Currently...

Anil and Charlie are busy growing their financial marketplace.

Charlie has a technology background so he spends time ensuring operations and the trading platform are functioning smoothly.

Anil spends more time pitching to new clients, and making sure MarketInvoice is raising its profile in relevant media.

MarketInvoice is based just off Old Street, an area fast being labelled 'Silicon Roundabout' as a number of technology businesses are relocating here. The MarketInvoice team has been growing with a number of key recruits over the past 6 months. There are now 10 people in the office.

Before I escaped...

Anil Stocker worked in private equity first for Lehman Brothers. He managed to escape just before it went bust! He then worked for a smaller US boutique investment bank, Cogent Partners. He studied Economics at Trinity College, Cambridge University and is very interested in the way that technology can make markets more efficient.

Charles Delingpole founded a student blogging website when he was 16 that has grown to become http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">The Student Room (with over 5 million unique visitors per month). He subsequently went on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, and then 4 years at JP Morgan focused on internet and technology mandates. He's passionate about making technology work in a simple, cost effective, and powerful way. 

Both Anil and Charles believe the financial service industry is ripe to be shaken up.

My moment of truth...

Somewhat fortunately, Anil's and Charles' day jobs in the City resulted in them working next door to each other. Many a lunch and after-work drink was spent talking through potential business ideas, and attending the odd conference to gain some inspiration.

The big break through occurred when both attended an interesting talk about the future of financial services organised by the MIT Institute here in London. This was the moment of truth, which got them both thinking about channelling new forms of capital to small medium businesses.

Planning for it...

Before quitting their jobs, Anil and Charles spent a significant amount of time brainstorming and researching their ideas.

They would also regularly sneak away early to meet small businesses and industry veterans to test the market with their ideas.

Finally, it became too difficult to juggle both a day job and their new plans. So they both quit and spent some time writing their business plan before raising money from some angel investors. 

The worst and best bits...

The worst bits:

• Trying to find your first clients
• Spending lots of time getting excited that someone would sign up but then ultimately being disappointed
• Worrying whether the whole project would be a waste of time and never work
• Having others doubt your business plan

The best bits:

• Getting that first client
• Hiring great people and building out the team
• Generating your first small amount of revenue
• Seeing articles in the press about your business
• Knowing that others are trapped in 8am - midnight jobs in the City while you are having all the fun!

Best advice...

• Start young, think big, stick with it! (R. Cohen)

• 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration! (Edison)

• Every long journey starts with one small step. (Mao)

• The iguana will bite those who do not dream. (Lorca)

Useful resources and information...

Both Anil and Charles regularly attend events across London; from technology meet ups around Old Street, to entrepreneurial talks at the http://www.bl.uk/" rel="nofollow">British Library, http://www.fsb.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">Federation of Small Business, and http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home" rel="nofollow">BusinessLink. 

Reading biographies of successful entrepreneurs is very useful as you can learn from their experiences and hopefully avoid some mistakes!