SHOWREEL
TESTIMONIALS
Susan Benjamin:
This is an excellent programme for startups who face so many challenges and limited budgets
Matt Robinson:
Excellent Day, Interesting Anecdotes, Energetic Delivery
John Hynes:
It’s nice to hear from a man who has done the walk and is able to talk the talk
Clare Brynley-Jones:
Great day – great setting, really interesting and reassuring
Ross Wallin, Pitcher and Piano:
Great Venue, charismatic presenter and good time slots
Phillip Gibbs, Synergy Linx Ltd:
Doug Richard is great, open and has a great sense of humour. Phil Wilkinson was a very valuable addition
Vanessa Knight, 100 Percent Art:
Brilliant, loved the interactive approach with audience to give real on-the-spot examples
Joanna Anthony:
A positive day which I can highly recommend to others
The Price of Money Part 4: Say No, No, No, No Till Your Tongue Bleeds
I have been writing a series of articles recently entitled “The Price of Money” that grew out of my unease that people neither understood how great the cost of capital is nor the enormous difficulty involved in pricing capital. I was further dis-enchanted by the rhetoric amongst government ministers reciting mantras of entrepreneurship and access [...]
Saturday 31 October 2009
The Price of Money Part 3: What Angel Investing & 1 Night Stands Have In Common
A friend of mine asks,
“How do you know whether the angel investor has any money to invest? It’s all fine and good that they aren’t asking you for money to pitch; but that doesn’t mean they’re in the money. Do you ask for proof of funds from a bank, references from previous businesses they’ve invested [...]
Friday 30 October 2009
The Price of Money Part 2: At Least You Can Eat Catfish
When Angel Networks are actually providing a corporate finance function they should be able to show their past funding success. If the cannot, one should be suspicious. If they insist on charging for investment readiness training beforehand then they should un-tie that obligation from presenting.
Friday 30 October 2009
The Price of Money Part 1: Sex, Lies & The Bottom Feeders of the Angel Community
Not all angel investors are created equal. Some are real, some are actually corporate finance houses and should be judged on their track record and some are snake oil salesmen who are taking your money for no good reason. You need to be able to tell them apart.
Tuesday 27 October 2009
The Dirty Secret of Credit For Small Business: the Failure of the EFG Scheme
Small businesses do not benefit from the government schemes like the Enterprise Finance Scheme because the banks subvert the schemes to reduce their own risk rather than extending the scope of lending. The incoming government should beware.
Monday 26 October 2009
Living Without Air: How to Need Very Little Capital (Part 1)
In Part 1 of our Living without Capital series I explore how startup companies should focus on creating a small feature set that is completely integrated with the world. Marketing is woven into the code. API’s real or metaphorical should be part of version 1. It’s more important to do a few things well and interoperable with the rest of the world than it is so do alot…
Thursday 22 October 2009
University of Essex & School for Startups to Jump Start UK Small Business in Colchester
Oct 20, 2009 – Doug Richard, Dragons’ Den investor, serial entrepreneur and founder of School for Startups (S4S), will lecture small businesses and startups on 13 November 2009 at a free one day “Six Rules for Startups” event in Colchester. The course, a £95 value, will be delivered free through the University of Essex with funding from the Government’s Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF). Entrepreneurs can reserve a seat at www.schoolforstartups.co.uk.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
UK Startups Get Accelerated Training in How to Find Investors from Doug Richard at The Royal Institution of Great Britain
Doug Richard’s School for Startups, working together with O2, will be delivering “Find, Pitch & Close: The Art of Securing Investment” at the Royal Institution on 18 November. Registration open now at www.schoolforstartups.co.uk.
Saturday 10 October 2009
Marketing is All About Frames, So Put Your Products In the Picture
Marketing is about framing your product so it can be understood by your customers. It must be integrated into a narrative, a story so they can position it and you can attach it to things they want their products attached to.
Saturday 3 October 2009