TiE UK, which I have been a member since its inauguration in Manchester, is launching an education programme targeted at entrepreneurial students between the ages of 16 and 19. Cleverly branded, TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TyE), aims to inspire young students through mentoring and education covering:

- Develop business acumen and communication skills
- Discover the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship
- Nurture to be a well rounded personality
- Instill confidence to lead in a global environment

The programme will be launched in September 2009 and ends in March 2010. The six month curriculum will consist of three months of classroom instruction and three months of workshops.

The competition has similarities to Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) that my first tech company, ebdex (now dead) participated at London Business School. I helped introduce the programme to Manchester Business School the year after.

The business plan led TyE competition will grant the opportunity for the winning team from the UK to compete with teams from the rest of the world at the TiE Global Conference in Silicon Valley in May 2010.

For more details please contact Tie UK Co-ordinator or call 07507597533.

This newsletter covers: 1. Next Event: Tech StartUps and Digital Advocates - UMIC, Manchester on 22nd July 2. Membership 3. Sponsor an Administrator 4. Your Feedback 5. Partner Events (The Insider, Chinwag and Technology World 2009) 6. Contact Details 7. Our Partners

1. Next Event: Tech StartUps and Digital Advocates

Programme: 22nd July 2009 - 6 to 9pm Venue: UMIC, Grafton Street, Manchester Two sessions, each with four early stage technology companies pitching to a panel of digital marketing agencies with the hope of convincing their account directors (digital advocates) to introduce the companies to their clients. 5 mins pitch followed by 10 minutes grilling. It became clear recently (at Futuresonic09 in May 09, Craig McGinty et al) that marketing agencies lacked knowledge about the innovative digital products launched by UK based tech companies, and especially those based in the North. As early stage tech companies lack commercial credibility necessary for securing medium to large customers, many have not explored the commercial opportunities presented through working with media agencies. This event intends to explore and build partnerships between the tech startups and digital media agencies. For more information: http://www.nwstartup20.co.uk/jul09

Current Needs:

- Panelists - Pitching companies - Sponsors

Costs for attendance:

- Members: £15+VAT - Non Members: from £25 to £30+VAT - At door: £40

Costs for pitching:

- Members: £60+VAT - Non Members: £80+VAT Includes free entry for two employees including the presenter

2. Northern StartUp 2.0 Membership

Cost: £10+VAT per month and pay £15+VAT per event NS20 was created to support startups across the north with an ecosystem of peers, investors, service providers and support organisations. With your support the group has grown significantly over the last two and a half years to over 1500 like minded individuals. We hope that you have found it valuable and will continue to do so by becoming a Member. In return for your membership we are offering a range of additional services and benefits: - Service Discounts: e.g. Accountancy (2 startups signed up) and legal services - Product Deals: free software for startups through Microsoft BizSpark Programme (4 startups signed up). More deals in discussion - Digital Content: coming soon - Training and Workshops: coming soon - Investment readiness: coming soon - Corporate finance: coming soon For more information: http://www.nwstartup20.co.uk/membership

3. Sponsor an Administrator

NS20 has evolved in to one of the key organisations promoting tech entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom. We now need a full time Administrator to help us deliver a consistent service. The revenues we collect from event attendance and odd sponsorsorship are hardly sufficient to cover our costs let alone pay a full-time employee. Therefore we have no choice but to seek new sponsorship towards financing our first employee. We believe we can recruit a young graduate for about £20,000. We are interested in hearing from organisations who might be interested in supporting this initiative. For more information: http://www.nwstartup20.co.uk/recruitment

4. Feedback

Nick Rhind has come on board to help us improve your on-line experience. Both Nick and I are very much interested in hearing your thoughts on how to improve the website, and appreciate if you could add your thoughts at http://startup20.uservoice.com

5. Partner Events

Business Finance Conference 2009

Date: 29th June 2009 Event registration: http://www.insidermedia.com/event/business_finance_conference_2009/index The Insider Business Finance Conference will bring together funders with businesses. The Northwest Regional Development Agency will be discussing its new publicly funded Venture Capital and Loan Fund and wider access to finance services at this event. And we want this positive event to introduce businesses and advisers to the wide range of funds available from banks and other financiers in the present market. We will be presenting a day packed with opportunities for banks, the public sector, private businesses, angel investors and leading business figures to meet and learn about the new landscape for business finance in the North West. This is a must-attend event for anyone looking to raise finance for businesses or to stimulate growth. It is also at the centre of a major debate about the future of finance and business in the North West.

