Dorset Business Angels Network Limited (DBAN) provide quality, private equity investment opportunities to local High Net Worth (HNW) and Sophisticated Investors (SI). And help early-stage businesses find equity capital (especially southern England, our local area). We do this by bringing our investors and entrepreneurs together to accelerate the growth of early-stage businesses. We are a private limited company by guarantee, funded from investment commissions. We're part of UKBAA and proud of our high profile - Sponsors and Partners.
Meet the Directors
Has been Chairman of DBAN since 2014.
He is an experienced entrepreneur, mentor, M&A specialist, investor and NED. He has started, built, grown and exited several high tech and telecoms businesses and now chairs numerous company boards. Don has an MBA from INSEAD and a top first engineering degree from Bristol University and is an ex-strategy consultant. He built his own group up to over 200 staff and £50M revenues before semi-retiring in 2011.
Don is passionate about helping others to be successful and always looks for win-win negotiations and creative deal structures.
Phone: 07971 194034
Became Vice Chair and a Director of Dorset Business Angels in 2014.
After spending the early years of his career with two “Blue-Chips”, Frank bought an ailing electronics display business in 1978 which grew quickly to become a ‘tier-one’ supplier to military and civil OEM customers. By 2005, the group had grown into 5 companies, supplying the automotive, marine, avionic, military and IT markets. After exiting the business in 2009 he became an Angel Investor, Mentor and Management Consultant.
Frank studied physics and engineering at university, he joined Rolls-Royce as a management trainee in 1964. In 1970, he moved into the FMCG industry where he held several project management positions.
Frank has spent the last 10 years helping start-up and early revenue companies refine their Business Plan and restructure their day-to-day operations, sometimes taking a full time position as interim CEO and facilitating scale up finance.
Debbie Frith joined the board in 2022 after working as DBAN's Marketing Manager for a number of years.
She is a franchisee of The Passionate PA and supports entrepreneurial business owners and directors by providing them with freelance business support. Debbie has a wealth of further experience in business management both as a multi-site senior manager in the hospitality industry and co-running her family's manufacturing and engineering firm. Debbie is also an elected ambassador for Dorset Chamber.
Debbie continues to lead operations, marketing and event management for DBA. Contact her by email.
A qualified accountant (FCCA), Stephen has a distinguished international financial and business transformation career spanning over three decades. Now as Chair/Board Adviser brings gravitas to boards of growing companies.
Has excellent funding contacts, and extensive experience evaluating investment proposals for investors, investment funds and growth investment panels.
Currently, at The FSE Group supports southern-based fast-growing scale-up companies, with equity investment from the government’s levelling up South West Investment Fund (SWIF).
Phone: 07974 768277
Email: s.royffe@btopenworld.com
Is one of the founder directors of DBAN.
He is very often the first point of contact for queries as our Managing Director. He is an experienced entrepreneur, company director, ex-PLC director – at Abbey Life and Alcatel Neopost – and was an international marketer at Pitney Bowes plc. and is a Fellow of CIM, IDM and Trustee at DCF.
Peter helped steer DBAN to win UKBAA’s best new angel network in our first year. His marketing consultancy has helped market, fund, start and grow businesses across all sectors. He is a marketing guru. He started door to door selling after university, and moved up to plc marketing director, before pitching to fund his own business.
Phone: 01305 247202
Currently a Partner at TC Group - Accountants and Tax Advisers. A fellow of the ACCA, Statutory Auditor and licensed probate practitioner with the ICAEW. James advises in the taxation of small and medium-sized family businesses and financial reporting and assurance assignments with a variety of organisations. James had an early career in the design industry before moving into finance to better understand how business works.
Passionate about strategic awareness and finance offerings for SME's James became a founder and finance director with Dorset Business Angels. James also reviews compliance matters for DBAN.
Phone: 07507 838306
Selecting Business Presentation Pitchers
The business plans introduced are from our investor network, from another Angel network, from local banks, local accountants or legal firms or advisors. Investment values may range from £50k/£250k upwards, however, this is only a guideline. Investors may usually have a portfolio of ten or more investments to maximise opportunities and manage risk, investing with others into the businesses. A lead investor may act as a sponsor, often initiating the due diligence. And although our ambitions for Dorset are big, the investments individuals make can be smaller than you think (£5-10K). Other key points include:
- Valuation and amount needed.
- Stage of business – pre or post revenues
- The market they are addressing
- What’s the problem the business is solving?
- Is there any IP?
- Is the team able to implement the plan?
- Do I know this industry/market?
- Can Angels add value post-deal?
