Phill Robinson

As a pre-seed startup in the UK, my experience mirrors this new strong data. I was lucky enough to find some fantastic first round investors who were willing to go on a capital-intensive journey to innovate, but an astonishingly few VCs in the UK - and the EU - were excited to take outsized risks for our outsized returns. Instead, many were looking for revenue at pre-seed on a tech-centric build: low risk, medium reward. (There were of course other reasons that some people passed, some excellent concerns & feedback, and some stellar funds in the UK, but I am 90% sure that my round as a whole would have been much easier in the USA.) Given my experience, the fact that I'm a US citizen as well, and the experience of nearly every other founder, I strongly predict that my next raise will be skewed to the USA. I will definitely be putting more energy there in the beginning. The UK has amazing SEIS and EIS, which moves money from the wealthy individuals into innovation, but the industry as a whole isn't there yet. (And those of you with SEIS and EIS with us, don't worry - if I do a flip, I'll do it correctly to protect you!)

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Running a multi-entity business is about to get easier... Just over a week until we unveil Translucent's latest App to help everyone who works on multi-entity finances. See you there! https://bit.ly/3NUqYrm #TranslucentLaunchEvent #MultiEntity #Xero

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Hoping I'll do justice to the session. A few thoughts on what I'll be looking to get across. > Good reactive and real-time optimisation should be a 'given' within your dynamic scheduling tool, if we're not delivering that basic functionality somethings wrong. Getting efficient route optimisation and increasing operative efficiency in the field is of course, still very key, but there are so many more complex scheduling scenarios within the sector, and it's critical as a technology supplier we can deliver innovation to support an ever changing sector and delivery model. > We're not just looking to provide this to make the workforce more efficient, but to help support improved communication and engagement to tenants, and provide improved tools for planners and schedulers to work in a less stressful environment. > We also believe as a SME we have the modern platform, built on a forward looking infrastructure to be able to deliver this quickly, to continually innovate at pace and deliver real value to he sector. Lastly More IQ are dedicated to the optimisation and scheduling 'bit', it's a niche area of development and we are in complete control of our algorithm. The real-time, reactive bit is very important for #housing and not something you can truly replicate with generic batch algorithms, despite what the sales blurb might say. #routeoptimisation #housingassociations #housinginnovationshow #planningandscheduling #socialhousing #saas #cloud #localgov #fieldservice

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In this week’s episode of The Difference Engine podcast, Jonathan Simnett and I consider the case of Mike Lynch, the outstanding UK tech entrepreneur. Co-founder of Autonomy – sold to HP $11bn (£8.6bn) in 2011 and Darktrace - recently bought by private equity firm Thoma Bravo. He was acquitted this month in California of fraud charges he faced in the US over the sale of Autonomy, after being extradited thanks to an unbalanced treaty between UK and US. But, were there ever really charges to answer? Or was it just a case designed to cover up a fundamentally mismanaged takeover with poor due diligence and subsequent corporate culture clash exposed in the rush by HP to close the acquisition of Autonomy? SaaStr `the world's largest community for SaaS B2B founders, rolled into London recently led by the irrepressible Jason M. Lemkin. He ended the event with an essential list – The Top Ten mistakes companies make when they try to go to market . We review his recommendations on what is a critical part of the Category creation journey Everything from not hiring a sales VP who won’t carry a bag`, to avoiding any marketing VP with the word `strategy` in the first line of their cv and, contentiously, not jumping properly onto the AI bandwagon can ruin their chances. Lastly, we review the lessons of the $2.6bn acquisition of VoIP Category leader Skype by online auction Category leader eBay. A cautionary tale that putting together two Category leaders isn’t automatically a good strategy if you can’t successfully re-frame your customers’ expectations or give them something they clearly need. But what was a loss for the West Coast became a win for Europe... Click the link in the comments to listen to Episode 22 and all previous episodes 👇 #category #categorycreation #mikelynch #HP #autonomy #thomabravo #saastr #jasonlemkin #eBay #Skype #ai #artificialintelligence #voip #NiklasZennstrom #atomico #europe #categorydesign #california #tech #podcast #duediligence #mergers #acquistions #mergersandacqusitions #darktrace #cambridge #strategy #marketing #investment #vc #venturecapital 

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Are you a #PSP looking for a robust solution for your #cesop reporting? The search is over: ARKK and Alvarez & Marsal have all you need to ensure your compliance with the upcoming mandate. Watch the full interview with The Fintech Times through the post below and get in touch to learn more about how we can support you with the filing.