Chinwag - Digital Mission UK Tour: Manchester

Date: 1st July 2009 Event registration: http://dmmanchester.eventbrite.com/ As part of a series of regional workshops to publicise the Digital Mission trips to the USA in 2009/2010, the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and Chinwag will be visiting Manchester on Wednesday,1st July. Digital Missions are a series of trade missions organised by Chinwag and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). They are specifically designed to help UK-headquartered digital SME's expand internationally, understand foreign markets, attract investment, find partners and develop business relationships. The seminar will be followed by an informal networking session with drinks and nibbles, providing the opportunity to grill any of the speakers or previous attendees that you didn’t catch in the Q&A session.

Technology World 2009

Date: 23rd and 24th November 2009 Conference Site: http://www.technologyworld09.com/ We have negotiated with UKTI for ten stands at heavily discounted prices for our Members. edocr.com will be taking one stand. Stands must be secured before 1st September 2009 As one of the largest technology 'speed meeting' events in the UK, Technology World has helped over 500 buyers and sellers to do business each year. The event provides a highly effective platform for companies to identify and build new international business and partnership opportunities. It brings together UK and non-UK based companies from across the globe to do business via a 2 day, focused 'speed meeting' event. + Stand shell scheme (3X3), including name plate with 3 exhibitor passes. Full price: £800. Our price: £350 + Pod, one of the three compartments, shared with two other businesses. Full price: £600. Our price: £200 + Day Delegate, Full Price – 1 Day £100; 2 Day £170. Our price: 1 Day £60; 2 Day £80 As part of the partnership, edocr.com will provide a virtual exhibition (visit http://www.edocr.com/organisation and select Technology > Tech Events > TechnologyWorld09) where you could access marketing collateral of exhibitors before, during and after the conference.

6. Contact Details

Email: Manoj Ranaweera Mobile: +44 7769734491 Skype: ranaweeram Twitter: @manojranaweera

Team:

+ Business Development - Phil Tapsell - TechVenture Solutions + Marketing - Tom Cheesewright - And Digital + Public Relations - Fiona Barker - BarkerPR + Website - Nick Rhind - CTI Support Network

7. Our Partners

Do contact if you wish to explore partnering with us either on annual or event basis.

Taken from TechCrunch: by Michael Arrington on June 4, 2009

In April we reported that San Francisco based mobile startup Kadoink was heading towards the deadpool. Not because they ran out of money, but because Hercules Technology Growth Capital, one of their backers, had seized the company and was shutting it down.

But the terms of the debt are key, particularly under what circumstances the creditor can come in and shut down the company. Many creditors look for triggers in the financial statements that give them the right to seize assets. That’s likely what happened with Kadoink, and it’s a sad way to end a company that may still have a shot at doing something interesting. Smart entrepreneurs only accept debt agreements that require nothing but payments to be made on time. As long as those payments come in, the creditor has to stay away. Terms are usually less attractive, but in the end it may save you from the deadpool.

As you heard on the 15th April from Bindi Karia of Microsoft BizSpark, Northern StartUp 2.0 has been appointed as your local BizSpark Network Partner.

Microsoft’s BizSpark program for start-ups is quick and easy way to gain access to great software and production licenses. If you are a start up then you need to check out the great benefits of this program.

Tech startups have lots to gain from this. Whether you're developing the latest Iphone 4 apps or building the next YouTube, you're missing out if you've not got in on this already.

Here's the criteria:

- Actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of your current or intended business.
- Your company is privately held, and in business for less than 3 years.
- Has less than US $1 million in annual revenue
- Member of the Northern StartUp 2.0 Community

What do you get?