Post event follow-up for Investors can include
- Meeting with the team on their site
- NDA and detailed business plans
- Negotiating valuation
- Agreeing investment team and amount to invest
- Due diligence
- Investment legal documents
- Completion of investment
Investment and beyond for Investors can include:
- Investor meetings, if not legal directors.
- Mentoring of the management team.
- EIS and SEIS certificates, getting your cash back.
- Reviewing reports.
- Help with raising further funding/exit.
- Give as much or as little of your time.
- Build a private investment portfolio.
- Satisfaction, enjoyment from involvement in the business
UK Business Angels Association
Dorset Business Angels Network Limited are registered members of the UK Business Angels Association UKBAA, the national trade association representing angel and early-stage investment in the UK. The membership benefits include:
- Access deal flow, regular exchange between investors and those engaged in the angel finance market
- Access to Government(s), key opinion and decision-makers
- Raising awareness and promoting angel investment
- Promoting good practice and establishing industry standards
- As a resource of information, expertise, market intelligence, key trends for both investors, entrepreneurs and their advisers.
- DBAN then passes all this both directly and via events to its members. Join now to enjoy these benefits.
Find out more on our Investors page.
Sponsors and Partners
Dorset Business Angels Network Limited has high-profile supporters we are proud to partner with, who can also help in the investment and entrepreneurial journey, they are:
- RATHBONES Incorporating Investec Wealth and Investment, specialises in helping clients navigate life’s journey through financial planning and investment management services
- TC Group leading business services firm specialising in wide a range of accountancy and tax services
- Ellis Jones Solicitors, leading independent law firm
- BCP Council's Economic Development Team are a strategic partner
Due Diligence
Proposals will have been reviewed by our screening committee.
All prospective investors can work together on this.
Tax Incentives
EIS and SEIS tax incentives may be available on investments and will be provided where possible.
Social and Networking
Angel networks are an excellent source of business networking.
Commercial Collaboration, Mentoring and Training
To assist companies raising money, investors and reduce risk, Dorset Business Angels has already initiated collaboration across a wide range of commercial and business groups including further education, the major banks, local accountancy groups and strategic partners.
Women; Investors and Entrepreneurs
Through our investment pitch events, Dorset Business Angels (DBA) helps presenters raise equity capital from our investment members. This brings our Investors and Entrepreneurs together to accelerate the growth of early-stage businesses.
High Net Worth Individual
These are Investors that are deemed to be able to look after themselves in terms of understanding investment opportunities.
Before 2005 Investors would have to register with the FSA (now the FCA) and have proven that they are suitable to receive investment offers. Not necessarily suitable in that they were reputable, but that they had experience in evaluating investments, or could afford a potential loss.
Since then Investors are able to self-certify that they are both knowledgeable and that they understand the risks involved. In doing so you are actually giving away some protection, since there will be no redress from the FCA and you will have positioned yourself as knowing what you are doing in any court case. All DBAN members are required to self-certify.
Sophisticated Investor
At least one of the following should apply:
A) You are working, or have worked in the two years before the date you self-certify, in a professional capacity in the private equity sector, or in providing finance for small and medium enterprises
B) You are currently, or have been in the two years before the date you self-certify, a director of a company with an annual turnover of at least £1 million.
C) Made two or more investments in an unlisted company, in the last two years.
D) A member of a network or syndicate of business angels and have been so for at least the last six months before the date you self-certify
So why would you self-certify?
Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 investors must "self-certify" by meeting simple criteria as "high net worth" or "sophisticated" investors. Therefore, any investor should read and sign the documentation linked below, either a High Net Worth Investor Certificate or a Sophisticated Investor Certificate, as is appropriate.
Many business angel networks and people with opportunities are only allowed to approach or discuss investment with investors who have self-certified. Often that is a condition that must be met before any information on investment opportunities are given.
You should only self-certify as a high-net worth individual if at least one of the following applies:
- You had, during the financial year immediately preceding the date you self-certify, an annual income to the value of £100,000 or more
- You held, throughout the financial year immediately preceding the date you self-certify, net assets to the value of £250,000 or more (excluding certain types of assets)
- You will also have to acknowledge that you have given up certain rights
Normally the self-certification forms have a section where you say you understand that you can receive financial promotions that may not have been approved by the FCA and that you know you can lose property/money from such investments.
Self-Certify Forms
We also wish to point out that companies or individuals seeking investment through the Dorset Business Angels Network Limited must ensure that the information presented to potential investors is neither inaccurate or misleading. They are, accordingly, similarly advised to seek guidance from someone authorised under the Act.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email or James Paget our Finance Director will help on tel: 0330 088 7111.
