How to build a more valuable business, bring in the right sort of investors, develop
your organic growth capabilities, undertake M&A, and achieve a successful exit in the
future.
This is a unique, and free, workshop, taking place in the North of England, targeted at
SME and mid-market tech and tech-powered organisations. We are bringing together
leading experts with real-world experience of building high-value companies, spanning:

• Founders of companies who have bought and sold businesses before

• CEOs of companies who are going through the journey now

• Advisors spanning finance, commercial, tech, planning and recruitment

• Investors looking for scale-up opportunities and acquisition targets
As well as world-class advice from leading experts, this is also an opportunity to
network with your peers and make useful business connections. Ultimately, it’s about
learning how to make more money from the companies you’ve founded, gaining
significant return on all your efforts, and enjoying the journey by doing new and
interesting things with your business.
Building value and enjoying the journey
DATE
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
TIME
LOCATION
Tuesday 9th July 2019
9.30am - 1pm
AC Hotel Manchester City Center
One out of three companies who attended our last event
completed an investment round within a year.
Will you be one of the success stories from this event?
BUSINESS VALUE CREATION
REGISTER
Click here to register
EXPERT SPEAKERS
Between them, our speakers have over 100 years of business, management
and investment heritage. They are founders and directors of both start-ups and
scale-ups with strong track-records of building and growing leading companies.
At the event, they will share practical advice and real-world anecdotes of
successes (and some failures!).

In our panel discussion, the presenters will be joined by CEOs who have been
through investment rounds before. Delegates will be able to ask about the
experiences – good and bad – of the people who’ve gone through the process.
You will also be able to ask for guidance on burning issues facing your own
businesses. The line-up represents thousands of pounds of free consulting advice
that you shouldn’t miss.
MARK BROOKS-WADHAM
Mark founded CVD 25 years ago, growing it to 130 people and
revenues of £24m, creating a market-leading unified comms player
with strong cybersecurity skillsets. He has recently introduced both
equity and debt investments for future M&A.
JAMES SEARBY
James has 20 years’ experience of executive search, specialising
in recruiting Board level executives and non-executives for
Technology companies. At Directorbank, he recruits exclusively for
entrepreneurial SMEs, including PE, privately owned and PLCs.
MICKEY PATEL
Mickey leads tech investing at August Equity, a PE firm investing in
SME businesses. He has over 18 years’ M&A experience with 25+
transactions and 6 board positions, most recently for the exit of
SecureData resulting in a 7.2x return to management.
DANIEL CAMPION
Daniel is the CEO of Invictus Strategy Associates, advisors to
private, public and social sector clients in Strategy, Finance and
Policy. Invictus specialise in supporting owner/manager businesses
prepare for the next stages of growth and exit.
PAUL ELLIS
Paul co-founded Wax Digital in 2001 and has grown it to 90 people
deploying spend management solutions via a SaaS platform that
is described as Visionary by Gartner. He completed an MBO with
August in 2015 and is focused on growing the business organically.
MANOJ RANAWEERA
Manoj has extensive experience of setting up, growing and exiting
tech companies. He was also instrumental in developing the first
phase of the Manchester Tech Ecosystem from 2006 to 2013.
CAMPBELL WILLIAMS
Campbell is the founder of Sunfish Advisory and previously
a founder of Six Degrees Group. He has over 20 years’ of
commercial management experience in tech companies, including
25 acquisitions and multiple fund-raises.
AGENDA & DETAILS
11:15
11:30
12:00
09:30
09:45
10:00
10:15
10:45
Coffee break
The Commercial and Sell-side View
Campbell Williams, Sunfish Advisory
- How does purpose and brand drive value?
- Why is proposition and differentiation key?
- How do you maintain the customer experience?
- What does a transformation journey require?
- How do you get your go-to-market right?
Panel Discussion
Mickey Patel, August Equity
Daniel Campion, Invictus Strategy Associates
Campbell Williams, Sunfish Advisory
Mark Brooks-Wadham, Charterhouse Voice & Data
James Searby, Directorbank
Paul Ellis, Wax Digital
Manoj Ranaweera, Techcelerate
The speakers will be joined by entrepreneurs with track-records
of high growth and value creation. This is your opportunity to ask
them about their investment journey and real-world experiences.
Registration and coffee
Welcome and introductions
The Current State of Manchester’s Tech Ecosystem
Manoj Ranaweera, Techcelerate
- Why is the north-west so hot for tech?
- Who is who in the tech ecosystem?
- How do they contribute to overall success?
The Investor Viewpoint
Mickey Patel, August Equity
- What are investors looking for?
- What are they NOT looking for?
- How does the process work?
- What are the different models?
- How have we created value before?
The Financial and Buy-side View
Daniel Campion, Invictus Strategy Associates
- What drives value and valuations?
- How do you build financial models?
- Why is historical data so important?
- How do you justify forecasts?
- What are the long-term KPIs?
The workshop will feature keynote talks from three presenters with a wide breadth of investment and M&A experience.
After the presentations, we hold a panel discussion for as long as time allows, with as much audience interaction as
you want. Naturally, before, during and after the event, you’ll be able to network with your peers and meet important
business contacts.
REGISTER
Click here to register