Oxford Capital ’s Post

SETsquared is the No.1 incubator in the UK & Ireland, and No.3 in Europe 🌟 Successful hubs appear to have one factor in common: a facility for young businesses to network and swap advice. This collegiate approach is taken by SETsquared — the top-start-up hub in the FT-Statista ranking of UK and Irish hubs, and number three in Europe. It is run by six universities — Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey — in south-west and south-east England. Since 2002, SETsquared Partnership says it has helped thousands of entrepreneurs raise £4.4bn in investment. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ekgV-T3x

Navigating the Valley of Death: Key Insights from Day 2 in San Francisco Entrepreneurial Finance Session Day 2 brought home a crucial concept that resonates not only in business but across all sectors: the ☠️Valley of Death. This term, commonly used in the startup world, refers to the high-risk period between an innovative idea’s development and achieving sustainable profitability. During this phase, startups often face significant cash burn while struggling to secure additional funding. The key takeaway? Strategic capital allocation and hitting well-defined milestones are essential to survival and success. This mirrors challenges across sectors where managing limited resources is critical to achieving long-term goals. Key learnings from today include 🛣️ Milestones serve as proof points: They demonstrate tangible progress to investors and help de-risk their investment. 🔫 Funding triggers: Achieving milestones can unlock the next rounds of funding, keeping startups moving forward. 🎓 Learning opportunities: Each milestone provides structured checkpoints that allow startups to adapt and iterate based on real-world feedback. We also explored how valuation is driven by competition and reputation. A strong VC reputation can lead to better deals, while entrepreneurs "pay for affiliation," sacrificing equity for credibility. Timing, too, plays a critical role in valuation—how long a company has until it runs out of cash can drastically affect its worth. In today’s fast-moving, resource-limited environment, strategic management of these milestones is the bridge between survival and long-term success. Whether you're in healthcare, technology, or any other field, these principles are vital for sustainable growth. Learning Point -Strategic resource management and well-defined milestones are the key to crossing the Valley of Death and achieving long-term success. #EntrepreneurialFinance #Startups #VentureCapital #ValleyOfDeath #MilestoneFunding

💪 KICK-START YOUR SUCCESS STORY WITH Investor Q&A! 🚀 Our clients have experienced significant transformations and are making big waves in their respective ventures. Based in science, practice and private role play, Dr. Ellen Farrell PhD's turnkey system builds competence that VCs can discern. Founders have secured #patents, won competitions with tens of thousands of dollars in prize money, raised millions of dollars, and have been accepted into major #accelerators. Founders have reported clearer comprehension of key startup fundamentals that VCs need to hear, improved business operations with positive strategic direction for raising finance. Some recent examples include our client who won the 2024 #Mompreneur pitch competition along with $50,000 in prize money, and a Vancouver Founder who raised a $15 million investment. A Halifax Founder raised $2 million and another closed a seed financing round of $650,000, the first investment of BDC's $500-million fund for women-led businesses. This science-based training continues to inspire the superpower in women entrepreneurs! Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA), Tribe Network TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario, Invest Nova Scotia, Leveling It Up, Volta, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, National Venture Capital Association, Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA), PARO Centre For Women's Enterprise, The51, Miki Talebi, Aki Kaltenbach, Natasha Howes, Mel Simmonds. #venturecapital #Entrepreneurship #SuccessStory #Investorready #venturecapital #womeninbusiness #womenFounders #pitchcompetition #leadership #startup

Could university spinouts be the answer to the UK’s growth problem? 📈 The UK’s innovation economy remains the envy of many in Europe, with UK startups securing $9.4bn (£7.3bn) of venture capital investment in the first six months of 2024 alone – more than the $8.6bn raised by second- and third-placed Germany and France combined.   Such entrepreneurialism is essential to the government’s mission to accelerate economic growth and raise productivity. Read Simon Bumfrey’s insightful article with City AM that delves deeper into how UK startups are driving innovation and economic growth. More here: https://lnkd.in/ejUUAr48 #innovation #spinouts #entrepreneur #UCLB

