Azmat started Citymapper because he kept getting lost in London. He has worked at Seedcamp, Google and the World Bank, and studied at INSEAD and the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton School where he has joint degrees in Electrical Engineering and Finance. He has lived in many cities on many continents, and believes that there should be a perfect transport app on everyone's smartphone that just takes care of them.

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