Back in early November we spent three days with thirteen founders building innovations in batteries and critical materials. The Entrepreneurship Clinics with Innovate UK Business Connect – designed to help underrepresented founders get properly investment-ready.
We brought in investors who shared honest perspectives: Garfield Smith, Amy Rennison, Tom Hardy from Elbow Beach, Gyen Ming Angel from Prosemino. Bird & Bird covered the IP essentials that matter when your technology is your value. And lets not forget the founders who’ve lived through fundraising, who shared what actually happened during their journey – warts and all.
The programme covered Business Model Canvas workshops, pitch development, Dragons Den practice with proper feedback. We showed founders how to use AI tools to speed up validation and build deeper customer profiles. Everything was practical, applicable, and usable.
But here’s what really stuck with the cohort:
– World-changing science still needs a solid business model.
– Building investor chemistry takes trust, transparency, and time.
– IP strategy deserves serious attention from day one.
– And smart fundraising means exploring non-dilutive options before handing over equity.
The cohort brought great energy to every session. Watching these founders refine their thinking, sharpen their pitches, and build confidence – That’s what we’re here for!
Read the full write-up: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/perspectives/empowering-underrepresented-founders-in-advanced-materials/
Startups • Accelerator Programmes
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