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Raising Funds from GEIF (Cambridge, UK)
By Jon Gillespie-Brown | June 11, 2007
Summary: GEIF (Great Easter Investment Forum) is a leading UK business angel network located in Cambridge which exists to introduce ambitious, innovative companies seeking funding to business angels and other early-stage funders seeking quality investment opportunities.
Launched in 1995, GEIF is part of the NW Brown Group, a Cambridge-based company offering a wide range of financial services to private and corporate clients, and in 2003 launched GEIF Ventures, a £5m co-investment fund which exists to match investments made by GEIF business angels into high-growth companies.
A big benefit of this group is the match fund, if you raise angel funds from the group you can apply to GEIF Ventures, the co-investment fund.
I enjoyed working with the team and they are trying to ensure that the maximum opportunity is achieved on the day and they cut down on all the accountants and lawyers that tend to plague these events.
Presentation format: 10 Min, Powerpoint slides. 6 Companies over an hour before lunch. Networking before and after. If you are chosen you will also have the benefit of a break out room where potential investors can ask questions. No questions during the presentations.
Costs: £750 to present plus 4% success fee. Clarity required on your existing potential investors will be needed in advance to segment them from those you meet on the day.
Contacts: Larissa Chamberlain
Approach: Apply via the web site below or get introduced. Then you need to pass the two-stage preliminary filter for either of the e-mail introduction or presentation day options which includes an application and meeting. Then you can stand up in front of 50-80 investors in the Cambridge Tech. Park.
Do’s: Make sure you are ready and that you are squeaky clean on your accounts and references as they will examine your case closely. Being ready means having a well practised 10min pitch that is attractive to the tech/high growth audience – you will required to practise with them in advance and you will need to tailor this as they suggest.
You will get contact details for all investors that attended your break-out sessions you should contact interested investors as soon as possible after the Investment Day.
Don’ts: Be late or unprepared, GEIF are a highly professional outfit as they are managed by NW Brown. N.B. Please note that financial projections must not be included within the 10-minute presentation, but can be covered in the break-out sessions.
Audience: Over 320 members consisting of individual investors, VCs, corporate investors and professional advisors with access to high net worth individuals.
Performance: GEIF has a proven track record of successful introductions between investors and high-growth businesses. Over 230 companies have presented to GEIF angels since its formation and of these c. 30% have been successful in sourcing funding – amounting to a total direct investment by GEIF members and GEIF Ventures of c: £8.5m.
Locations: Cambridge
Learn more about them: http://www.geif.co.uk
As a guide, you should look to cover the following during your 10-minute presentation:
The Business
· Company location & origins – founded when and by whom
· Profile of business and background to the business opportunity
· Business objectives and the USP of the investment proposal
· Assets of the business including IPR, licenses, etc.
· Business risks
· Competitive positioning and how the company has sustainable competitive advantage
The Team
· Brief summary of management team involved in the company
The Market
· Markets and access to markets
· The competition
· Profile of customers and analysis of main customers
Financial Information
· Past trading performance
· Capital structure and funding to date
· Funding requirement and details of where the funds will be spent
· Exit options
Last 3 posts by Jon Gillespie-Brown
- Choosing a "Stanford quality" startup idea–part 3 - October 11th, 2011
- Choosing a "Stanford quality" startup idea–part 2 - October 11th, 2011
- Choosing a "Stanford quality" startup idea - October 10th, 2011
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About the Author: |
| Jon Gillespie-Brown is a published Author, Lecturer, Founder/CEO and Mentor on Entrepreneurship. He currently mentors at Stanford, UC Berkeley and the London Business School. Visit his site for tips by email/twitter, blog updates, detailed articles, worksheets, news, a free quiz and more! Go now to http://www.tobeanentrepreneur.com/ | |
