Julie Meyer, Ariadne Capital
The online Dragon and technology investor on the future of the internet and why VCs need to maintain flexibility.
Julie Meyer is the founder and Chief Executive of Ariadne
Capital, an investment advisory company which works with the idea
of "entrepreneurs backing entrepreneurs". Ariadne Capital is now
valued at £14 million by 50 top entrepreneurs and business leaders,
who invested in the business idea in 2000. Julie became an early
adviser to various companies such as Espotting, sold to MIVA,
Skype, sold to Ebay and is now working with tech start-ups
Monitise, SpinVox and Zopa. As World Economic Forum Global Leader
for Tomorrow, an Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year and a
regular speaker on entrepreneurship and leadership, Julie Meyer is
able to offer expert advice on start-ups and financing their early
stages.
In this video Julie Meyer gives an insight into what an Ariadne
"bear hug" entails and gives examples of classic entrepreneurial
mistakes and what she has learnt from her many years of experience
in the business. She also identifies what she believes to be the
characteristics of the best entrepreneurs, what makes a disastrous
pitch and the need for flexibility in venture capital.
Find out why Meyer believes there is an overlap in entrepreneurs
with artists and athletes and the role of women in business. She
also underlines how the economic recession is an ideal time for a
start-up but also the importance of knowing who your banker of last
resort is.