Getting Financed: Kymatas Experience

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Getting Financed Kymatas Experience

• Brendan Hyland
• 14th September 1998

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Presentation Structure

• Overview of Kymata
• Five ingredients
• Why bother?
• What next?

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Overview of Kymata

• Founded Southampton Feb. 98
• Objective design manufacture of
  opto-electronic devices and systems for DWDM
  telecoms applications
• IP from Glasgow Southampton Universities
• 1st round 1m by 3i in August
• 2nd round Q1/Q2 99

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Five Ingredients

• Team
• Business idea
• Momentum
• Persistence
• Luck

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Team Prima donnas dream but teams are backed
anon.

• Be realistic
• Understand propensity for risk
• Build the plan round existing skill
• Tap contacts for recommendations
• Include partners in key decisions
• Survive the Elevator Test

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The Idea

• What is the product/service?
• Who will buy it? Why from you?
• Can it be sold at a profit?
• What stops everyone making the same product?
• What is the next product..and the nextand the
  next?

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Momentum

• Pushpushpush
• nothing happens by itself
• Juggle lots of balls
• VCs, customers, employees, family, bank
• Match decision-making to pace of change
• dont be afraid of making mistakes
• Influencing skills set the pace
• Dont let it stall.be prepared to compromise

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Persistence

• Prepare for a marathon
• leave energy for the finish
• Negotiate win-wins
• Be the exception accepted ways can be changed

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Luck

• is as important as skill
• Make your own luck
• spot opportunities.and be decisive
• Help others to be lucky
• Dont mistake luck for skill

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Why Bother?

• Create something new exciting
• give back to society
• Choose your own work colleagues
• If youre lucky enough.get rich

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What Next?

• Do something dont just talk about it

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