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Are you desperately seeking finance?

08 April 2008

  • Innovative start-ups are critical to the future success of the UK economy, yet many entrepreneurs face the challenge of finding the advice and support on how they can access finance
  • British Library event ‘Desperately Seeking Finance 2' brings together four business leaders – including one of the original ‘Dragons' Doug Richard – to reveal the secrets of the successful funding pitch
  • Dragons' Den production team will be on hand to answer questions about the next series

After all the hard work your business dream hits a wall when despite the brilliant ideas and planning your funding pitch brings no results. Four leading business advisers will take to the stage at the ‘Desperately Seeking Finance 2' panel discussion on Tuesday 22 April at the British Library and reveal how entrepreneurs can tailor their pitch to win support from high street banks through to business angels and venture capitalists.

The event will give select members of the audience a unique chance to bounce their business ideas off on a panel of experts and get some critical advice as to how viable their pitches are. The Question and Answer session will offer the whole audience an opportunity to quiz the seasoned business advisers.

The impressive line-up of speakers comprises of

  • Doug Richard, the founder and chairman of Library House and one of the original Dragons in the BBC's Dragons' Den
  • Julie Meyer, the founder of Ariadne Capital, the investment & advisory firm
  • David Sullivan, financial relationship manager at the London Development Agency and a highly experienced banker
  • Noel Quinn, HSBC's head of commercial finance, Europe

The speakers will focus on how entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators can gain access to varying levels of finance to transform their idea into a commercial enterprise or successful project. They will discuss where to find the sources that can provide access to the much-needed funding and the preparation that needs to be done before approaching them, but will also consider what the most difficult obstacles usually are and how they overcame them.

Isabel Oswell, Head of Business Marketing at the British Library, said: “This event is the first in the new season of the British Library Business & IP Centre's Inspiring Entrepreneurs programme of panel discussions, Q&As and networking events. We're delighted to present such a knowledgeable and wide-ranging selection of panellists for what promises to be a must-attend evening of essential advice and networking.”

The Dragon's Den production team will attend the event and be on hand to answer any questions about the application process for the new series. All entrepreneurs with fantastic business ideas or products are invited to pitch their ideas to the team. To become part of their official application process entrepreneurs will need to complete an official application either on the night or at a later date.

‘Desperately Seeking Finance 2' continues the sell-out events staged by the British Library's Business & IP Centre. It takes place at the British Library Conference Centre and runs from 18.15 until 20.00 followed by a reception until 21.00.

Tickets are £10.00 (concessions £7.50), but places are limited. To book a place at the event contact: events@bl.uk. For further details see http://www.bl.uk/bipc/inspiring.html

For further information and interviews please contact: Suvi Kankainen at the British Library Press Office (telephone +44 (0)20 7412 7105, email: suvi.kankainen@bl.uk) or Lawrence Christensen (telephone +44 (0)20 7412 7114, email: lawrence.christensen@bl.uk)

Notes for Editors

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It provides world-class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. Further information is available on the Library's website at www.bl.uk, which currently receives almost 2 million 'hits' or visits per month.

The British Library Business & IP Centre is supported by the London Development Agency to provide a single access point to support entrepreneurs and SMEs in London to gain access to and exploit existing and new business and IP information, and other relevant content and data, guided by impartial Library information experts and associated partners. The Business & IP Centre has been used by over 30,000 people since it opened in March 2006. An independent survey of 230 users in 2007 showed that it helped create 47 new companies, took a further 48 to start-up and helped create 115 new jobs. Access to the Centre is free, but users need a Reader Pass; for more information visit: www.bl.uk/bipc

Library House is the essential source of comprehensive information on the fastest growing, most innovative ventures. Library House discovers, researches and profiles fast-growth, innovation-led private companies, their people and investors. This provides a unique insight into the leading enterprises of the future that are the investment and business partnership opportunities of today. Library House provides intelligence through a suite of intuitive online products, bespoke research services, comprehensive reports and stimulating senior-level events. Its audience comprises the entire investor community, corporations, professional services firms, academia, public policy-makers and forward-thinking entrepreneurs.

Ariadne Capital is an Investment and Advisory Firm focused on Digital Media and Entertainment; Communications Applications; Software and Services; and Life Services [Consumer Financial Services, eHealth and Digital Home]. Ariadne Capital is backed by 42 Entrepreneurs, the founders of some of the most successful firms in the world - who founded the firm in 2000 in order to build the market leading companies of the 21st Century. These entrepreneurs invest capital, time and their networks into the next generation of entrepreneurs. Headquartered in London, Ariadne Capital's network of Executives, Investors, Advisors and Partners extends from Asia to North America to Europe, giving it global reach.

The London Development Agency works to improve quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth www.lda.gov.uk.

HSBC Bank plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, which is headquartered in the UK. HSBC's international network comprises over 10,000 offices in 83 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world's local bank'.

'Desperately Seeking Finance 2' features the following speakers:

The Panel

Doug Richard is the founder and chairman of Library House and one of the original Dragons in the BBC's Dragons' Den. An experienced entrepreneur and investor in the technology and software sectors, both in the US and in the UK, Doug is highly respected for his deep understanding of the secrets of raising finance for new businesses.

Julie Meyer is the founder of Ariadne Capital, the investment & advisory firm, which specialises in new, cutting-edge businesses in the technology sector. Julie was the founder of First Tuesday, the hugely successful internet networking group that defined the dot-com era. Today she is one of the best-connected women in the UK and has a keen eye for the next big thing in business.

David Sullivan is financial relationship manager at the London Development Agency and a highly experienced banker. During his career, he has looked after a variety of customers including small and medium-sized enterprises. David joined Business Link for London in 2003 as a member of its Access to Finance programme. This programme was subsequently transferred to the London Development Agency in October 2006 and David continues to work with the Access to Finance team.

Noel Quinn is HSBC's head of commercial finance, Europe, making him one of Europe's top bankers for small businesses. He has deep understanding and experience of how start-up businesses can raise finance. Noel has held a range of positions at HSBC since he joined "the world's local bank" in 2000. As well as working in industry for several companies, he has worked in the US where he was HSBC's group director, strategy, insurance for three years.

Moderator

Matthew Rock edited Real Business for seven years and is group editor, communications director and co-founder of Caspian Publishing.