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Just completed an Ascender course on business case creation - this quote below from the course content is so profound and relevant: https://lnkd.in/eQ3FDas6

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Did you know that over 90% of our webinar attendees stay till the end? Such is the high quality of our webinar series on deploying advanced business models with Orkestra. Learn how easy it is to use our #BusinessModelBuilder tool, which some in the industry are calling the ‘killer app’ for energy geeks…. But this is more than just a product demo. Learn the tips and tricks we’ve used to help countless companies deploy advanced business models, during our many years as consultants.

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Agicap hosted yesterday in London a panel discussion on the strategic role of the CFO to the business and how the CFO can drive a strong relationship with the Chair and the Board. Thanks a lot Karolina Tallar, CFO cmspi, Patrick Imbach, CFO faculty and Sir Ian Davis, Senior Partner Emeritus McKinsey for sharing your perspectives to the other CFOs in the audience. My notes from the discussion: 🔹 CFOs are highlighted as key players in building relationships with the board, CEO, and other stakeholders. 🔹 Proactive communication with key stakeholders and continuous engagement outside of board meetings is emphasized. 🔹 Preparation for board meetings involves addressing backward-looking issues early to focus on forward-looking strategic discussions. 🔹 The relationship between the CFO and CEO is discussed, emphasizing the need for respect and a strong, respectful relationship. 🔹 The CFO oversees day-to-day financial operations, forecasting, compliance, and presenting information to executives. 🔹 Building trust through integrity is emphasized, especially in working with founder-led companies and private equity investors. 🔹 The increasing interface of other teams under the CFO, like revenue operations, supports strategic decisions. 🔹 The impact of AI technology on the CFO role is touched upon, highlighting the importance of human judgment in financial strategy. 🔹 Balancing risk and opportunity, transitioning from part-time to full-time CFO, and industry agnosticism of CFO skills are explored. 🔹 Soft skills are deemed more critical than technical skills in the CFO role, with an emphasis on alignment and common language among stakeholders. 🔹 Consistency, fairness, and transparency are highlighted as essential qualities in decision-making by the CFO. 🔹 ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is underscored as crucial for sustainability and long-term success, requiring board involvement. 🔹 The evolving role of CFOs in addressing broader sustainability issues is a key theme, highlighting the complexities of corporate decision-making.

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Very excited to be speaking at https://lnkd.in/ejcxxZUy today about the importance databases, AI and ethics now play at board level discussions across the world. Redgate Software leading the way in ensuring a strategic assets drives growth, reliability and innnnovation for all industries. #datadrivenbusiness #dataintegrity #digitaltransformation

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How is Brexit Shaping Our Support for Sellers? 📦🇬🇧 In this video, we explore how Brexit has transformed support services for sellers, including customs clearances and accounting. With over 10,000 sellers across 50 countries, our commitment to client satisfaction drives our growth and innovative solutions. #BrexitImpact #SellerSupport #CustomsClearance

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Are you prepared for the UK Procurement Act coming into action this autumn? Our comprehensive factsheet is here to help. We’re here to help with practical insights and actionable steps to ensure your organisation remains compliant and well-prepared. Prioritise your readiness today and stay ahead of the curve.

