TITUS SHARPE NAMED SMITH & WILLIAMSON ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 

*CEO of MVF honoured with prestigious award*
*Winners across all categories revealed at gala dinner ceremony last night*
* Buzz Aldrin headline speaker of the evening*

Titus Sharpe, CEO of leading tech company MVF, was named the Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2015 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards gala dinner ceremony, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. This award recognises an enterprising individual who has achieved sustained levels of growth and financial performance through a culture of innovation, market knowledge, and talent development.

MVF is one of the world’s leading customer acquisition companies, using proprietary technology, data driven analytics and in-house digital marketing expertise to provide some of the world’s leading corporations with high volumes of new customers. Founded in 2009, MVF has transitioned from a dynamic start-up to an established international business, working across 112 countries worldwide.

Titus Sharpe, CEO of MVF Global said, “It feels phenomenal to have won it, it really is an honour and I still can’t quite believe it! I think people will be stunned, we work out of this small town in London,  Kentish Town, and people won’t know our organisation exists so it will be phenomenal for the local area, it’s brilliant!”

Guy Rigby, head of entrepreneurial services at Smith & Williamson and chair of judges for the Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year award, said: “Titus is an inspiring choice and a wonderful ambassador for the Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year Award. With a young and engaged workforce, and with customers in over 100 countries, he has masterminded the growth of one of the most exciting and pioneering scale-up businesses in the UK.”

Over 1200 business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians and media representatives gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel for the 14th annual National Business Awards.  The Awards were presented by Sky News’ Ian King and Poppy Trowbridge and welcomed former Astronaut and second man on the moon, Buzz Aldrin as headline speaker.

The Prime Minister opened proceedings at the ceremony with a message for this year’s finalists. He told the audience: “I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you on behalf of the whole country, for all that you’re doing to create jobs and growth in Britain...tonight we celebrate all that you’re doing, from your leadership in digital and innovation, to the Duke of York’s new award for University Entrepreneurship, these awards are rightly the Oscars of great British business.

“The awards recognise people who have the guts to strike out on their own, who have the tenacity to work hard for every deal and who have the innovation and vision that lets you grow your business and take new people on. Its people like you who are making this the most entrepreneurial and dynamic period in our country’s recent history. So thank you again for all you’re doing.”

The winners across all 18 categories included Crown Paints Limited, which triumphed in the Grichan Partnership Sustainable Business of the Year category, Premiership Rugby, winner of The Corporate Citizenship Award, and The Body Coach, winner of the Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year. *see footnotes for all winners



BEANY GREEN SMASHES BONDI BOND CROWDFUNDING TARGET BY OVER 250%, RAISING £800K IN JUST 7 DAYS


Aussie coffee and food group Beany Green have closed their Bondi Bond 38 days early, raising £800k via Crowdcube in just under a week. It seems that people just can’t get enough of these artistic individual cafes serving hand-roasted speciality coffee, Great Taste award winning banana bread, Time Out acclaimed healthy lunchtime detox boxes and Evening Standard praised bottomless brunches.

Just over 220 savvy investors rushed to back the Bondi Bond, investing an average of >£3,500 each into the Aussie independent. The combination of solid historical revenue growth, rare early profitability and an attractive 11% interest rate drove investors to step up their ticket sizes and get on board early. The fundraising was the first opportunity for investors to get involved with the group which had to date been privately funded by the founders Prue Freeman and Tom Onions. 

In the first 24 hours alone, the Bond smashed through its £300k target – with an additional £500k investment following swiftly thereafter.

Founder Prue Freeman said:

“The speed and size of investment from our loyal customers and the crowd has been very overwhelming and extremely humbling. It’s so exciting to now have more than 200 enthusiastic supporters on board with us for the next stage of the journey.”

"As announced last week, we will use the £800k investment to help fund our expansion to two additional prime central London locations in 2016. We are committed to creating truly individual destinations with real personality, great coffee and art and big bold healthy food.”
 
Luke Lang, co-founder of Crowdcube commented:

“Beany is testament to the eagerness of the crowd to step up and support unique and profitable businesses with attractively priced interest rates.”
 
Since 2012, Beany has grown from a 1985 Ford Transit on the streets with KERB to five very individual central London locations including Broadgate Circle, Little Venice (Paddington), Marylebone, Regent’s Place and the Southbank. The business creates almost everything in house, fresh everyday. It is generating run rate revenues of £3.0m per annum and EBITDA (post central costs) of c.£400k, which it expects to increase to >£1.1m by April 2018.



The Techpreneurs Awards for Women 2015 

Techpreneurs.co.uk has today launched the second ‘Techpreneurs Awards for Women’, designed to inspire and encourage women to get involved in tech-related start-ups and to become entrepreneurs.  The deadline for entries is 24th November.

Eight finalists will be selected to do a three minute live pitch at the House of Commons on the 10th December 2015, before a panel of judges including seasoned experts and VC’s, as well as an audience of tech-hungry, high-net worth individuals  and the media.

