A few weeks ago Rowan presented at the excellent Babraham Investment forum in Cambridge, UK. For once we were pitching for hearts and minds instead of cold hard cash for our cause. We were highlighting the need for greater participation of women entrepreneurs in high growth business, and the excellent work of the Global Astia Network.
Astia is a global business network that operates on a lean, not for profit basis. The organisation has an exceptional track record of success (see the presentation below) and one that is well worth bringing to the UK/European market. BioLauncher volunteers time to Astia cause because we regularly encounter clients that have challenges with globalising, funding or scaling their business. A global network can provide the advice and connections to achieve these goals and therefore increase business value. We also recognise that Astia promotes diversity in management teams, so it is not a women only network.
The first Doing IT Right programme and subsequent Astia Investment Forum was held in London in 2009. Helena Kyttari Djupesland, CEO of Optinose was one of our presenters. This week, Optinose secured $48.5M from New York based Avista Capital Partners, a huge success which was well deserved. The deal is also an eloquent demonstration of how European companies need to access the US capital markets.
Next week, the second annual Astia Investment Forum will be held in London. It will be an excellent opportunity to see some of the most promising women led businesses, and meet the Astia executive and advisers. Simon Walker, Chief Executive Officer, British Venture Capital Association will also make a keynote presentation. Bona fide investors can register here.
To keep in touch with the Astia’s development in the UK and keep up to date follow @astiaUK and @vosmek on Twitter of become a friend of Astia on Facebook. Alternatively get in touch with Katie Nittler (Katie@astia.org) who leads the Astia programme in the UK.
