Looking to raise equity investment for your business? Then Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) would like to hear from you – but don’t delay!

They’re partnering with Dorset-based funding specialist, Focused For Business, to offer heavily subsidised places on their Funding Accelerator programme starting in January 2024.

The tailored three-month online programme supports startups in preparing and gaining feedback on all their investment documents, including pitch decks, financial forecast and business valuation.

Participants learn how to develop and run a funding campaign, including how to identify and pitch to the right investors, and receive an investor ‘hit list’.

They also gain invaluable insights into selecting investors, negotiating the terms based on evidence and benchmarking and banking the cash.

Shelley Collins-Trevett, Dorset LEP’s Head of Business Growth and Inward Investment, said: “This initiative is specifically tailored for start-up and scale-up SMEs operating within the Dorset LEP area.

“It invites four ambitious Dorset SMEs to invest in their businesses, bolstered by the support of Dorset LEP.

“Together, we aim to secure essential funding that propels these businesses toward their next significant milestone.”

Hatty Fawcett, founder of Focused For Business and the facilitator of Funding Accelerator, said: “Research shows that it is harder for businesses based outside of London to raise equity investment.

“At Focused For Business, we believe startup investment should be available to everyone, and the process shouldn’t be over complicated or unnecessarily time consuming.

“We’ve secured over £5 million in investment for businesses that have been through our programme in the last 12 months, despite a challenging funding climate.

“As a Dorset-based business owner myself, I am delighted to be supporting other local businesses in accessing the investment needed to grow their business.”

Dorset LEP is heavily subsidising the online accelerator programme, paying two thirds of the total £3,000 fee per business.

Successful applicants will need to fund the remaining £1000 plus VAT themselves. Funded places are limited.

As the programme starts in January 2024, businesses interested in joining are encouraged to apply immediately to confirm their eligibility.

They’ll need to complete the Startup Investment Scorecard, which quickly and easily assesses how investment ready their business is, highlighting where they need support. Only businesses that apply and receive confirmation of their acceptance onto the programme will receive the part-funding.

To be eligible to attract a funded place on the programme, businesses will need to meet the following criteria:

• Be founders or senior management team members of businesses located in Dorset, or whose founder lives in Dorset.
• Classify as an SME (less than 500 employees) that is actively seeking to grow, innovate and increase productivity.
• Be either a startup that has (at least) a minimum viable product or an established business that is looking to scale-up
• Operate in one of the following sectors: Advanced engineering & manufacturing, Agritech and Aquaculture, Digital creative including FinTech, Defence and security, Marine and maritime industries.
• Be raising equity investment for the first or second time.
• Aiming to raise between £100,000 to £1 million (in exchange for shares in their business).

To get started complete the Startup Investment Scorecard https://seed-investment.scoreapp.com/ or get in touch at funding@focusedforbusiness.com for more information.

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