Here's what you get from the program:

- Development Tools, Platform Technologies and Production Licenses
- All the software included in the Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System Team Suite (VSTS) with MSDN Premium subscription
- Expression Studio Version 2
- VSTS Team Foundation Server (standard edition)
- Production use rights to host a “software as a service” solution (developed during participation in the BizSpark Program, on any platform) over the Internet, with regard to the latest versions of Microsoft products including:
- Microsoft Windows Server® (all editions up to and including Enterprise)
- Microsoft SQL Server (all editions)
- Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server
- Microsoft System Center
- Microsoft BizTalk Server

In addition to the core program offering, BizSpark startups will be eligible for other Microsoft offerings, including Microsoft Azure Services Platform - The Azure Services Platform is the collection of Foundational, Developer and Live Platform Service such as Windows Azure, Live Mesh, Compute Services, Storage Services, Workflow Services, Identity Services, Connectivity Services, SQL Data Services. All developers will have access to the Azure Services Platform developer tools which includes the local development fabric.

What’s the catch?

There isn’t one! After three years we will require you pay $100USD exit fee, that’s it! If you want to continue with the software and licenses, you simply pay for your MSDN subscriptions the regular way, and if you want to keep using your production licenses, you pay for those using the Service Provider Licensing program.

What is the community saying about the program?

Don’t just take our word for it, find out what the community think! Click here, more details here and leave your comments here

How do I sign up?

Simply email Manoj with the following details:

- Confirmation that you meet each of the qualification criteria for the Programme including that you a Member of Northern StartUp 2.0
- Company name
- Years of trading
- Your turnover

We will then do the rest.

Blog Posts

Cloud Computing: Exposed and Socialised by Lakestar media

Pictures

Videos

Introduction

Speech 1 - Bindi Karia - Microsoft BizSpark and Azure

Speech 2 - Simone Brunozzi - Amazon Web Services

Speech 3 - Tim Barker - Salesforce.com and Force.com

Speech 4 - Ivan Farneti - Doughty Hanson

Panel Discussion joined by Roy Shelton of H2O Networks

StartUp4Slaughter - Lisa Layzell of ThinSpace

Filming was done by BBC Backstage. Many thanks to Ian Forrester and his team from BBC for continuing support.

The 2nd Annual International Seminar: Plug and Play Acceleration and Collaboration Track (PACT) will take place on May 28th, 2009. PACT Event itinerary will cover:

- Innovative panels about getting funding and current trends in the Silicon Valley with exciting guest speakers
- A total of 300 attendees from around the world coming to visit Plug and Play, getting exposure to Silicon Valley ’s economic system, networks, and media contacts
- 30 of the most prestigious international startups pitching to their partner investors, top tier VC firms in the Silicon Valley

If you wish to explore more information, please contact Maud Pasturaud, Business Relationship Manager of Plug and Play Tech Center in Silicon Valley, California, USA.

Here is their brochure

Digital bill would spark North West media mergers

Extract taken from Crain's Manchester Business

A wave of mergers would reshape the North West’s media landscape if the government goes ahead with reported plans for a new Digital Economy Bill. The measure, a response to industry lobbying following sharp declines in advertising revenue during the recession, would rewrite the rules on mergers in television, regional newspapers and local radio. The bill, likely to be introduced in the Queen’s Speech this autumn, could enable Trinity Mirror, owner of daily newspapers in Liverpool and weeklies on Merseyside and in Cheshire, to merge with Johnston Press, which controls daily papers in Preston, Wigan and Blackpool and weeklies in Lancashire. The bill would also make it much easier for Gannett, the US-based newspaper publisher, to dispose of its UK subsidiary Newsquest, which owns daily papers in Blackburn and Bolton and weeklies throughout Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Media watchers also expect UTV Radio, which owns Warrington’s Wire FM, to be a possible merger partner for radio group Bauer, owner of Key 103 in Manchester. The government has not commented publicly, but Andy Burnham, culture secretary and Leigh MP, is said to have told media companies privately to expect new legislation.

