PHY435: Theme 2

Introduction

• We represent an Investment Fund that is acting on behalf of a Government Agency.

• We have £10M to invest in new companies that will manufacture new products in the UK, providing jobs and economic regeneration.

Our motivation

• The volume of products manufacturing in the UK has fallen for many years. This has lead to a trade balance deficit which has had a negative impact on the UK’s economy.

• The remit of our funding is to promote and stimulate UK manufacture by supporting new companies that are developing innovative products.

What are we looking for?

• We will only fund proposals for new companies that aim to manufacture a new product in the UK.

• We are open-minded regarding the nature of the company and the product. However the product should draw upon one or more of the UK’s strengths in science, technology, fashion and design.

• Products involving software are also permissible provided that they are linked to a physical product which will be manufactured in the UK.

Your task

• Your task is to develop a business case about your company that you will then use to support a 5 minute pitch to the Investment Fund Managers.

• In your pitch, you will explain the nature of the company, the product you will manufacture, and its market opportunities.

Business caseYou can use the template for a business case that we have uploaded onto the PHY453 website. This has various sections that you should use to summarize your business venture. These include:

Executive summaryVision1 Market research2 Profiling customers3 Profiling competitors4 Managing market risks5 Pricing6 Promotion and advertising7 Staff8 Premises9 Suppliers10 Equipment11 Finance

More details and notes on completing a business case can be found at https://www.gov.uk/starting-up-a-business

Your task…

• You will be looking to persuade the Investment Fund to invest money in the company. You will need to detail the level of funding you request.

• The Investment Fund’s aim is to maximize the return for the UK economy whilst minimizing risk.

Your business pitch

• You will all be allocated a 10 minute slot on Thursday 2nd May between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

• Look out for an email on the 29th April giving full details of time and place.

• You must bring 3 copies of your Business Case to the meeting, and will then present your ideas in 5 minutes to the Investment Fund Managers.

• You can use Power Point in your presentation, however this is not obligatory. You are also free to bring any other props or prototypes of your product to the meeting.

• There will then be 5 minutes available for a short discussion on your ideas.

PHY435

• Theme 2 carries 50% of the marks for PHY435.• We will mark the plan based on

– The quality of the pitch – The proposed product (innovation, market potential, benefit to the

UK).– The quality of the business plan

• We will run two ‘Open Door’ surgeries to support you in the development of your ideas:

• Dr. Buckley’s Office (23rd April, 10:00 till 12:00, and 13:00 – 15:00).

• Prof. Lidzey’s Office (26th April 10:00 till 12:00, and 13:00 – 15:00).