Innovate London

The 2012 events and workshop programme will commence in February. Details will be published shortly.

Will 2011 be the year to turn your business dream into a multi-million pound reality? The Dragons are back and ready to invest.

After its record breaking series in 2010, Dragons’ Den is open for business once again, giving entrepreneurs from across the country the opportunity to pitch for investment and fulfil their business ambitions.

Last year saw the multi-millionaire investors offer their own money to 17 worthy entrepreneurs. One of the most memorable was Kirsty Henshaw, who, after an emotional encounter in the Den, secured £65,000 from Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones to expand her business. With their help, her range of ‘Freedom’ healthy frozen desserts has hit 2000 supermarkets nationwide and sales figures have hit £360,000. She predicts she’ll make £1million in sales in her first year alone…

Dragons’ Den has created some incredible success stories over the last eight series. Brixton based Levi Roots shared his secret recipe, Reggae Reggae Sauce, with the financiers, in return for a £50,000 cash injection. Since the Den, Levi’s created a wide range of products, he says last year he sold six million bottles of his sauce alone and his business is now valued in the millions. But it’s not just about food; Imran Hakim’s I-Teddy, Neil and Laura Westwood’s Magic Whiteboard and Peter Moule’s electrical Chocbox are all businesses that have followed a path to success assisted by Dragon backing!

The rules are simple: entrepreneurs can ask for cash investment in return for equity in their business. However, they must get at least the amount they ask for or they will walk away with nothing. The Dragons want to invest in the very best that British business has to offer. They’re prepared to listen to a pitch for any type of business but they have to believe that it requires investment and will make money before they’ll back it with their own cash.

If you’re genuinely seeking investment for your business idea or invention, we’d like to hear from you. For an application form please visit www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/apply , you can download an application form, or fill it in online – Simple!

Accelerator, part of Innovate London, is London Metropolitan University’s digital media business incubator and is already well positioned as a business-friendly connection between Silicon Roundabout and London Met. Accelerator has the potential to serve as the anchor institution for the developing Tech City. Located in Shoreditch, the heart of the Silicon Roundabout, and in close proximity to the City, Accelerator has a plethora of services to offer; ranging from CPD, business support, and office space, to London Met’s student Enterprise programme, Accelerator offers it all. Download the .PDF document below for more information on Tech City, and Accelerator’s involvement!


This spring Accelerator is involved in running the Digital Shoreditch festival and preparations are now well underway. The festival is held between 3 – 7 May and you are invited to get involved. Come to the March Meet-Up and learn what the plans are for this 5 day festival celebration the creative diversity of the Shoreditch digital community.


*  Download: Tech City at London Met.pdf

*  Visit the Digital Shoreditch festival website: www.digitalshoreditch.com

*  Book tickets for the Digital Shoreditch March meet-up: digitalshoreditchmarch.eventbrite.com

What exactly is networking? And why is it necessary?

In the harsh yet wonderful world of business, contacts are crucial but just how do you go about making these contacts?  One word, NETWORKING .It is important to get out there and make yourself known, networking allows a business person/owner to build new business relationships and generate business opportunities at the same time. As a business owner it presents you with an opportunity to learn about what others do and what they have to offer, who knows, you might need them down the road or they might need you.

Effective networking can help develop one’s self confidence, public speaking skills, communication skills, and relationship building skills. In addition, during a networking event, by speaking about your business, you build your business profile; surely this can have only positive benefits.

Of course after the networking events, you could decide that you want to continue to keep in contact with, talk with certain individuals that you have met from a networking event. While networking can definitely help you to promote your business, you need to go about it in the right way. You need to dress appropriately, your attire would depend on what kind of networking event it is, whatever the case do not forget that what you wear has a big impact on how people perceive you. 

Try not to spend a long time talking about you and your business, ask questions, be curious about who you are networking with. Find out what their business is about? How long they have been in business?  remember communication is a two way street.

Business cards! Business cards! Business cards! I cannot stress enough their importance , have your business cards handy, they are crucial at a networking event, they give people an idea of what services you are capable of providing and they save the other person a great deal of time jotting down contact details. 

 One last thing, look at every networking opportunity as free publicity for your business so make the most of it and most of all enjoy it !

Innovate London runs workshops , talks and seminars perfect for practicing and developing  your networking skills please check our website for details of upcoming events  http://innovatelondon.org/category/events/

On Friday 10th December, Innovate London delegates were invited to sit on the catwalk’s edge at their clients’ fashion show in collaboration with Westminster University.

Agnes Kukla presented a selection of spectacular wedding dresses from her Polka fashion label. The show was sold out and a great success. Agnes’ designs showed next to fashion collections by Westminster University students. The catwalk extravaganza was followed by drinks and nibbles over networking where Agnes received praise from her audience.

• What is a business angel?
• How can angel investment help develop your business?
• What do angels look for?
• Where can you find business angels?
• What should entrepreneurs look for in a business angel?

The event will be held on Wednesday 17^th November 2010,  6pm – 8pm at  City Business Library , Guildhall- Entrance 3 , Aldermanbury,  London, EC2V 7HH.

Our speaker is Neil McClements, an established business angel and entrepreneur, with a track-record of successfully delivering £multi-million technology solutions for clients in the telecoms, financial services and media sectors. Neil regularly advises entrepreneurs on business angel fundraising and is an active investor in seed/early-stage businesses in UK, Europe and US.

ELBA in conjunction with Innovate London organised the UBS Business Support Event successfully held at The Tomlinson Centre on Thursday 19th of August 2010.

