Ammar Mirza CBE makes Richard Branson look like a timewaster. He’s been involved in establishing over 700 new businesses, as well as helping many existing ones. He’s raised millions of pounds for a broad range of organisations alongside being an angel investor in fast growing companies. He sits at the epicentre of one of the largest and most influential networks across the North of England including being the chair of Asian Business Connections. He’s a serial multi award winning entrepreneur whose accolades include being a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, he’s been awarded the CBE for his services to business and been made honorary colonel of the 101st Northumbrian regiment of the Royal Artillery.
- Ammar gives his advice on how to make the most of networking to build value driven relationships.
- He talks about the challenges faced by the Asian business community and what other entrepreneurs can learn from them, including how they are 3 or 4 times more enterprising!
- We touch on what the new Prime Minister should do to help SME businesses including encouraging more start ups, Over 50% would like to set up a business but only 35 go on to do so. There's also a lack of awareness by business owners of help that's available, like the £100m business support fund.
- Ammar explains the difference between desirability, feasibility and viability. The latter is especially important in a world where companies garner multi billion valuations without making a penny in profit.
- Many SMEs are not aware of how to make themselves 'investor ready' so Ammar talks about some of the steps you need to take to be attractive to a private equity organisation like the Beaufort Society. There are many forms of investment from grants to equity to convertible loan notes that you need to become aware of.
- Innovation, internationalisation and digital transformation all have a role to play in scaling your company - how does your current plan measure up against these factors?
- Ammar's focus is on scaling companies that are already growing at 20-30% per annum. He is working with the NHS on innovation pathways including life sciences, one of the fastest growing sectors globally.
- Finally, Ammar shares some rules for success that he's learned from experience across hundreds of companies and decades of success
If you would like to appear on Grown My Business Or Sell It, or would like Graham Rowan to appear on your podcast, please email Graham on graham@grahamrowan.com
Looking to raise capital for your business or invest the sale proceeds in some outstanding opportunities that you won't hear about from your accountant or High Street financial adviser? Take a look at the Beaufort Society, a private members club for high net worth investors around the world. With 1,000 members in 37 countries they raise millions in equity, bonds and loan notes for fast growing companies that meet their criteria and also provide access to private placements in the arbitrage markets.
Learn more at https://beaufortsociety.com/