Entrepreneurs look to TV for funding
It's a cash-starved world out there and it's gonna get worse. But, if you're in the business of taking risks, look no further...
Dotcom entrepreneurs Peter and Anne Jenkins took one of the most novel routes to realising their web-based dreams this week and the gamble paid off in the form of £125,000.
Both packed in their steady accountancy jobs a year ago – Peter was group finance director for Regis Business Centre and Anne director of ATC – to concentrate on their e-learning business venture, Demyst.com.
But, after a year of hitting brick walls, Peter phoned Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
‘We needed £100,000 to get us to the next stage to build our first set of modules,’ explained Peter. ‘We figured it would be a good idea to go on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? We’re good at answering quizzes. We do our local pub quiz every Tuesday.’
As for it being a sure-fire way of getting that all-important funding?’It’s a pretty risky way of raising cash. The chances of getting on the programme are slim. Then you have to answer a question to be one of the ten contenders. And then it’s fastest finger first,’ says Peter.
And after all that you have to know what type of creature a fieldfare is. Is it A) a bat B) a bird C) a butterfly or D) a beetle?
Thankfully, the Jenkins from Twickenham plumped correctly for B) thereby earning their 15 Tarrant-tinged minutes of fame.