Venture Capital - A Guide through the Maze...

Event Report

6 July 2000 at Cams Hall

The last Fareham Technology Forum Event was held on the 6 July 2000 at Cams Hall, Cams Estate, Fareham.

The recent publicity surrounding the VC and IPO markets, particularly dot.com businesses, has not delayed the urgency behind many investment needs of local businesses in the area.

Forum businesses were given an unfair advantage by finding out more about the on-line VC market and how it operates. Paul Cordwell of matchco.co.uk (this is an external hyperlink), has been leading the new publicity charge for fresh ideas with recent features in Time, FT and the Telegraph.

matchco.co.uk provides entrepreneurs with easy access to the UK's leading business advisors and potential funding partners. By providing a secure environment in which business plans can be developed and presented, the needs of entrepreneurs can be matched to the criteria of potential backers. matchco.co.uk guarantees that completed business plans are reviewed by a funding partner. Paul was able to detail where investor interest is moving within the internet sector. matchco.co.uk is very much focused on larger 'start-up' success with many of their clients needing at least £1m for marketing alone! Their aim has been to raise the single figure percentage of successful vc applicants through traditional resources.

Dr Kenn Walters, MD of Globus Consulting, himself a member of the Forum, also provided a guide to his own route through the VC maze. Globus are a Worldwide company with 'bitter' experience of attracting VC capital to number of projects for clients.

Both presentations are available upon request to economic.development@fareham.gov.uk.

The event highlighted the need to identify ways to support 'seed-corn' ideas - projects that require early stage development funding . Members of the Forum interested in investment attended an earlier meeting with Paul to discuss how the interests of Forum members might be linked to the matchco.co.uk network.

Our hosts were The Wilky Group, the new owners of Cams Hall. Their Parallel Business Centres brand has been successfully providing serviced accommodation for small businesses and the event provided members with the opportunity to check out their new facilities and services. It was a wonderful English Summer's evening as delegates broke for refreshments and supper on the lawn.

To add your company to the membership for the Forum, please contact the Economic Development Manager on Tel: 01329 236100 or send an e-mail to economic.development@fareham.gov.uk.