| Informed Funding |
I am delighted to be the newly appointed Programme Director for the Alternative Funding Network. I’ve had a longstanding interest in the business finance market, previously as Editor of FT Weekend and more recently as a researcher, commentator and advisor on the game-changing developments unfolding in the SME funding market. In 2012 I published the first comprehensive research on the emergence of Alternative Funding Platforms in the UK.
I am proud to be associated with the AFN as it provides a much needed forum for harnessing and sharing market intelligence and thought leadership on the issues that matter in SME finance.
If you are a business funding provider or advisor, becoming an AFN member will provide a wealth of insight into SME finance via 6 free seminars a year (always featuring leading figures in the industry) and bi-annual Informed Funding Finance Fairs; my weekly blogs; monthly newsletters; free industry reports built from the intelligence sharing at our seminar series; a personal listing on our AFN membership network and access to the AFN catalogue of specialist market research and video interviews with industry leaders.
To find out more about membership click HERE or contact the team directly [email protected]
I look forward to meeting you at one of our events soon.
Regards
Andy
On Wednesday, April 15th 2015 the AFN will be holding a free evening research seminar on ISA, SIPP and Additional Asset Classes - A Changing Investor Landscape for Alternative Finance.
This session will focus on the emergence of personal pension investing via P2P Lending models. Our panel will discuss how tax wrappers such as ISAs and SIPPs can be structured and marketed within the Alternative Finance context, and what sorts of due diligence changes might occur to make SIPP providers confident in utilising the space. Our panel will also consider how ISA inclusion and SIPP providers can enable investing via an alternative funding platform and promote further scaling of the sector.
Our Programme Director Andy Davis will be joined by an excellent panel, including Brian Bartaby, Founder and CEO of Proplend and Stephen Cave, Director of Evolution SIPPS
Brian Bartaby founded Proplend after having spent the past 12 years working in the commercial property finance industry at Longcross Capital. Proplend offers investors direct access to invest in commercial property debt in the sub £5m sector.
Stephen Cave is responsible for distribution of the Greyfriars SIPP proposition. He has been involved in with self-administered pensions since their inception for SMEs in the late 1970s, has seen many changes in the use of such schemes and is very happy to see that pensions are again returning to funding of commerce.
When: 15th April 2015, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Workspace, 154 -160 Fleet Street, , EC4A 2DQ
Cost: This free seminar is open to all members of the Alternative Funding Network
To REGISTER please click Or contact [email protected]
We are delighted to announce that Andrew Ward, Director of Corporate Relations at Brunel University, will be joining us at our AFN event on 15 April.
Brunel are part of the “Making the Future” partnership that is developing the old EMI “Vinyl” factory in Hayes into a custom-built Fabrication Space and Prototype Production hub, called the Central Research Laboratory (CRL).
The CRL will house 182 individual operations, ranging from one-person start-ups to more established companies with the potential for real growth. More importantly, the CRL is a “new manufacturing” facility, and “making things” will be a key condition for businesses wanting to gain entry.
All businesses at the CRL will get a high level of support to help them develop, particularly those on the Making the Future programme. Making the Future is aimed at removing the obstacles that currently stand in the way of highly talented student/graduate inventors becoming innovators, enabling them to bring their designs, products or business ideas to market. Support will include accommodation, generic and technical mentors, access to the Fabrication Space and Prototype Production facility, contacts with investors and a specially designed business support programme.
The CRL has the potential to create the outstanding manufacturing businesses of the future – and the investment opportunities that are related to that. Andrew will be discussing the different ways in which investors might get involved, and there is clearly a significant opportunity for these early stage, innovative, manufactures to raise capital through alternative funding routes.
Chris Dines will shortly be doing a podcast interview with Andrew Ward to explain more.
Some interesting research just published by Beauhurst, a company that specialises in mapping the UK’s growing companies, suggests that new ways of raising equity finance are starting to become a significant part of the landscape.
According to Beauhurst, which was set up in 2010, equity Crowdfunding platforms were involved in 30% of seed-stage fundraisings in 2014, up from 5% in 2011, while companies raising funds at a slightly later, venture stage, and are also starting to incorporate Crowdfunding platforms into a growing proportion of deals.
In 2014, says Beauhurst, 12% of venture-stage deals involved a Crowdfunding offer, compared with none in 2011.
The firm predicts that 50% of seed-stage deals and one-in-five venture deals will include a crowd funded element this year.
The Alternative Funding Network is part of the recently launched Informed Funding who provides the widest choice of business funding in Britain.
Informed Funding is an online information resource designed to help growing businesses identify the range of options they have to raise finance. It provides not only bite-sized factual information and guidance and a direct shop window via funders microsites (of which there are currently over 80) but it also features self-service online tools that enable users to home in on the providers who might match their needs.
Not only does Informed Funding provide the broadest and largest range of funding options, but it also does not charge any brokerage fees.
If you are a funding provider and are interested in showcasing your products and services to a targeted and qualified audience via one of our microsites please contact us at [email protected]
Every business should have an “end game” and for most business owners that means an Exit Strategy – whether selling, passing to the next generation or winding up! Here we focus on maximising both the opportunity and the financial return on selling your business. In particular, we look at the need to finance your business adequately and appropriately in the lead up to any exit. Most successful sales have a background of timely external funding to give the business that extra push.
Who is this aimed at?
Ambitious business owners who believe their most likely “end game” is via selling their business for as large a sum as possible.
What does it involve?
There will be a mix of expert presentations on Exit Planning, coupled with real case studies of businesses that have successfully financed growth and then achieved an exit. There will be plenty of time available for Q&A and also networking.
During the course of the morning experts on Finance, M&A and Business Strategy will be running a limited number of one-to-one workshops:
· Stress testing your business growth strategy
· Assessing your Exit options
· Reviewing your options for growth finance.
The event will also be attended by a number of specialist Funders who provide growth finance and possible routes to exit. A great chance for businesses to connect with the right type of funding.
When: 23rd April 2015, 9am to 11.30am
Where: 154 -160 Fleet Street, , EC4A 2DQ
Cost: The Event is Free to Registered Business Members of Informed Funding. £75 (including VAT) to others. Tickets are limited
To REGISTER please click
The funding landscape for growing businesses is changing radically, and provides both opportunity and risk for those seeking to be active in the market. The Alternative Funding Network (AFN) provides its members with intelligence and industry insight on the developing issues that really matter. This is achieved through a mix of exclusive industry seminars, regular commentary, research and secure peer-to-peer networking.
AFN Membership provides you with the following benefits:
o Free attendance at 6 seminars during the year, chaired by Andy Davis and always featuring leading figures in the industry
o Receipt of Andy’s weekly Blog, exclusive to subscribers to the AFN
o Free receipt of our industry insight reports, built from the intelligence sharing at our seminar series
o A personal listing on our AFN membership network, where members are able to contact each other (if agreed to) on a secure, one-to-one basis
o Free attendance at the bi-annual Informed Funding “Finance Fairs”
o Access to the AFN catalogue of specialist market research and video interviews with industry leaders
Membership Costs
• Corporate Membership is an annual £595+VAT for up to 5 members of your team
• Individual Membership is an annual £295+VAT