Interview with a Croc Pitch 2024 panel! How do you think Croc Pitch helps to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the region? I think it's really important because there's not a lot of other options in the territory for this kind of thing. So, by having Croc Pitch available in the Territory it creates a really good option. You know, that gives businesses hope that they can you know, grab that capital to help them grow their business and expand into the territory and then you know those flow on effects for the territory are really great. View more here: https://lnkd.in/gVnrEEzX Croc Pitch is Northern Australia's leading pitch contest, attracting participants from around the globe with innovation that benefits Northern Australia. Participants compete for the opportunity to secure up to $1 million in venture capital. #Startup #CrocPitch #NorthernTerritory #NTInvestment Northern Territory Government

🎉 Big News for Wisconsin’s Entrepreneurial Future! We are thrilled to share that WiSys VentureHome has just submitted a 💰 $6.3 million Build-to-Scale grant proposal to the U.S. Economic Development Administration! Our proposal includes eight subawards and about $3.2 million in matching funds from our local and state partners. This funding will supercharge our mission to inspire entrepreneurs, strengthen local communities, and build an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout #Wisconsin, particularly in #underserved and #rural regions. Our proposal outlines an ambitious plan to scale successful programs, forge new #partnerships, and expand initiatives that empower #entrepreneurs with access to essential training, technology, mentorship, and investment. With this support, we're aiming to establish a #sustainable, statewide infrastructure that will: 🔹 Fuel the growth of 📈 scalable tech startups 🔹Strengthen the #economy and tech #workforce 🔹Create a locally-accessible, statewide network of talent, capital + resources for #startups 💡 This is more than a proposal; it’s a vision to uplift and connect our communities, creating new opportunities for Wisconsin's emerging #innovators and entrepreneurs. A huge thanks to everyone involved in crafting this proposal and supporting our goal of advancing sustainable #innovation. Here’s to building a brighter, more inclusive future for #entrepreneurship in Wisconsin! 🌟 Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Elaine Coughlin, Pablo Group, The Coven Eau Claire, Joshua Wilson, Heather Johnson Schmitz, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Aaron Armstrong, MBA, Ellizer Clune-Cabigting, The Venture Project, Kathryn Zuckweiler, Esther Eke, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Lisa Jossart, Greater Green Bay Chamber, Kimberly Nimsgern, Seth Hudson, Anne Hoeltke, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Ashley Asher, Office on Main, Richelle Martin, Winnow Fund, Heather Wentler, Doyenne Group, Kathryn Guimond, University of Wisconsin-Superior, Jim Caesar, The Development Association, Anne Hlavacka, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Larry Wells, Coulee Region Business Center Inc, Elizabeth Thelen, Carl Fox, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Emily Buchholz, Jeffrey Glazer, Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic : University of Wisconsin Law School

key is strong teams boards and proper funding from the start..strong angel funding and later intl vc/corp funding

