Published: November 28th, 2024
The FundingHero team is thrilled to announce the next Fundraising Accelerator cohort launching in January 2025. This time, they’re back with an exclusive partnership, offering up to £1 million in investment through Midven, the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund manager.
Supporting the Region’s Most Ambitious Businesses
Now on their third cohort, their mission is to support up to eight high-growth potential businesses in this next January cohort, helping them prepare to secure equity investment. This accelerator is more than just a programme; it’s a set of comprehensive investment readiness sprints, led by an experienced CFO who has twice been part of successful scaleup to exit journeys. The programme is tailored to ensure each business has a fully aligned financial and fundraising strategy to guide each business through the fundraising process with a clear approach to increase their odds of success.
FundingHero was proud to support businesses like ChangeMaker3D Ltd, with female founder, Natalie Wadley, who was a recent finalist in the prestigious “One 2 Win” £1m investment competition at the closing dinner for TechWM Week, ran by Midven, Haatch and Rigby Group plc. Prior cohort members have also successfully secured interest for over £1 million of venture capital term sheets following completion of their programme.
The Partnership with Midven: Powering Investment Success
FundingHero is grateful to have Midven as an investment partner. Their dedication to supporting the first two cohorts has been invaluable, and they’re excited to strengthen their collaboration even further. At the end of the upcoming cohort, Midven’s investment team will attend our demo day where each participating business can pitch for a term sheet up to £1 million at a very exciting location soon to be announced! This opportunity could be a game-changer for high-growth businesses in the West Midlands, pending the usual investment committee approval, due diligence, and formal contracts.
Rupert Lyle, Fund Principal for the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, said, “One of the issues we commonly see with high-growth potential businesses that approach us is that they often struggle to create a compelling equity story, making it hard for us to see how we can achieve a return on investment.” Lyle continued, “The FundingHero fundraising accelerator is proving to tackle this and be a key programme for the region’s high-growth potential businesses, which we’re thrilled to support, as they have already helped us identify several exciting West Midlands-based businesses we’re keen to back.”
The exciting addition of Minerva business angels network as an investment partner for the programme has been a wonderful addition to further support founders with a pathway to more key funding opportunities with the chance to pitch to their angel network. The added value from angel groups often goes unsighted, so given their status as one of the most active angel groups in the country this is a hugely welcomed addition to access wider valuable networks and not just cash.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is perfect for businesses that are:
•Poised for high growth
•Demonstrating strong initial traction
•Raising investment rounds between £250,000 to £3 million+
What Businesses Gain from the Accelerator
Participating in this accelerator equips businesses with the tools, resources, and potential connections to secure the investment needed to scale. Key takeaways include:
● A clear scale-up raise plan tailored to your business’s unique growth trajectory.
● Clarity on your funding needs, ensuring you raise the right amount to achieve your goals.
● Investor-ready pitch decks and financials that convey a compelling story.
● Confidence in setting a realistic valuation that aligns with your growth potential.
● Pitching skills to help you communicate your vision effectively and avoid common pitfalls.
● A data-room fully prepared for investor review, streamlining the due diligence process.
Additional programme highlights include:
● Weekly 1-2-1 sessions with a scaleup CFO
● In-person workshops covering key areas in investment readiness.
● Guidance from industry experts who have successfully raised, scaled, and exited.
● Support in building a strong equity story that resonates with potential investors.
Ready to Apply?
Applications are now open, but with only eight slots available, this opportunity is limited. Don’t miss out—if you’re ready to secure investment and take your business to the next level, we encourage you to apply!
● Apply here: https://www.fundinghero.co.uk/fundraising-accelerator
● Application Deadline: Thursday, 12th December
● Programme Start Date: January 2025
Our special thanks go to the British Business Bank for their ongoing support, helping us drive this essential work forward in empowering UK businesses.
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