| Career Overview Please visit the NEWS page for this month's overview. 2008 May to September: www.FlyAmbeo.com co-Founder. Investigating the prospective use of leading-edge technology aircraft for a potential air-charter venture. I resigned my position (on good terms) after severe product and market changes and difference of opinion with my two colleagues' on their pre-investment business model. Advised on the prospective purchase of a trading company (see my Testimonials page: Policy Tracker). Hosted 12 Chair/CEO functions (see my MeetMe page). Introduced potential major investors to a US VC fund Introduced top-up investment into an A-class movie Discussing potential opportunities with various entrepreneurial investment specialists, investors and early-stage companies. 2007 Entrepreneurial activities during 'time-out' Investigated the prospective foundation of a new Business Incubator Assessed six ventures for prospective investors Co-hosted three business investor events Ran private CXO networking functions Introduced two established mobile-tech companies into potential £3m venture investment fundraising deals Introduced two international Corporate clients at board-level to solutions provider Axispoint Solutions Formed a team of 'name' CXO's and investigated a complex pan-European License which I was offered, for an established SaaS business: after due-diligence we decided not to accept the contract. Looked at multiple start-up companies, as an invited potential senior partner/executive. ------------------- 2002 - 2006 Founder, Investor & Executive Director Otodio Ltd & Inc www.otodio.com Seed Investor and Founder, then with only two other colleagues involved, I personally raised investment - though the technology remained incomplete throughout. I raised £425K from five media/technology investors; engaged senior executives and services at low to no cost at a value of another £500K; placed Otodio into Top Technology Award status at 28 TMT events at £4k cost (saving £78K); formed good relationships with many UK & USA TMT early-stage VC’s / VCT’s / Angel groups, Boards & CXO’s of international banks; mobile-phone manufacturers, operators, suppliers; newspaper & periodical publishers; software manufacturers; text-to-speech companies; events producers and press. Leaving the company in the hands of the CEO, I remain the second largest shareholder. [External investors valuation at December 2006 = £3.6m].
PerfectPlay Ltd www.perfectplay.co.uk Founder. My three person company was established with no external investment on 14 October 2002 and sales efforts commencing 14 Jan 2003. Established the UK & Eire's only branded in-store CD/DVD/Game disc repair service to the public with over 100 PerfectPlay branded outlets and over 200 non-branded, leading the non-branded market within the first two years; against two major well established competitors 10x & 120x larger. Clients include companies in games-retail; CD & DVD-rental and retail; photo-processing; distribution; wholesale; production and libraries. Leaving the company in the hands of the CEO, I remain the second largest shareholder. [Audit valuation at December 2006 = £1m]. World Financial Symposium (M&A/IPO event) www.worldfinancialsymposiums.com As an independent I troubleshot the 2004 event, doubling attendance and 'name' panelists, then was occasional Board Advisor, & Chair/Moderator on the venture capital panel/s in '04/05/06. Year one delegate numbers were increased from 42 to 90 delegates, year 3 reached over 400 M&A delegates. WFS-London is now owned by Corum Group. --------------------- 1995 – 2002 Business Development Interim 2000-2002 I accelerated B2B venture capital development firm Oxbridge Capital increasing their client base from 2 to 85 with minimal costs. Thereafter a similar success for Business Development Consultancy E-ssociates. Greatly increased both their B2B profiles and income. Then I became a short-term part-time Government Local Enterprise Advisor; business consulting SME's within Central London's Enterprise Agency CENTA. 1997-2002 Greatly raised the company profile and influence of design, advertising and publishing company Tokyo Kikaku to its UK B2B target market. Cut marketing costs by over 50% and increased key UK client-partner base from 4 to 24 . Results saved their major account with £400m t/o Nakagawa Chemical Inc. Thereafter, I trouble-shot Cafe Japan and Shiki Restaurants UK (for the Japan holding company Life-Commune Group plc) and increased profits by 40% within six weeks. Thereafter I accelerated new business opportunities for Trafalgar Computer Group and C-Cure and considerably increased their client-partners and investor options. Thereafter I co-managed the closure of corporate language training Valetti Group. Raised funding for and trouble-shot a variety of hi-tech and media-related SME's across southern England. Providing ‘hands-off’ consultancy to 180 companies; majority upon past clients plus investor-referral. 1997 I increased sales by 150%, reduced costs and improved sales, advertising and marketing efficiency for stagnant £1.5m turnover web-hosting company Netlink Internet. The company was then sold for £20m. --------------------- 1996 - 1997 Founder of internet commerce media portal Mediafind. I raised corporate-media investment promises of £3.5m investment. However the key lead-investor for £2m died, funding disappeared and venture ceased. --------------------- 1991–1996 Academic, & Media Business Professional Highly successful "top-gun" visiting lecturer in business, print and broadcast media business and media-law with simultaneous contracts to 12 colleges and 4 universities. Also, courses-writer to Diplomas and Higher Degrees [incl' MBA] to 2 accreditation boards, 3 universities and 10 colleges, plus 2 UK government think tanks on new-venture creation and support. My 'lecturing-contact’ time being an average 42 hours per week = 2.33 times greater than full-time lecturers. Students passes on my courses were greater than the average pass rates. National awards won. All simultaneous and renewed annual contracts. ---------------------- 1985 - 1992 Broadcast Media Professional 1990-1991 Founder: Station Sound Manager to Europe's first multi-ethnic radio station, based in London Spectrum International: 50 staff broadcasting in 12 languages. During gulf war and after I syndicated news and programmes across the world. Nominated for awards. 1985-1990 Working-student, thereon became one of London's "top-gun" freelance sound technicians; producer and presenter across local, national and international broadcast media. All simultaneous and renewed annual contracts 1985-1990 Due to my enthusiasm for life I also worked occasional nights and one to two day weekends as Fitness Instructor / Health Club Manager within three clubs (as well as keeping me fit, this also provided a fantastic social life). Combined 'working hours' with media work usually 70+ per week. ---------------------- 1979 - 1985 Employee: Accounts & Sales Clerk
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