Investor knowledge is business power
THE news is never short of headlines about small businesses struggling to get hold of start-up capital and nobody is ever short of an opinion on the matter. But until now, few have put their heads together to find a solution. Stepping into the breach, City PM and Entrepreneurs World have created a conference to help business owners and investors alike.
The plan is simple: bring both sides together. We have tracked down top quality speakers including Edward Wray, the co-founder of Betfair, and high-profile investors such as Lord Stanley Fink, a hedge fund manager, and plan to put them in a room together on 22 June to discuss the challenge of raising entrepreneurial capital.
This will be no ordinary conference. Each table will be hosted by a successful entrepreneur or investor. Together, they will consider what makes a business ready and appealing to angels, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.
“The idea is great,” says Tim Weller, the founder of Incisive Media. “If I’d had people to tell me what I know today, I would have grown my business much faster.” Weller cites blunders he made early on, giving away large stakes in the business to early investors that he had to buy back later. “If only someone had warned me of the pitfalls,” he added.
THE RIGHT DIRECTION
The idea is to save entrepreneurs time and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need. The conference organiser and founder of Entrepreneurs World Ivor Tucker explains: “Most entrepreneurs are very busy, with limited resources and time to deal with everything that needs their attention. Raising capital is a complicated process that in many cases is almost a full-time job in itself. Coming along to the conference will speed up the process and give entrepreneurs the knowledge and network to put them on a surer footing.” The conference hopes to give entrepreneurs a head-start by pointing them in the direction of the information “they don’t know they don’t know.”
David Soskin, the co-founder of Cheapflights Media, says the social element will be fantastic: “Meeting up with other entrepreneurs can be a great way to learn.”
HELIX CONFERENCE | NEED TO KNOW
Who: This conference is for business leaders, investors and those interested in entrepreneurship.
What: This conference, run jointly by City PM and Entrepreneurs World, will be a highly interactive seminar led by high-profile entrepreneurs.
When: 8:30am-3:20pm, 22 June 2011
Where: Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, London.
Speakers: The line-up of speakers includes Edward Wray, the co-founder of Betfair; Lord Stanley Fink, the hedge fund manager; and David Soskin, the former chief executive of Cheapflights Media.
Cost: £395 plus VAT.
Book: www.cityam-helix.com
Special offer: The next thirty people will be able to bring along a guest for free.
Visit www.cityam-helix.eventbrite.com, to book using the code “EWGUEST” to secure a subsidised place. But remember, this is a limited offer.