Revenues up 33 per cent at NCC Group

Extract taken from Crain's Manchester Business

Manchester-based IT security business NCC Group Plc (LSE: NCC) today reported a 33 per cent rise in revenues in the first ten months of its current financial year. On a like-for-like basis, sales were up 20 per cent, excluding some recently acquired businesses, and the company said that “all divisions continued to see good growth”. In an interim management statement, NCC said it was on track to deliver expected levels of profit and cash generation. The market has been expecting good news, with the shares rising from 300p to 320.25p since Tuesday’s opening. Group escrow solutions grew revenues by 18 per cent with renewals forecast to be £13.6m for the financial year to May 31, slightly down on last November’s figure of £13.8m. Growth in UK escrow is up to 4 per cent from 1 per cent last November. NCC said UK termination rates have marginally increased to almost 12 per cent, but it said the board believes this to be a temporary increase rather than a longer term trend. By the end of May, NCC expects to take full control of its escrow franchise operation in Switzerland where currently it owns 24 per cent. In the assurance testing division, where NCC hacks clients’ systems to find weaknesses, revenues are up 50 per cent, of which 28 per cent is from organic growth. The order book for ethical security testing stands at £6.6m, the same level as last November. NCC said it had identified “good opportunities” to supply its existing range of security testing services worldwide, in particular through NGS, which it acquired last November, in the US and Australia. It has promoted Roger Rawlinson to managing director of its assurance division. He will be responsible for both the assurance and consultancy operations, where there is increasing overlap between the group's activities, particularly in security work. NCC said that in June it would switch further resources from its non-core consulting activities to information security.

IT firm gets government-backed loan to boost telecoms sales

Extract taken from Crain's Manchester Business

Northwich-based Concise IT will use a £50,000 Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme loan to boost sales at a new arm of the business. The company recently acquired Wilmslow-based business telephony provider Takeda Technology after it went into administration and have now re-launched it as Concise Telecoms. The new working capital facility from NatWest will support sales and marketing initiatives. Concise IT, set up 15 years ago by husband and wife David & Nadine Southern, provides IT support services, disaster recovery solutions and the design, implementation and installation of business networks. David Southern, managing director, said: “The EFG loan allows us to look at various cross sales initiatives between Concise IT and Concise Telecoms.” Takeda supplied business telephone systems, contact centre solutions and mobile voice and data. Its 15 employees have now transferred to Concise, taking the group’s workforce to 50. Concise expects its turnover to rise to £4.2m this year from £2.9m in 2008. Under EFG, designed to ensure that smaller businesses can access finance for growth, the government guarantees 75 per cent of any loans made, with the bank covering the remaining 25 per cent.

Here are the two videos Sarah Hartley of Manchester Evening News filmed

Northern StartUp 2.0 is becoming a much discussed topic these days within the tech entrepreneur community in the North of England. Among those who have spent few hours trying to understand, why a 41 year old man is so exited about Manchester and the tech scene is none other than Mr. Imran Hakim who is perhaps best known as Mr. iTeddy, since he appeared on our TV screen requesting funding for a startup from a tough looking bunch of business angels, known as BBC Dragons.

Whilst these two characters are trying to work out the next steps in collaboration, it is interesting to note their three key differences, these being:

1. 31 years vs. 41 years (both yet to hit these later this year)
2. Over achiever vs. under achiever (very subjective, of course)
3. Twitter amateur vs. Twitter savvy (this may have something to do with selection of mobile phones used)

Here are three common traits observed by the older chap:

1. Unlimited energy (what is he thinking at 41?)
2. Asian (the young guy keep saying, are you not Indian then? Yes, I know it is shocking)
3. Passionate about Manchester (according to a recent Twitter poll, the older chap has no chance of becoming a Mancunian after living in Manchester for nearly 9 years)

On the 3rd note, the older chap has not yet decided on which football team to support since earlier days of supporting Newcasle United when it was promoted to premiership in mid 90s, whilst living and working in there.

So here is an extract of what Smarta is saying about this young lad from Bolton:

Imran controls a diverse business portfolio which includes a lens laboratory, spectacle frame distribution, optical retailing, management, recruitment and most recently a toy company with the development of iTeddy. His business experience ranges from restructuring existing loss-making businesses out of administration to become successful and profitable operations - to successfully negotiating licensing arrangements with global brands including Reebok, Longines and Revlon in order to secure distribution rights within given territories.

In his spare time, Imran works to encourage entrepreneurship, through speaking engagements and mentoring young entrepreneurs. He is now an active member of TIE, UKIBC, NWIDF and Bolton Primary Care Trust. He has also teamed up with fellow entrepreneur Ben Way, incubating and investing in start-up companies through ‘The Rainmakers’.

Tags: imran hakim, iteddy