Advice
Individual academics, spin-outs and SME directors are invited to present their business plans (whether early or late stage) in private round table sessions to obtain constructive, in-depth feedback from members of our growing panel of advisors.
Finance & Investment
Chris Backhouse, Richard Miner, FD Solutions
Peter Jelfs, Philip Waller, Mazars
Tim Dempsey, Epiphany Capital
David Edmonds, Advantage Creative Fund
Giovanni Finocchio, Duncan Kerr, Andrew Muir, Midven
Tom Hawkins, Talis
Tim Hazell, Everard Mascarenhas, Andrew Oldfield, Mercia Fund
Paul Heaven, Blue Sky Corporate Finance
Robert Heed, Beer & Partners
Mike Loftus, News from the Future
Neil MacKay, Advantage Business Angels
Legal & IP
Chris Bond, Jagvir Purewal, Forresters
Jennifer Bailey, Alan Bhimani, Yvonne Booth, Pamela Bryer, Tina Rees-Pedlar, Marks & Clerk
Richard Brooks, David Hall, Anthony Collins Solicitors
Catherine Burke, Freeth Cartwright
Patrick Duxbury, Richard Goold, Peter Hall, Luke Kempton, Wragge & Co
Jon Gill, Eversheds LLP
Juliet Hibbert, Kilburn & Strode
Christian Lowis, Marie McMorrow, DWF LLP
Paul Mountain, Martineau
Business Strategy
Giles Brindley, Quarto Perspective
Martin Green, Blueberry Consultants
Jerel Whittingham, Amphion Innovations
Anne Wilkinson, Growth Accelerator
Geoffrey Beanland, Beanland Consulting
Nick Brown, Martin Saunders, Grant Slatter, Bright Star
Francesco Colacino, Start- Up Advisor
Alan Cornwall, Marshvale Investments
Tony Davis, Chris Dyke, MedilinkWM
Malcolm Gylee, Gylee and Associates
Simon Hague, Think Share Create
Chris Hand, Bioscience Ventures
Paul Jonsen, TalaveraScience
Peter Kemp, The ICT Practice
Theodoros Koutroukides, Atlantic Accelerator
Egan O’Callaghan, The Penn Group
Basil Sawczuk, Potentialise
Eleanor Watson, Poikos
Mike Wood, SME Advisor
Join our panel of advisors by contacting us or joining as a new member.
Present your plan
If you would like to present your innovative idea or business plan to obtain free advice during 1-1 meetings with an advisor or in a round-table consultation at one of our events please check out the details or contact us.
We'll need a short summary describing the following:
- Your name
- Name of your idea
- Description of your idea, product or service
- Problem this solves
- Target market and competitors in your space
- Your team and their background
- How your idea will make money and proposed structure of the business
- Intellectual property position (e.g. patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, databases, knowhow)
- Funding situation
You can also simply apply for a free business plan ticket at one of our upcoming events.
We offer a uniquely supportive community that is designed to help launch and grow companies, our directors know the struggles and successes from the inside.
Presenters obtain:
- a private round-table consultation (no fire breathing dragons, just constructive advice),
- pro-bono follow up support from firms like FD Solutions, HGF, Marks&Clerk, Quarto Perspective and Wragge&Co.
- introductions to entrepreneurs who are interested in helping you grow your business,
- a webprofile,
- an optional video taped interview to get your message across.
Over 30 spin outs, start ups and growing companies have presented already, and have had great things to say.
Expert panel
Our advisors provide constructive feedback to individuals who may have valuable intellectual property and initial funding for commercial development but are looking for support and guidance at an early and vulnerable stage of translating their innovations into marketable solutions.
Pointers:
- Advice on starting up
- Warwick Business Boffins PDF
- Business Link on presenting your plan
Presenter Feedback
"This was my first experience of real investors and business advisors. I did not go looking for money, just advice. They provided a critical but helpful view of my potential business." - Tim
"It was my first opportunity to pitch the idea and being able to do this in a ‘non-threatening’ environment was great" - Liz
"It illuminated some key issues and focussed our IP strategy" - Shaun
"After the presentation we were approached by a potential investor who offered to invest a significant amount into the company."- Will
"The broad range of experienced perspectives gave honest and critical feedback on our product. We learnt during the afternoon about very practical aspects of getting our message across" - Chad
"The panel offered great advice which was helpful in analysing our strategy for growth, they provided interesting insights into managing the business through a steep growth curve." - Penny
Testimonials from business plan presenters.