Join us at Different Routes to Funding Growth, a breakfast briefing at which a panel of seasoned experts will discuss the different options for digital and technology businesses to finance growth ambitions, from private equity and venture capital investment, to sale. Our panel line-up, which includes Laura Franses, Head of the Channel 4 Growth Fund, will share their insight and experience in private equity and venture capital investment, strategic growth financing options, as well as legal considerations for digital and technology businesses.
To reserve your place at this event, email events@sipartnersglobal.com.
14.09.2016 | 8:00 - 10:00 am | Broadgate Tower EC2A 2RS
Reed Smith, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2RS
Breakfast and registration from 8:00am; panel discussion at 8:30am; seminar ends at 10:00am.
Laura Franses holds the position Head of Growth Fund at Channel 4. In that role she manages the team overseeing the £20m fund dedicated to investing in the UK independent production sector, promoting growth in the industry. Since 2014 the fund has invested in 10 companies (Arrow Media, Barcroft Media, Eleven Films, Lightbox Entertainment, Popkorn Media, Renowned Films, Spelthorne Community Television, True North, Voltage Films and Whisper Films) and Laura has a board seat on all of the existing investee companies. The Growth Fund is actively looking for more companies to join the group of investees.
Laura has extensive experience in strategy, operations and finance for the creative and broadcasting industries. Laura co-founded the Emmy winning TV production company Nutopia Ltd with Jane Root which she ran as Managing Director for four years. Prior to that she worked at Zodiak (RDF) identifying and buying TV companies for the AIM-listed super indie, and started out in the UK as a production finance executive at Film4, part of Channel 4. She holds a first class honours degree from Cambridge University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School.
Rupert is founder and CEO of D5 Capital, a corporate finance partnership specialising in media and technology capital raising. D5 Capital manages a HNW/UHNW funding platform for growth companies in EMEA region. Since inception, D5 Capital partners have raised over $50m for early stage companies, including Graze.com, One Pulse, PlaySight, Showbox, Walkme and Wix. Prior to founding D5 Capital, he created financial communications specialist Focus Communications which was sold to Grey Global Group, now part of WPP plc.
Martin works on sourcing and executing new platform investments and add-on opportunities for Lyceum Capital. Prior to joining the firm in 2010, Martin was an Assistant Director in PwC Corporate Finance working on a number of private equity-backed deals. Martin holds Commerce and Science degrees from the University of Queensland, Australia, qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC and is a CFA Charter holder.
James is a partner in Reed Smith's Private Equity practice. Prior to joining Reed Smith, James worked at Simmons & Simmons, SJ Berwin and Dentons. James qualified in 2004.
James has a broad range of international corporate experience with particular expertise in all forms of private equity transactions including buy-outs, secondaries, acting for management, restructurings and bolt-on acquisitions.
James has advised numerous private equity sponsors on auction processes/bids, including Anacap Financial Partners, ECI Partners, Nova Capital, CBPE Capital, Clarion Capital Partners, Leeds Equity Partners, Risk Capital Partners, Sovereign Capital, Rubicon Partners Industries, Duke Street, Graphite Capital, EQT Partners and STAR Capital Partners.
Charles leads SI Partners' consultancy practice. Charles’ career includes over a decade at Saatchi & Saatchi where he was responsible for global technology clients as well as launching Saatchi Interactive, one of the UK’s first digital agencies.
Charles has particular expertise working with digital and technology businesses, advising entrepreneurs on the development of disruptive business models and the evaluation of strategic options for the future.
Charles often works with SI Partners’ clients on long-term consultancy projects, developing strategies for growth and performance improvement, as well as building cohesive leadership teams.
