Why 'B2Brand'?

Shouldn't we go find the next Google? The next Instagram? What about another Angry Birds? They're creative, they use tech, no? Well, no.

Our investments from Collider12 will be unashamedly 'B2Brand'. The startups will have some smart, creative technology that help the big brands in a big way. This is what we know and these are the startups we'll help grow.

Like others we believe in B2B, but more so we believe that what the UK does so incredibly well is creativity joined with scalable technology. The investors and brands know that the UK does this better than anyone else - we understand the people, the technology and the potential. For their part, Notion Capital's investments will typically be £1m - £2m and they're confident of deal flow. "If you are an entrepreneur setting up a B2B business in Europe there aren’t that many VCs that are active. There isn’t anyone else with the ‘laser’ focus in that area that we have,” Jos White said.

With Jos and others having 'laser' focus at Series A but you need the seed round. Rose comments, "Being creative with technology that can help Brands is what England does so well - London is the home of creativity and there are incredible opportunities here right now - we can help from the crucial early stage and beyond, so if you're a tech 'B2Brand' startup get in touch with matthew@collider12.com".

@mstafford

The Product

Collider12: Where creative tech 'B2Brand' startups, corporates brands and investors ‘collide’ together in productive collaboration to accelerate mutual learning, earning and growth.

Why?

• Corporates, Brands, VCs and Angel Investors seek “hot” “startups” to invest in
• In comparison to start-ups, Corporates see organic growth as slow and predictable but real talent is harder to retain in slow-growth environments
• Corporates invest for financial return, strategic insight, access to global innovation, an alternative to organic growth, to stem the flow of talent to start-ups and to groom acquirees
• In 2012, the UK Government supports this investment activity
• Managing the investment process yields many companies who are interested in receiving funding but few who will progress
• This “Accelerator” is a “programme” which manages this ratio by seeking the best investee companies
• Accelerators are different to funds, to corporate venture funds and corporate venture programmes in the way they package the process and standardise the offer
• To become the accelerator style ‘brand’ for creative digital B2Brand technology
• Deliver standout, high growth businesses through consistent, high quality support plus seed funding thereby growing the creative economy whilst gaining a financial return

For what kind of start-up?

• Companies working with Creativity and Technology
• Offer a B2Brand or consumer facing brand benefit
• With an innovation that can be taken up at scale to improve the brands' offering
• 2-5 founders with technical backgrounds

Collider12's basic elements:

• Mentors: support from a small number of dedicated entrepreneurs and partners who have made money in this sector
• Events: networking, brand demo days and investor days
• Time limit: intensive support is provided for a predefined period of time
• Networking: Meet customers, employees, investors and advisors
• Discipline: Founders are held to clear deliverables and deadlines by mentors
• Mediation: resolve partner issues

A Collider12 Company...

A company that, "helps their customers to grow revenue, retain clients, maintain online their reputation and manage operations more effectively" is a good goal. The companies goal should be to, "to help customers save time and make money".

If this is you and your customers are brands then apply.

A Wise VC Once Said...

“In a world where the costs to build a company and the technical barriers to enter a market are decreasing rapidly, marketing and brand strategy have become critical to building enterprise value" – Someone really important from the VC world (Rose couldn't remember who).

But Why Now?

Patou Nuytemans, EAME Chief Digital Officer at Ogilvy & Mather, who spoke at the Digital Shoreditch festival’s Brands Day said: “A prerequisite for a successful agency in the digital age is collaboration with the best technology, innovation, content, expert companies and talent in the industry - not just for the delivery of effective and creative solutions for our clients, but from the start, at the idea stage. That's why we partner with Ravensbourne, Ideas Foundation, MIPTV and now Digital Shoreditch. We couldn't be more excited to have such an incredible source of inspiration on our doorstep.”