Dorset Business Angels pitch event hailed a success
An event from Dorset Business Angels (DBA) at Bournemouth Carlton Hotel saw a Software as a Service (SaaS) air traffic management digital platform and a sports bra company garner investor interest.
The pitches from the early stage businesses followed Dorset Business Angels' annual educational event, which was, this year, a lead angel investor workshop. The day was sponsored by regional law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors.
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DBA provides investment opportunities for high net worth (HNW) individuals and sophisticated investors (SI) - bringing them together with entrepreneurs in the south.
Eight angel investors expressed interest in the SaaS air traffic management digital platform for regional and military airports, which was seeking to raise the remaining of £300,000 of a £500,000 target to roll out growth plans.
Meanwhile, seven investors were interested in a second company aiming to raise £200,000 to further grow sales of its revolutionary bra for high-impact sports.
Three further businesses also pitched to investors - a multi-cultural catering platform, a company with bespoke electrical accessories, and a charitable donating platform.
"Both the workshop and pitch event were hugely interesting and enjoyable," said DBA chairman Don McQueen.
"The workshop provided the opportunity for angels with some experience to benefit from the advice and expertise of others who have significant understanding and skill built up over many years.
"The pitch event delivered such diversity of opportunity to angels. The two pitches that gained interest were so very different in their product offering, yet both demonstrating strong potential for growth and innovation in their respective markets."
McQueen highlighted that since 2020 there had been 306 business plans received by DBA; 90 pitches presented; 267 expressions of interest received in 63 companies, and 12 companies invested in.
Nigel Smith, managing partner of Ellis Jones Solicitors, said: "It’s important to support entrepreneurs and start-ups. We like to be involved with them in the early stages of their business journey and stay with them to help them grow and become successful.
"Our long-standing partnership with Dorset Business Angels also allows us to give the next generation of businesses a helping hand."
Those presenting at the workshop were DBA chair Don McQueen, guest angel investor Hugh Smith, DBA vice chair and chair of the screening committee Frank Guinn, DBA director and investor Max Wright plus Clementine and Diane from Ellis Jones.