The Power Hour sessions are aimed at growth businesses seeking to scale up their business.

You may be asked to confirm this is the case for your business ahead of the session. You will be required to complete and return an application form for eScalate ahead of your session. These sessions are delivered as part of an ERDF funded programme and are therefore only available to businesses registered in England.

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Every business with scale up potential will need investment at some point in order to achieve its growth objectives. Some companies look to self-fund from directors or company reserves (sometimes referred to as ‘bootstrapping’), but some look to individuals, groups and companies outside of the immediate operation for debt or equity financing.

Many companies may be able to comfortably self-fund growth but at a slow-moderate pace and see debt or equity investment as a way of expediting that growth.

The options open to you may vary considerably according to the business’ maturity and trading history i.e. established companies often find access to investment easier than start-ups or early stage businesses.

However, with so many options, ranging from loans, crowdfunding, and personal contacts through to grants, angel investment and venture capitalists, how do you know which one is right (or accessible) for your business, and importantly how to prepare to raise that capital?

During this session, we can explore the various funding options available, together with the advantages and drawbacks of each. We can also talk through how you can optimally prepare for a capital raise and what essential material you either need to have in place or start preparing.

IMPORTANT: Part of the eScalate programme’s remit is to help SMEs become investment-ready, working with clients on their financial modelling, business planning, investor packs and pitch decks. So, this Power Hour could be viewed as the starting point for further fully-funded support to help you on your scale up funding journey.

For more information about the eScalate programme, visit: www.oxfordshirelep.com/escalate