Abstract

This session looks at how entrepreneurs can set down sensible plans for new ventures to attract investment and ensure growth in a fast-changing world. If you do make plans, what should be in them now? What are present day investors looking for? What should you know that will help you raise money, build teams and provide compelling arguments to launch a venture?

Businesses usually develop plans on an annual cycle which then lead to budgets, performance measures and role clarity. A more realistic solution for entrepreneurs dealing with turbulent times and industries may be something called ‘emergent planning’, i.e. having the flexibility to make changes to plans so that they reflect reality more closely.

Mitesh Soma was born in Leicester and graduated from London’s City University with a 1st class degree in business and computing. Mitesh was inspired to start Chemistdirect.co.uk while assisting his wife, Krishna, with her small independent chemist shop in Westminster, London. Mitesh identified the huge high street mark-ups and realised that by cutting out the middlemen and keeping overheads to a minimum, he could slash costs to the benefit of the consumer. He and Krishna moved to Leicester where they built a ‘home office’ at the bottom of the garden running the business. All the products are sent from a 10,000 square foot warehouse based in Birmingham, where Mitesh spends much of his time overseeing his small team of 25 people. Less than eight months after founding the company, Chemistdirect.co.uk was listed as the most popular online pharmacy in the UK.

When? 14th February 2012. Registration is from 18:00. Lecture is from 18:30. Networking starts at 20:00. Refreshments are provided.

Where? University of Cambridge Department of Engineering, LT0 , Trumpington Street, Cambridge

Registration: Please register before attending Enterprise Tuesday via the online form at http://www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/enterprisetuesday/register.html

Further information about Enterprise Tuesday is at http://www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/enterprisetuesday/programme/timetable.html