RECAP Pt. 2: Start-It-Up Conference

In our second article of the Startup Conference Recap series, we will be focusing on the “Getting Investment-Ready” session, which featured the Business Funding Show’s founder Arina Osiannaya, A City Law Firm’s founder Karen Holden and the Intellectual Property Office’s Business Outreach Manager Emma Richards.

Arina Osiannaya of BFS opened the session with tips on how to connect with an investor, which can be similar to going on a first date. Here are a few things that investors will be thinking about:

• Are you their type?
• Have they shown interest in people like you?
• Do you have the skills and abilities that make a relationship possible and interesting?
• Who do you know? Which clubs do you belong to?
• You are judged by the friends you keep around you.
• Introductions always help! It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
• Why you?
• Why do investors need to put their money in your business and not your competitors?
• You need to show investors potential of growth, your commitment/passion and the practical benefits of working with you.
• What are your past relations? What happened to those?
• Have you secured loans? Grants? Did you invest your own money?
• Where do you see yourself and this relationship going?
• Show them your strategic plan and which resources you have in the plan already. Also, show how much money you need and where you need it and what it will enable you to achieve.
• Don’t create unnecessary barriers!
• Don’t overload investors with NDAs and other paperwork. Take everything one step at a time.
• Do you need help with your pitch deck or an introduction to funders? Find out how the Business Funding Show can help you here.

Karen Holden of A City Law Firm spoke about getting your legal house in order before going in front of investors.

• One of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make is not getting the right advisors. A good lawyer and accountant could save you a lot of money in the long run.
• Make sure that you have tailored, up-to-date and transparent documents, especially with intellectual property and employment contracts.
• Do not add partners and complex structures to avoid a little tax if you are seeking investment as they will want a transparent and simple structure to operate within.
• Consider the benefits of SEIS/EIS.
• If you are securing investment, do not get pressured into making the wrong decision. Meet with different advisers and explore all the options to understand what is available and what each will mean for you.
• A City Law Firm provides services specifically for startups. Learn how they can help you get your house in order here.

Emma Richards of the Intellectual Property Office shared this helpful diagram to further understand what types of intellectual property are out there. Check out gov.uk/ipo for more information on IP.

Stay tuned for the last article in our Startup Conference Recap series!

Interested in hearing more talks about getting investment-ready? Join us on November 15 for the Investment Conference. Tickets and speakers can be found here.