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At EHE Ventures, we turn ideas into global firsts. Here's how we do it: ✅ Funding Support: Get the capital you need to grow. ✅ Coaching and Mentoring: Straight-talking advice for fast growth. ✅ MVP Scoping and Tech Build: Turn your tech ideas into market-ready products. We're "Entrepreneurs Helping Entrepreneurs" and we’ve got what it takes to build and scale successful companies. 👉 Learn more about our success stories: https://hubs.li/Q02DxCzK0 #EHEVentures #TechSuccess #Entrepreneurs #Investors #AIFunding #TechInnovation #GrowthFunding

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🚀 Transparent Fees, Tangible Results 🚀 At RCK Programme Methods, we believe in adding value, delivering outcomes, and creating delighted customers, and we do it with complete fee transparency. Our associate model ensures that our clients and partners know exactly what they’re paying for. No hidden costs, just clear and fair pricing, enabling you to focus on what matters: driving transformation and achieving your business goals. By partnering with us, you benefit from: 🔍 Full fee transparency – know exactly what you’re paying for, every step of the way. 🤝 Tailored solutions – we align our services to meet your unique business needs. 📈 Sustainable growth – build customer relationships, foster loyalty, and drive long-term success. 💡 Are you ready for a partnership built on trust and clear outcomes? Let’s work together to bring transformation and growth to your business with an associate model that puts transparency first. 👉 Contact us today: 📞 +44 7812 162288 / +34 671 77 9991 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.rckpm.es Together, we’ll create value and drive impact—all with full visibility into our services. 💼✨ #FeeTransparency #BusinessTransformation #CustomerSuccess #ValueDriven #SustainableGrowth #RCKProgrammeMethods #DeliveringOutcomes

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PSA! If you’re a supplier to the NHS and wondering how to comply with the carbon emissions reporting and reduction requirements we’ve got the webinar for you! Click the link below and register for this free session where we walk you through all you need to know. #nhs #procurement #supplychain #netzero #healthcare #medicaldevices https://lnkd.in/gjM9q_jK

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I read some stats recently that in most companies only 30% of the staff are engaged in the business, 30% are actively disengaged and 40% are neutral, which means that they’re just doing enough to keep their heads below the parapet. How can we become world class if we're not inspiring and engaging our teams? I've written a blog on this, let me know your thoughts? https://lnkd.in/eamFEX6c #leadership #speaker #leader #worldclass #business #leadershipspeaker 

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With over two thirds of people working in 'financial and related professional services' living outside the capital, this is an interesting report from TheCityUK on 'Enabling Growth Across the UK 2024'. How can the government best support the financial services outside of London? https://lnkd.in/e_2gDpu7 #banking #financialservices #UKfinance

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Superb to see forward-looking ESG data platform FuturePlus recognised in The Sustainable Investment Report 2024, issued by the IFA Magazine. This is no surprise, given FuturePlus' unique value-proposition: with a plethora of ESG tools that scrape publicly available data, FuturePlus distinguishes itself by relying on primary source and verified data taken direct from companies looking to drive actual ESG gains. Vitally, rather than being a backwards looking audit, FuturePlus is a forward-looking ESG tool, as it uses data analytics to craft in real-time an ESG pathway for rapid improvements across all ESG measures on a go forward basis. With additional support, from auto generating ESG reports on the company for external use to support services (such as consulting), the entire offering sets up customers for ESG success. Congrats to co-founders Mike Penrose and Alexandra Smith and to the wider team led by Polly Milne on its ongoing success.

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We have some BIG news! We’re thrilled to announce that J B Cole UK is now part of the Bolland & Co group, marking a significant new chapter in our journey. Bolland & Co is an innovation consultancy on a mission to solve the challenges that disconnected, complex technology brings to organisations. Our perspective is that technology should empower teams, not complicate their work - and that’s exactly what we’re here to do. After delivering over six hundred digital projects since 2010, Ollie, me and team (Bolland & Co) have been the trusted consultancy for large organisations seeking more from their technology without added complexity. We collaborate with leadership teams to guide every stage of transformation, from discovering untapped opportunities to building scalable solutions and connecting disparate systems. As the self-serve revolution accelerates and advancements in SaaS, AI, and new tech flood the market, business leaders face new complexities daily. We’re here to change that. Today marks a bold vision for our shared future. We’re excited to show you what we’ve been working on - stay tuned for new announcements coming soon! Here’s to the future. Let’s continue to drive change together. Bolland & Co - Innovation, Simplified. #digitaltransformation #digitalchange #digitaltechnology #connectedsystems

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