An introduction to NISP CONNECT

1
An introduction toNISP CONNECT

• Programmes for 2008
• 15th November 2007

2
Background

• Investment Belfast
• Me Steve Orr
• CONNECT
• NISP CONNECT

3
The desire

• Innovation-led knowledge economy
• Increase GDP by increasing productivity by
  increasing innovation
• Lisbon Agenda
• BCC
• DETI

4
The strategies

• Develop Tradeable clusters
• FDI
• Indigenous eco-system
• Public sector / private sector responsibilities

5
Indigenous Current Status

• Lowest venture capital
• 0.6
• The percentage of UKs total early stage venture
  capital invested in Northern Ireland (average
  2005-2006) a region representing 2.9 of the
  UK population
• 12th out of 12
• Northern Irelands UK regional ranking of the
  number of private equity backed companies per
  1,000 VAT registered business (2005, 2006)
• Deal flow is too low
• Private sector not engaged

6
Problems for indigenous ventures

• No money
• No relationships
• Weak management teams
• Do not know what they do not know
• Competing against teams from California

7
Our Regions untapped resources

• Experienced entrepreneurs
• Domain experts
• IP law
• Corporate law
• Marketing Branding
• Research community
• Resources outside of the region
• Goodwill

8
The solution

• Leverage the considerable goodwill
• We all give a little time for free to help
  strengthen our most promising ventures
• Channeled into four year round back-bone
  programmes
• Virtual organisation of 500-1000 people
• Independent
• Systematic

9
NISP CONNECT - The Model
10
NISPs role

• NISP identified as a natural hub for increased
  activity
• Actions in the Northern Ireland Regional
  Innovation Strategic Action Plan (RISAP)
• 3rd Generation Science Park

11
NISP CONNECT - The programmes

• Enzyme / Springboard group mentoring process
• Innovanet
• Entrepreneur Series (10) educate on key issues
  and engage service providers in the process
• Evening series (6)
• 85K stimulate ideas into action
• Halo Business angel network

12
Principals

• Culture, Trust, and Integration as drivers
• We do not pick the winners
• Augment and compliment, not compete
• Bottom up Focus on entrepreneurs at their speed,
  not ours
• Failure is a positive metric
• Community over Company Companies are built by
  teams
• Return on Involvement
• Jim Collins Flywheel. Results in years, not
  months
• Free to entrepreneurs

13
Entrepreneur Workshop Series 2008

• Jan The Venture Capital Process
• Feb Licensing what do you need to know?
• Mar IP Overview
• Apr Marketing, branding and sales
• May Government grants overview
• Jun Commercialising innovation
• Sept Governance
• Oct Building your IP portfolio
• Nov Preparing for investment
• Dec Mergers and acquisitions

14
Evening Series Events 2008

• Jan The Next Big Thing
• Mar Technology corporation story
• May Open
• July Summer networking party
• Sept MIT Enterprise Forum model
• Nov Pitchfest

15
Progress to Date

• NISP Board approval in principal
• University liaison committee approval UUTech
  QUBIS
• Sample Service providers strong support
• Trade association support
• Experienced entrepreneur support
• High quantity of quality ventures needing support

16
Funding strategy

• Year 1 100 public sector funding
• Innovanet Enzyme BCC
• Halo Intertrade, halo
• 85K Inter Reg
• Year 5 50 public 50 private sector funding
• Year 10 - ?

17
Opportunities for Service Providers

• Entrepreneur workshops
• Targeted audience
• Open access
• Positioning
• Evening Series Sponsorship
• Time Directing and governing programmes
• Host workshops
• Return on involvement
• Relationships with promising ventures

18
What do we need from you

• Volunteer
• Advice
• Panels
• Committees
• Speakers
• Sponsorship
• Refer
• EIRs
• Capital Providers
• Promising ventures
• Your networks
• In region
• US, UK, Ireland

19
Next Steps

• Confirming funding partners
• Pilot phase Now to March 08
• Global CONNECT Presentation Dec 07
• Launch April 1st 2008

20
NISP CONNECT - Vision

• Purpose
• A technology and business accelerator dedicated
  to the rapid and sustained growth of the most
  promising ventures that commercialise
  intellectual property with a vested interested in
  Northern Ireland
• Envisioned future
• Within 5 years we match the UK and Ireland
  regional average for VC invested per worker
• Within 10 years Northern Ireland is recognised as
  the best region in the UK or Ireland to start a
  venture
• Within 50 years Northern Ireland is recognised as
  the Palo Alto of Europe