This document discusses various stages that companies go through in seeking investment funding, including identifying needs, developing products or services, and preparing to attract investors. It notes funding mechanisms like crowdfunding and the importance of having the right team, intellectual property, market potential, and commitment. The document advises companies to plan backwards from their desired exit and develop short and medium term funding strategies. It also stresses the importance of working with advisors and conducting due diligence on partners and investors.

1. Bruce ColleyAccess to Finance
First principles
Identifying need

2. “Innovation Ladder”
“Finance Escalator”
“Funding Gap”
“Valley of Death”

3. The Journey –Escalator?

4. Or this?

5. Or this!

8. Kick- starter

9. Kick- starter
Crowd-funding

10. What are investors looking for?
•Right people
•Assets & IPR
•Defendable USP
•Growth Sector
•Scalable
•Demonstrable Market Demand
•Revenue generating
•Commitment
•Wow factor
InvestmentAttractive

11. What are investors looking for?
•Cultural change
–Life style v. project
•Advisors
•Due diligence
•Documentation, procedures, controls
•Management team
•Understand the investor
•Exit strategy
–Commitment
•Energetic / Committed
InvestmentReady

12. Planning for success
•Start from the end and plan backwards –the Exit!
•Plan your short term / medium term funding – develop a funding strategy
•What do you want from your investors –its never just the money! Negative or positive?
•Work with good advisors –mentors –coaches
•Do your own due diligence on everyone you work with and with potential investors
•Innovate UK-supported companies offer attractive validated, de-risked opportunities for private sector funders

13. www.innovateuk.gov.ukBruce ColleyAccess to FinanceInnovate UKbruce.colley@innovateuk.gov.uk@brucecolley107919 042375