Event Review – Bootstrap or Raise

Over 70 Marlburian Entrepreneurs gathered virtually at 8pm GMT (convenient for both sides of the Atlantic) Wednesday 18th November to debate the merits of bootstrapping your enterprise or raising funds from Private Equity / Venture Capitalists.

The Zoom event was booted up by OMtrepreneur Professional Group Co-Head Tom Archer (C3 2002-07). We heard how Tom Adams (CO 2002-07), Founder of Tessian (a fintech working with enterprises in the financial, legal and technology sectors), worked with Level39 incubator to raise funding early last year. Tom shared interesting insights into the differences between financing tech startups in San Francisco and London. An alternative path was taken by Nick Horowitz (C3 2002-07), Co-Founder of The Clerkenwell Brothers, who told the story of bootstrapping his digital agency and rapid growth. Emily Few Brown (MM 2003-08) – Founder & Managing Director of Spook London, added to the debate describing some of the challenges and opportunities of financing and running an events catering and hospitality company during a lockdown.

No single approach to financing and growing a startup company will work for all and Marlburians are encouraged to network with OMtrepreneur mentors on the MC Global Connect platform.

Thank you to all panelists for their insights and in particular to Tom for organising.

James Spender (C2 1987-92) and Ali Wade (TU 1989-94)