Hello LinkedIn Community 😊... Last Friday, the #NDRC Pre-Accelerator Showcase at Republic of Work, Cork🇮🇪, brought together 21 remarkable startups, each delivering a three-minute investor pitch to a room brimming with energy and anticipation. The atmosphere was electric, and the diversity of the audience only added to the excitement. It was truly inspiring to witness these passionate founders take the stage, courageously pursuing their dreams and laying the foundations for their innovative companies. These founders presented their visions with incredible clarity, supported by comprehensive facts, figures, projections, market research, and development plans—all within just three minutes. It was a testament to their hard work, dedication, and consistency. John Riordan ’s words rang true: "Keep asking, it costs nothing—you never know who’s going to invest." His advice serves as a reminder to never shy away from opportunities. Andy McManagan -who led the six-week preparation programme, set the stage for this unforgettable event. His guidance and leadership were instrumental in helping these entrepreneurs take their first major steps towards success. As always, the journey of building something truly valuable is not easy, but as one knows only to well, "Anything worth it never came easy, and anything easy was never worth it." At NDRC, they remain committed to supporting globally ambitious entrepreneurs by providing hands-on mentorship and expert guidance. With the help of they're strong network of national and international venture capitalists, in empowering startups to scale and thrive, from their first pitch to securing follow-on capital. They believe in investing in people and the future—partnering for the long term to maximize success. The passion, hard work, and consistency displayed by these founders are a shining example of what can be achieved with the right support and belief in one's vision. This event was not just a showcase of talent, but a celebration of dreams in the making. Well done to everyone involved and wishing all every success🙌🏻! Joyce Moloney ☘ Founder-M. #startup #entrepreneurs #founders #pitchdeck #angelinvestor #Statrdraft #Pearstop #CONVIOAI #seegap #mor #Celestinematerials #Bedrockcompliance #Nitelight #Duith #QuallAI #Shanecollective #WeBoostAi #SonnylabsAl #HalistoSystens #AChara #DigitaX #Griferate

The Essence of Startup Success In my extensive interactions with numerous startup founders, I've observed a common thread: the primary hurdle they face isn't financial capital. Instead, it's the challenge of creating a product that truly resonates with the market. Many entrepreneurs leap into development without thorough market research, often crafting solutions for problems that scarcely exist. Moreover, there's a tendency to seek funding prematurely—before reaching significant milestones, gaining traction, or validating their business hypothesis in the marketplace. These issues form a barrier that often impedes capital raising efforts, leaving founders with products or software that fail to address pressing needs. At Broken Hill Capital, we pledge to guide our entrepreneurs through refining their business models and achieving product-market fit. Our comprehensive support ensures they're investment-ready when it's time to secure funding. We're dedicated to developing content that sharpens our entrepreneurs' acumen, empowering them to create ventures that will revolutionize not just our nation, but our entire region and continent. We are Broken Hill Capital—We are transforming the African startup landscape. 🚀 #JoinTheRevolution #StartupSuccess #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #AfricanTech #MarketFit #VentureCapital #TransformingAfrica #InvestinAfrica #InvestinYouth #investinwomen #brokenhillcapital #brokenhill

Yesterday, I attended the House of Lords by invite of The Entrepreneurs Network and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP. Some excellent work by TEN on a report highlighting symptoms of the British venture ecosystem that need cure. I thought back to zero to one by Peter Thiel, where in his Stanford University lectures documented in the book, Peter cites "the founding" of the company and "the foundation" as critical to future success. He also talks about "extending the founding" in the book. It occurs to me, that this is where the UK screws up, we end the founding early, confusing "creative" leadership and "organised" management (reference to HBDI) - having the latter replace the former (rather than balancing and extending the founding), which impacts our agility in addressing a rapidly changing market (adding what Peter Thiel calls inertia). We also screw up in the early founding, with early stage investments that are capped, take too much equity and too much control too early, and a lack of early entrepreneurial education, especially in the regions and in underrepresented groups. (and I don't mean MBAs) The impact of this is only seen later, when companies are in later rounds and they find themselves limited in accessing later stage capital internationally against other companies that have greater agility and better foundations. The UK has amazing technology, amazing research, and often is best in class in innovation, but we're product led entrepreneurs without the "traction first" marketing hustle of our American counterparts. At Venture.Community, with our Co-operative Venture Societies, part of our thesis is - if we can up-skill and up-tool founders early (within a safe mutual environment) and bring in long term mentorship from parallel entrepreneurs who have venture experience, we can secure the right "founding" and "foundation", that sets our a path to future success. We believe the gap is early stage, where US companies are securing £10m seed rounds on £20m-£40m valuations to set out a trajectory for success, UK companies are securing £2m on £4m valuations with similar innovation. We often fund them just enough to fail, for others to pick up our IP from the administrators.