This page is for entrepreneurs and anyone supporting them who are at university – this includes undergraduates, graduates, academics, alumni and growth managers supporting people with ideas.
You can engage with Dorset Business Angels for funding, to access expertise from our investors across a wide variety of sectors, and to understand investors’ essential due diligence requirements you should address. We have nearly a decade and a half of experience linking entrepreneurs to investors.
This page will guide you through resources needed in preparation for businesses funding – to achieve our minimum investment standard. Universities vary in the way they offer support to their emerging spinouts who are looking for help with their business – and we respect that.
Below we have outlined how you can engage effectively with DBA to raise funding, notwithstanding and perhaps complementing the existing resources universities currently offer.
What is needed...
To be considered for a possible investment from DBA members, your company must meet the following minimum investor readiness criteria.
- A draft shareholders agreement should be in place, with minority protects and NOT part of an Investment Agreement. A separate draft Investment Agreement with warranties is also needed.
- No investment protection clauses exist that may breach HMRC’s SEIS/EIS rules. For example, statements that may be taken as ‘capital protection’ or ‘reduction in risk’, by containing anti-dilution guarantees.
- The provision of a clear CAP table. (Who owns what % of the Company).
- Ensure founder and key employee contracts are in place(ideally)
- Ensure there is no ambiguity over ownership or control
- All IP to be used by the company must be in full and unfettered control of the company. For example any required Patents must be fully assigned to the company.
- Provide detailed 3-year financial forecasts showing B/S and detailed P/L account.
- Describe how any raised funding will be deployed in scaling up the business.
Before submitting, you should have:
- An “investor-ready” pitch deck
- A detailed business plan
- A 3-year financial model
- A one-page summary (in our DBA format)
Some common reasons why funding is withheld.
- EIS/SEIS-ineligible terms – usually unintentionally introduced.
- University IP or governance delays
- Missing or incomplete documentation
- Financial projections that are unrealistic.
Available support...
If you are not yet investment-ready:
- Engage with your university’s commercial dept or growth finance team.
- Explore structured tools such as the SETsquared toolkit.
- Knowledge and Expertise partnerships shared from Cambridge Enterprise.
- Speak to DBA, or visit our Entrepreneur Resources page for early-stage guidance before formal submission.
- REAL-TIME ACCOUNTING Finance support for entrepreneurs from TC-Group.
- Engage with DBA, our directors, our ambassadors, our events, and see our news and blog.
For the university, there are two key things:
- Ensure IP ownership is clearly defined.
- Show details of any licensing terms that are to be included.
