Dorset Business Angels met for their 2^nd online pitch event in 2021 with some 40 attendees from across the UK & abroad. Pitching businesses have 10 minutes to present to the Angels, after which there is 5 minutes of Q & A, followed by discussions between the would-be investors on their decision to carry out further due diligence with a view to invest. Investors register their interest by taking part in an online polling system.

A company providing digital fundraising services that ensures that charities and funders are able to replace collecting cash donations with a digital solution made a compelling pitch. With UK charities receiving over 50% of their £10B revenue in cash every year, the business is planning contactless donation terminals for later on this year, with the ambition of making the total package a ‘one-stop shop’ for any community organisation’s digital fundraising needs.  Identifying a huge addressable market of 1.5 million community organisations, the business advised that it can deliver urgently needed additional funds, more ways to raise funds and broader funding options to this underserved sector, and all from a single provider and ‘build a digital fundraising eco system’.  2 expressions of interest were made.

A Personal Safety Solutions business whose service has been thrust into the limelight by a number of recent tragic events has achieved 450,000 downloads this year, against a 250,000 target and its strapline was quoted to the investor audience – ‘Safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless’. The founder described his motivation for creating the App, which was achieved after his daughter in law was the victim of an assault and led to family members pulling together their skills to develop and achieve the safety App, which aims to be a leader in female safety.

The business, whose mission is to offer the public a means to control their own personal safety, recently received over 300,000 downloads in a matter of days and in March achieved No. 1 on the App store.  At a time when knife crime, assaults, mugging and sexual harassment are increasing, their platform provides a map showing all the recent crime spots, allowing users to plan routes, away from streets with regular crime histories. The app can also scan the road ahead whilst users are walking or exercising and will alert them if they are walking towards a danger zone.

It is the company’s belief that the development and commercialisation of their platform will change the world of personal security. The founder director reported that 1,228,500 violent crimes were reported by police in 2020 and that increased knife crime and assault remains a major issue and a real opportunity for a personal safety app.   Seeking to raise £250,000, the funds would be used to commercialise and monetise the app, with the ambition of growing its users, to trigger subscriptions and achieve a high value exit through acquisition – targeting map software such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, Uber, Deliveroo, dating apps etc. 5 expressions of investor interest were made.

DBA zoom host, Frank Guinn said, “Once again, this was a well- attended event online.  We are thoroughly looking forward, however, to moving our pitch events back to ‘in person’, albeit alternating with online events in the coming months.”

Roger Wareham, Head of Office and Partner at DBA Sponsors Saffery Champness advised, “DBA always choose an excellent, wide range of businesses to pitch.  It is also really encouraging to see the level of interest and potential appetite from the investors attending.”

DBA was formed in 2013 with the aim to bring investors and entrepreneurs together to accelerate the growth of early -stage businesses. DBA provides quality, private equity investment opportunities to local high net worth (HNW) and sophisticated investors (SI).

Four times a year companies are invited to attend an event at which they pitch their business to the savvy Angels in a Dragon’s Den type scenario. Angel investment might come from a single investor or it could be 2 or 3 Angels pooling funds together to support a company. Any investments are in the form of an equity investment and not a debtor’s loan. Investments are made across all sectors.

DBA is sponsored by Saffery Champness Accountants, Ellis Jones Solicitors and Investec Wealth and Investment. To find out more about Dorset Business Angels visit  www.dorsetbusinessangels.co.uk