Zenith: A Strategic Funding Journey for Tech CEOs

Transcription

1 Zenith: A Strategic Funding Journey for Tech CEOs An initiative of the ISA Software Skillnet in association with the Irish Software Association and the Irish Management Institute

2 Do you have the knowle your company s growth? Questions tech CEOs ask about funding: n What options are available to my company based on our success to date? n Which ones will best optimise our growth potential and the return on my investment? n How do they work, what are the legal and financial implications I need to be aware of, and how much will related advice cost me? n How did other companies like mine arrive at their funding decisions and what can I learn from their successes and failures? n Who can I talk to in the investor and tech community for advice I can trust? n What are the key value drivers for equity investments and how do I go about valuing my company? n How do I pitch my company s story to maximise its value? n What are the risks I ll be exposing myself to by moving to the next stage? A tech company Angels Seed Funding Ventu Capit I learned on the job but paid a heavy price for my lack of experience Investment Size Idea Product Prototype First Customers

3 dge to fund If you are asking yourself questions like these, then it s time to join a group of your peers on an innovative programme that will give you an in-depth understanding of the tech funding journey. Designed and developed with extensive input from CEOs who have previously founded, scaled and exited technology companies, the Zenith CEO Programme will equip you with the knowledge, skills and tips you need to attract new forms of external finance to support and accelerate your growth. It will also help you maximise the value of your company and the equity you retain. This is not an academic programme of limited practical value. Here you will be immersed into a dynamic and interactive learning forum of industry peers, practitioners and experts where extensive experience and compelling insights will be shared with you to help you realise your company s full potential and avoid painful mistakes along the way. funding journey re al Public Markets and Private Equity Revenue I should have retained more value Risk I sold out too early Growth Expansion

4 Who is this programme for? The Zenith CEO Programme focuses exclusively on the CEOs of technology and software companies that have successfully progressed through start-up phase and are now ready to take a significant leap forward. In addition, participant companies will be: n Seeking funding for growth or developing a strategic funding plan n Ready to be fully informed of their options and negotiating position and of funders in the marketplace, value points, risks and opportunities n Typically at first stage funding n Circa 1-3 million turnover n 10+ employees n Developed sufficiently for external investment n Already knowledgeable in the basics of corporate finance i.e. cashflows, balance sheet, P&L, budgets, management accounts Only 19% of Irish technology CEOs feel their business is understood by the banking sector, their main source of credit. 3 in 4 indigenous technology companies have fewer than 50 employees Over 6 in 10 have been in business for five or more years 66% of technology companies currently use their own resources to fund their growth

5 Funding strategy masterclass with Dr Sean Wise Day one of this four-day programme opens with a masterclass from renowned international thought leader and engaging business speaker, Sean Wise. Sean is Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, Canada. He is also a specialist in helping emerging and high growth potential organisations jump on the trajectory and turn a profit. Sean took his first company public at 31, is a past nominee of Canada s Top 40 Under 40, and in 2014 won Startup Canada s Mentor of the Year Award. Sean currently presents The NAKED Entrepreneur show and is the author of several books on startup life. He is separately the writer of the popular Globe and Mail column and book of the same name: Wise Words: Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital. A founder of the Ernst & Young s Venture Capital Advisory Group in Canada, Sean has helped clients raise more than $2.5 billion after training with him.

6 Programme outline Day 1 Funding strategy masterclass with Dr Sean Wise Cradle to grave the funding journey Scaling up and value creation Resources and shortcuts to make it happen Applied case study Followed by networking Day 2 Funding options and risks Motivations for growth Understanding the scaling model in the software and technology world Preparing for funding (eg. term sheets, data rooms, IP, HR) Business and financial models Setting your KPIs Funding options, including EI and EU grants, loans, the VC model and crowd funding Growth through strategic funding Managing risk and due diligence Followed by peer group coaching and networking Day 3 Components for value creation What investors want and why Company valuations and valuation models Mergers and acquisitions why and how Exits and their implications Pitching your equity story and making it compelling Key milestones for investment, stages of growth, proof points, value creation points Followed by peer group coaching and networking Day 4 Lessons into practice Creating your individual funding journey plan The programme takes place on individual days over a six month period.

7 How the Zenith CEO Programme will help your company grow Save on professional fees Become an informed buyer who can buy the right funding products less expensively Navigate decisions around selling out or staying the course better Find new ways to maximise the value of your business and retain more equity Negotiate stronger exit terms Connect with market-leading funding advisers and providers Implement key learnings with the help of one-to-one coaching sessions Chart your future with a customised investment strategy created specifically for your company

8 This programme will be delivered by the Irish Management Institute (IMI) on behalf of the Irish Software Association s Software Skillnet. ISA Software Skillnet The ISA Software Skillnet is the national training and executive development network for the software sector in Ireland. Winner of several awards, the network develops and delivers future-oriented programmes for all levels of staff throughout the sector. ISA Software Skillnet programmes are grant-aided for company employees to maximise cost effectiveness for companies. IMI delivery team IMI is an internationally-recognised leader in executive education and is the only Irishbased learning organisation to be globally ranked by the Financial Times in this area. IMI has been at the forefront of management and organisational development in Ireland for over 60 years, Technology practitioners and entrepreneurs who are senior IMI Associates will lead this programme, while a number of guest speakers, including business investors and funding advisers, will contribute to it and participate in networking activities. Business coaches will also be present to support content and participants. Programme fees Programme fees will be grant-aided through the ISA Software Skillnet. For further information contact Jeanette Kelly on or jeanette.kelly@isa-skillnet.com. For programme dates, fees and application form go to The ISA Software Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.