EEDA - East of England Development Agency

The art of networking, pitching and presenting for start-ups

4 August 2010

As part of the Discovering Start-Ups 2010 initiative launched last month by Cambridge Wireless and supported by EEDA, budding entrepreneurs are being offered the opportunity to learn the art of networking, pitching and presenting.

The first of these essential business skills workshops is on the 14th September in Cambridge and is free to technology companies in the region.

The workshop will provide start-ups with practical advice to promote their businesses face-to-face; from attracting investors to making the perfect business pitch and creating professional jargon-free presentations.

“The problem for many high-tech start-ups is that they get hung up on their own technology,” said Soraya Jones, CEO Cambridge Wireless. “Knowing how to communicate clearly and simply to potential investors, business partners, customers, suppliers and supporters, is a vital skill that every successful entrepreneur needs to own.”

The workshop is being run by Kevin Coleman from Alliantus, a specialist consultancy that has a strong track record of helping technology start-ups and more established businesses to improve their performances and expand in the UK and overseas markets.

“A poor pitch that is not directed at its audience; a ‘death by PowerPoint’ presentation; or a missed networking opportunity can be the difference between success or failure in a competitive market,” says Coleman. “We intend to get people to think about their company and what they are selling so that they can tailor what they say to fit the circumstances - and when standing on your own two feet without props is the best way to do it.”

The Discovering Start-Ups programme is designed to showcase the next generation of technology-led business success stories. There are five categories: cognitive and/or green radio, hot applications and services, wireless health and wellness innovations, technology design in wireless, and emerging disruptive ideas. The closing date for entries is 29 October and in addition to cash prizes and business services for the winners, all finalists will get a chance to pitch to leading industry figures and investors.

Speaking at the Discovering Start-Ups launch event last month, Dr Hermann Hauser, a co-founder of Amadeus Partners who has helped more than 100 technology businesses, said that, “the ability to exploit leading-edge UK technology research is more important than ever,” and called for greater support for budding technology companies and entrepreneurs.

The first Pitching, Presenting and Networking workshop takes place on 14 September at the Vivien Stewart Room, Murray Edwards College in Cambridge. The second at Peterhouse College on 14 October and third at Martlesham on 21 October.

For more information, visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/discoveringstartups or contact Kevin Coleman on 01638 744301 or 0781 6668788.

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