Join us for our next instalment of Smart Cookies, “Inside investment: What they don’t tell you about raising money”. Whether you’re an entrepreneur seeking funding for your business or an investor looking for promising opportunities, this event is designed to provide valuable insights and strategies for navigating the investment landscape effectively.

Topics to be covered include:

• Common misconceptions in the fundraising process and how to avoid them.
• Balancing short-term returns with long-term vision amidst conflicting interests.
• Identifying red flags in startup pitches that lead investors to walk away.
• Navigating cultural and regional differences in fundraising.
• Learning from significant failures as investors and entrepreneurs.
• The effectiveness of investors as business advisors.
• The evolving role of VCs and Angels over the next five years.

Our expert panel:

Briony Phillips – A connector, facilitator, and problem-solver. After seven years supporting the startup and scaleup community in Bristol and Bath, she is now consulting across a variety of projects. She has been working to increase the flow of equity funding into companies in the region since 2017 and is a scout for Ada Ventures. One example of her work is the www.techforgoodbb.com map which she created with Rocketmakers to raise awareness of the Tech for Good business community locally.

Dr Henry Crosby PhD – Co-founder and CEO of Martello, a database for conveyancing search providers. Martello has been trading for 4 years, raised £2.3m, and is growing it’s revenue by 2.8x month-on-month. Henry also began a small angel network in the southwest of England to support local entrepreneurs. Henry began his career as a data scientist building platforms such as NimbusMaps, and Carterwood Analytics. Henry also has a Ph.D. from the Warwick Institute of Sustainable Cities, before becoming a research fellow for Global Sustainable Development also at the University of Warwick.

Amy Newton – An entrepreneurial CFO dedicated to inclusively supporting businesses. With over 20 years of experience raising capital from angels, VCs, and PEs, Amy has made significant contributions to the business world. They founded a successful sports retail chain and is currently the Founder of Newtons Theory and Inclusive Angels.

Jon Bonnick – Co-Founder of Angel Investors Bristol, has a rich background as a software developer and consultant for Microsoft UK. With a focus on using software to create competitive advantages, Jon makes angel investments in the UK and USA. Previously a Co-Founder of The Better Mortgage Company, Jon is committed to supporting local business growth through AIB’s network of angel investors.

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and network with fellow entrepreneurs! Join us for an insightful discussion on Wednesday 11th September at Engine Shed from 6-8pm. As always, pizza and drinks will be provided!

Get your tickets now!

Get your tickets here

About Unfold

At Unfold we combine UX expertise with deep technical know-how to build digital products and websites that bring your users closer and take your business further.