The awards ceremony  will be followed by cocktails and canapés and prize giving by Baroness Lynne Featherstone

The  awards are open to women who are either already involved in a tech-related start-up or who are in the process of launching one.  The team are on the hunt for the next generation of game-changing women techpreneurs, either at the conceptual or at the development stage.  The two categories are:

Conceptual: For women involved in enterprises that have not yet started actively trading
Veterans: For women who play a definitive role in an existing company which has been trading for less than five years, and has a turnover of less than £10m

There are 5 great reasons that women should enter these awards:
1. Recognition of achievement by high-flying judges from the internet, corporate  and journalism sectors
2. Enjoy increased visibility through press coverage
3. Attract new investors, users and potential hires
4. Network with other entrepreneurs, VCs,  business leaders,  journalists and
high networth investors.
5. Prizes - for futher  details http://techpreneurs.co.uk


Fiona Scott Lazareff, Founder of the Awards says:

“Unfortunately the word “tech” and the idea of starting a business often conjures up images of alien stereotypes: usually male! Yet skills such as marketing, design, sales and team leadership are often just as important. So if you don’t consider yourself to be an expert in MYSQL or PHP or in ROI’s and cash flows, don’t worry: all you need is the ability to find the right people who are.”

There is nothing new about the movement to encourage more women into tech jobs where there are jobs to be filled and a painfully low percentage of women filling them. What is different about these Awards is the idea of encouraging women to actually start their own businesses.

Panel of Judges 2015

Judge’s panel 2015

Priyanka Karunanithi: Investment Manager, Octopus Investments
Rosa Glover:  Investment Manager, Capital Enterprise
Camilla Dolan: Investment Manager  MMC Ventures
Schehrezade Davidson: CEO at Tricerion
Judith Clegg: Founder & CEO, Takeout,
David Hathiramani: Co-­founder asuitthatfits.com
Mandeep Singh: Founder@ CEO Streethub.com
Sonia Powar: Partner Boost and Co
Bridget Connell: Investor  Angel Academy
Lisa.Heneghan: Partner KPMGA
Tabitha Goldstaub: Co­-founder & Head of Brand Partnerships at Rightster
Sarah Wood: Co­-founder and COO/CMO at Unruly.com
Pinky Lilani CBE: Founder and CEO Spice Magic

To enter the awards or buy tickets to the event:
http://techpreneurs.co.uk or email us at [email protected]



AIC CONFERENCE: MANAGING CHANGE IN VCT SECTOR

Earlier today, the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) hosted its annual VCT conference.  It discussed the implications of the European Commission’s recent re-approval of the scheme and the UK rule changes accompanying that decision.  Delegates were also able to reflect on recently published research from the AIC illustrating the benefits of VCTs and the value for money the scheme represents for taxpayers as a means to support UK SMEs.

David Gauke MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, HM Treasury said: "The evidence the VCT sector has provided played an important role in securing State aid approval and we thank the VCT sector for the important role it plays in helping SMEs start, grow and reach their full potential. Without a doubt some of these companies will be the superstars of the future.

"Our objective has always been to secure the long-term future of the sector. But this is not the end of the process - we will continue to engage with the VCT sector to ensure it continues to deliver value for money. The latest package of changes will maintain Britain's role as the best place to start a business in the world.”

Ian Sayers, Chief Executive, Association of Investment Companies (AIC) said: “The Government’s recent announcement that it has secured State aid approval from the European Commission is extremely welcome and provides certainty over the future of the VCT scheme.  However, in order to gain State aid approval, some of the VCT rules are changing.  Though not all of these changes are welcome, adaptability is one of the key strengths of the sector, which has faced such challenges in the past and has coped well.  We are confident VCTs and their managers will do the same again.  The conference this year aimed to help our members understand and plan for these changes so that they can continue to deliver positive returns for their investors.”

Guy Rainbird, Public Affairs Director, Association of Investment Companies (AIC) said: “The Government’s commitment to return to European policymakers to seek greater flexibility for VCTs to allow them to fund share purchases from existing shareholders is a great initiative.  Assisting this process will be a priority for the AIC.   In the longer-term we would also hope that the EU’s commitment to promoting alternatives to bank finance could provide opportunities to encourage the Commission to reconsider some of the restrictions it has placed on VCT investment.”

Also speaking at today's conference was Paul Latham, Managing Director, Octopus Investments, who said: “Changes to VCT rules, such as those outlined by this year’s Finance Bill, are nothing new – almost every year there has been some change – and the industry has learned to adapt.


“Furthermore, investments that have already been made into VCTs aren’t impacted, and therefore a specific VCT won’t initially look any different to the shareholder after the legislation comes into force. Over the next few years, with some VCTs moving more towards early stage companies or transitioning to AIM investing, I would expect to see either some VCTs perhaps changing managers, or maybe some consolidation of VCTs or VCT managers.”

Kavita Patel, Partner and Head of Investment Funds at Shakespeare Martineau said: “VCT boards and managers may need to consider investment policies and strategies and ensure that there are appropriate procedures to make assessments under the new provisions.

“Certainly, going forward, enhanced due diligence will be required, together with a clear understanding of what the actual ‘trade’ being funded is. Whilst the new provisions initially look complex there are some relatively simple steps that VCTs can take to ensure compliance.”