ACCESS TO DIGITAL MEDIA FINANCE: Where digital media entrepreneurs and investors come together

Thursday March 6, 2008, Watershed, Bristol, UK

A one day conference presented by South West Screen

Chair: Hugh Mason, Pembridge

Key Speakers

Patrick Bradley from Ingenious Media gave a strategic overview of the digital
media investment landscape. What do Ingenious see as opportunities?
What do they want? How do you mitigate risk in a changing world?

Jamie Murray Wells, founder of Glasses Direct.com, gave an insight from his own experience and investment journey. From begging from friends and family, to Angel rounds, VC rounds and his future fundraising options.

Ryan Notz from Buildersite.com and Alex Hoye from Go-Industry and Seedcamp talked from experience about how to evolve an idea and get serious investors on board.

Paul Fisher from Advent Venture Partners gave a presentation on advertising and Digital Media, and where the money will come from in the future.

Panel sessions

The value of digital media - Alex Hoye and Ryan Notz, Patrick Bradley, Paul Fisher and Irfon Watkins from Coull TV. This was predominantly a Q&A session with the delegates. This was an invaluable opportunity for the delegates to get into the heads of the investors and more experienced digital media entrepreneurs, and draw on their experiences of building businesses and seeking investment.

Looking at IP and Protecting Your Ideas - Doug Locke from Veale Wasbrough, Greville Commins from SetSquared, Richard Turner from Catalyst Venture Partners and Andy Parkhouse from Rubberductions. A valuable debate on how there are no fixed rules with IP, but you have to gives serious thought to how important it may be to your business and gauge the value accordingly.

Workshops

The delegates were then divided into 2 groups to discuss the following areas:

Shape of the Market: Hugh Mason from Pembridge (Chair), Irfon Watkins from Coull TV, Steve McLauchlan from NStar Finance, Neil Higginson and Greville Commins from SetSquared. A group of 30 discussed where the sector is going, and whether recession will have an impact: Where the opportunities will be in this time of change in the emerging markets of the internet, mobiles and content: Where will the money come from in the future...advertising? Or are there other opportunities?

Presenting to Finance, What Investors Want and How Much to Give Away: Tracey Williams from Burton Sweet (Chair), Modwenna Rees-Mogg from Angel News, Richard Turner from Catalyst Venture Partners and Brian Dorricot from SWAIN. We split into two groups of 15 to discuss whether VCs or Angels were the right route, how to make a business plan, and understanding your position in the market.

Both workshops then appointed delegates to report back their findings to the whole event.

Click here for Hugh Mason's presentation

Click here for Patrick Bradley's presentation

Click here Paul Fisher's presentation

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