Disruptive Thinking Series – The Valley of Death – Raising Investment

Reality. Perspective. Insight.

With the Disruptive Thinking Series, each month we aim to offer an insight into the experiences and lessons learnt from amazing business leaders and experienced experts in particular areas of business from investment to people management, from concept to commercialisation and beyond.

These events will enable you to meet and network with like-minded business, tech and innovative peers as well as gain valuable insight to other business journeys and key learnings which may help you and others in the future across a range of topics.

This month we are discussing:

“The Valley of Death – Raising Investment”.

Mike Rigby, Founder and presenter of Eastern Promise Podcast, will be our host for the event, investigating and discussing with our guests the issues of investment. Delving into the world of investment and investors, Mike and our guest speakers will discuss their experiences and knowledge in order to share with you their top tips, key learnings and discuss the truths of what it takes to:

• know what type is right for you
• understand what investors are looking
• what it takes to be ready for investment – from you and your business
• know how to look for the perfect match

Our guests will be:

Wayne Taylor, Founder and CEO of Rehook is no stranger to investment for growth.

He has been instrumental in helping to launch successful investment-driven and bootstrapped companies, working as an experienced Director and CTO with successful tech and product start-ups.

Incredibly, Rehook started out as little more than a side project for Wayne: a simple but ingenious answer to the vexed question of how to get your chain back on your bike without getting filthy. However, Rehook soon became so much more and continues to grow and evolve.

Wayne has experienced many types of funding strategies to aid business growth, including one of the most challenging environments available: the BBC TV show ‘Dragon’s Den’ (why start small?) Here he secured a £50k investment in exchange for a 15 per cent share of his company.

Join us to hear more from Wayne about his experiences in the ‘Valley of Death!”

Gary Douglas-Beet, Innovation Growth Adviser, Innovate UK EDGE

Gary works at Innovate UK EDGE and runs the investment readiness programme for Founders looking to secure Equity funding. Currently in pilot mode with a cohort of 14, they have secured over £6.5m in funding in just 3 months.

He has built several businesses from the floor up over the last 27 years, with both successful exits under his belt and some absolute howlers. For the last 11 years he has dedicated his time to raising equity funding for 100’s of founders and worked for UHNW investors to sift, recommend deals and conduct due diligence. He has also built 100+ investment memorandums and pitch deck for clients who have gone on to secure over £41m.

Since joining IUK Edge in January, his mission is to leave a legacy of how to get ready for investment, present a perfect pitch, secure investment from investors and build a strong valuation for early-stage businesses going through the valley of death – the Seed Stage.

He’s also spent time working as a comedian / singer / entertainer in Spain and US, a juxtaposition position from his early days as a police office.

This event will be recorded (audio only)

Please be aware we will be recording the audio from this event, thanks to the Eastern Promise Podcast, so you can enjoy or share this event with others later. Should you not wish to appear on the podcast, but do wish to ask questions, please bring a pad and pen and we can take written questions from you on the day, or there will be time to speak with the speakers after the main event over coffee till 11am.

How does this event run?

09:00 Registration, networking and refuelling (tasty breakfast treats!)

09:30 Disruptive Thinking session and discussions, including Q&A

10:30 Onward discussions, networking and refuelling

11:00 Event Close

You don’t have to be there by 9am, but please try to arrive for the start of the Disruptive Thinking Session at 9:30 to make the most of the session.

How can I get to the event?

This event will be a physical event – but will also be broadcast as a podcast at a later date for those who do not wish to travel, attend in person or in case of future lockdown restrictions.

Location

Do come and join us, at the fantastic Hethel Innovation Centre, near Norwich. It’s a fantastic facility which provides incubator and grow on space for many innovative businesses, supported by the amazing business support team who work with the businesses there and also run events and programmes for outside the facilities too. Take a look at what is on offer and to learn more click here.

Hethel Engineering Centre – Chapman Way, Hethel, Norwich NR14 8FB

Hethel Engineering Centre | The engineering hub of Norfolk (hethelcentre.com)

Getting to this venue via public transport is difficult so please bear this in mind when booking if you are not intending to drive or take personal transport to the venue.

Car Parking

There is car parking available on site. With Parking to the front and additional to the side of the main building. Please park within the designated bays. You will need to sign in at main reception with your car registration upon arrival as well as signing in for the main event.

Your information

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For more information or any questions on this event, please contact sue.simmons@newanglia.co.uk