UBS is a client-focused financial services firm that offers a combination of wealth management, asset management and investment banking services on a global and regional basis.

The event was part of the UBS Associate Promotion Programme mainly for employees who have worked in UBS for around 3 years and who have skills in finance, business planning and business analysis. These representatives were on hand to transfer their business skills and knowledge to locally based businesses most of which were our own Innovate London clients.

The day started off with our very own Innovate London Project Co-ordinator Graham Hewson giving the welcome speech to all 18 UBS volunteers and 15 businesses in attendance. Introducing Innovate London, what we are about and what we do and how we fit into the event. This nicely led to the one-to-one business planning support agenda where the businesses were asked to go into groups with the UBS volunteers for introductions and Initial Analysis of their businesses.

It was interesting to hear some of the clients talk about their businesses and of course the problems that they are experiencing. This is just one of the many advantages of such an event; others include benefits such as networking and one to one Q&A opportunities.

Part of the activity for the day included the small businesses presenting back to the wider group, thus giving them an opportunity to practice public speaking and their presentation skills. From these kinds of interactions, valuable business information is given, such as links, resources, suggestions, ideas, who knows. Clients also receive help with business and financial planning all for FREE ! Yes you heard me all 7 hours of it.

So why are some not interested in taking up such an opportunity?

excuses, excuses, excuses!

“I don’t need advice, my business has already started”

Truth is as a business owner you can never have enough advice. People continuously fail to understand that as the business environment grows and evolves so does the need for professional and specialized advice. It is important not to take for granted any opportunity that provides an access to up-to-date business information and practices. Even multi-billion pounds companies still engage management consultancy firms, how much more is this required for one just starting out!

“I have been before; I don’t need to go again”

Truth is, no two events are the same. Yes they might have the similar agendas but not necessarily the same business support people or advisors, so each time there is at least the possibility to gain something new from a new business advisor. Who knows, just a word can open the door to a million ideas! Okay, may be not a million, but a couple of good ideas that can make a difference to your business!

“I am busy”

Aren’t we all? This coming from someone who most probably has invested all they have in starting a business is shocking; I would think that they would jump at every opportunity that presents the chance to get business advice and consultation for FREE. As a business owner FREE is usually a good thing and very rare!

How to get the most out of such events

You won’t go to the school without your school bag would you? Be prepared! You have taken the whole day to be here the least you can do is be prepared. Be there on time, formally dressed with your business plan, financial documents, list of questions and objectives you hope to achieve by the end of the event, your business cards (very important), a note pad to write on and of course a pen. You’d be amazed at how many people forget to bring a note pad and beg for sheets of paper to scribble on, very unprofessional I must say.

Yes it’s free but you also want to get value for your time.

Innovate London aims to provide business support solutions in the form of events such as this, which focuses on supporting individuals and their businesses to achieve their full potential.

 Innovate London is very happy to report that one of our project clients has been in the news at the Party conferences. 

 As part of the Media Trusts youth Mentoring Scheme, Jessica Elliot who runs Dancing After School, A dance school for children and young adults, has been tasked by The Times and the Community digital channel to interview small business owners and managers of business support initiatives such as Incubation then take their questions to the leaders of the three main political Parties.

 Over the weekend Jessica was at the Liberal democrat conference in Liverpool where she interviews Nick Clegg and Vince cable. The highlight of her interview with Vince Cable, also a keen dancer, was when he agreed to Rumba with her. 

Jess will interview the Prime Minister David Cameron at the Conservative Party Conference and the documentary will be shown on the Community Channel later this year. 

 See more of Jess at Dancing after School -

 http://www.dancingafterschool.com/

Innovate London held an Innovate 20/20 workshop on the 9th December 2010 at the  Accelerator Building in Shoreditch.

This practical event was designed to guide existing London based SMEs through the stages of ideation and how to develop and sell ideas internally and externally.

The event was challenging, interactive and fun; allowing participants to develop new creative skills that they can implement in their business with immediate effect. Participants were encouraged to attend the event with a business problem or issue that they were facing in their business. These problems were addressed by the radical ideas and techniques that were  discussed in workgroups.

This included:

Auditing their organisation – Vision, market needs and attitude to risk;

Examined challenges and steps to overcome them with innovative solutions;

How to foster a culture of creativity and innovation;

How to boost your personal creativity – the habits of innovative leaders;

Innovation process, methodology and techniques;

The key to thinking outside the box;

Created an action plan to achieve breakthrough results.

Innovate London organized a wonderful boat trip along the Thames for its clients, coinciding with one of the first evenings of the lovely weather. The evening started at the Waterloo Pier under the London Eye.

The MV Millennium of London sailed past the packed hospitality terraces of the House of Parliament and then followed Old Father Thames on it’s meandering course east past Canary Wharf, Greenwich and through the Thames Barrier and then returning westward into setting Sun behind Tower Bridge.

The guests at this event enjoyed the welcome speech and talk on the importance of entrepreneurship in the recession by Patrick Blunt from Business Extra at London Knowledge Innovation Centre and Graham Hewson Project Manager at the Accelerator.

The highlight of the evening were the motivational guest speakers, both of whom are successful business owners Fraser Doherty  from Super Jam and Tom Jeffs from Lucidica. Both of our guest speakers discussed their journey into business and how they implemented entrepreneurial methods and innovation to enhance their business potential.

The evening continued with fabulous entertainment, a musician Caroline Owen set the mood with her talent on the electronic violin whilst guests continued with business to business networking cruising on the River Thames.