You can’t fire your investors – 5 tips to keep investor relationships strong

You can’t fire your investors – 5 tips to keep investor relationships strong

Have you ever seen a story about a start-up firing its investors?  Me neither. The reality is that investors don’t get fired. They may get squashed in a recapitalisation, minimised in a down round, or bought out, but they don’t get removed. Because the minute they give you money, they aren’t going anywhere.  Unlike an employee that quits or a founder that gets replaced, your investors aren’t walking away until they get their money back, regardless of how painful the process is. Investors are professional at one thing: Investing. Yes,

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SEIS contributes to surge in use of government funding schemes

SEIS contributes to surge in use of government funding schemes

Government funding schemes are attracting increased interest from start-up companies in the UK. The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS) are being used a whole lot more.   According to recent figures released, the number of companies which applied to HMRC for approval under EIS and SEIS rose from 2,147 in 2011/12 to 4,075 in 2012/13. At 4oceans we would point to changes brought in back in April 2012 which expanded the scope of EIS, and saw SEIS introduced as the catalyst helping to increase awareness and

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TMT start-ups set to benefit from £440m investment boost

TMT start-ups set to benefit from £440m investment boost

TMT start-ups are set to benefit from a £440million investment in the Government agency for innovation and growth – the Technology Strategy Board. Every pound invested by the board returns £7 to the economy by helping TMT start-ups to develop and bring ideas to market, according to research carried out for the agency. Digital Shoreditch, which starts today in East London’s Tech City, was founded 3 years ago with the backing of the board.   The annual technology festival, the brainchild of Kam Star who also founded games firm Playgen,

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