Presentation by Robert Sheffrin, UCLan at the Funding - Lancashire SME workshop on Thursday 27 September at the Tickled Trout Hotel, Preston.

1. © University of Central Lancashire 2018. All rights reserved 1

2. The Lancashire Investment Readiness
Programme
“A Finishing School for SMES”
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Robert Sheffrin, Investment Director, UCLan Ventures
Pete Leather, Programme Director, UCLan Ventures

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4. • Many investors
• No shortage of money
But……most businesses fail to raise investment!
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Why the Investment Readiness Programme?

5. Investor led – team of experienced
investors
Real knowledge – not theory
Improved investment prospects
Gives investors confidence
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Market gap – programme developed by investment
professionals
Lancashire Investment Readiness Programme?

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Free for eligible Lancashire companies with growth potential
• Workshops
• 1 to 1 support
• Intellectual property focus
• Investment proposal due diligence & feedback
• Pitching practice & investor identification
For early stage to established SMEs, with growth potential typically
seeking £50,000 to £millions
Flexible Investor-Led Programme?

7. The Problem/Opportunity
• Nocturnal Enuresis (night time bedwetting) is a widespread
and distressing condition that can have a deep impact on a
child or young person's behaviour, emotional wellbeing and
social life
The Solution
• System for predicting and providing warning of bladder voiding
Exploitation Strategy
• Secured SBRI and NHS i4i funding
• Spin out company
Funding Leverage
• £20,000 Investment Voucher leveraged £600,000 funding
Pre-Void Alerting Device

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• Designs and produces
sustainable packaging solutions
for FMCG manufacturers /
pharma
• CEO – former Asda Walmart
director
• IP secured. Technology proven.
• Growing sales to household
names
• Potential investors identified
• Awaiting major order before
formally approaching investors
Sustainable Packaging Solutions

9. • Fully developed and retailed
products
• Burnley manufacturing
facility
• IP secured
• Investor pitching
• Investment received
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Making Wholesome Drinks from Flowers

10. Investor - Graham Shiers, Founder & Director, Business Catalyst Club
commenting on the pitch by a Lancashire Investment Readiness programme
beneficiary, …
“Spot on! Unlike many other companies we see, didn’t sell the product, sold
the business”.
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Beneficiary - Martin Leeming CEO Trak-Rap Ltd
“This is a must do programme for anybody thinking about raising
investment in their business. Knowledgeable people, with a variety of
relevant backgrounds and hands on experience, take you step by step
through this minefield, using a series of group workshops and one to
ones”.
Feedback

11. Peter Leather:
Programme Director,
UCLan Ventures
Head of IP & Commercialisation
Robert Sheffrin:
Investment Director,
UCLan Ventures
Chris Wynne:
Investment Manager,
UCLan Ventures
Sue Falls:
Investment Readiness
Programme Administrator
Peter Rawling
Commercialisation Project
Manager
The Team