FINANCE: fuelling growth for scaling companies focus of new event

Facilitating access to long-term capital will be the focus of a major national event taking place in Dublin in May. The Growth Capital Summit will be held in the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin on Thursday, May 30, hosted by The Sunday Business Post.

The inaugural event is for businesses that have been through the early start-up and venture capital stages and require growth capital infusions to drive growth. “You could be an established business looking to expand your product or service in new markets, or you might want to develop a new line or buy another company,” said Sarah Murphy, managing director of Business Post Events & iQuest.

“An insight into the capital-raising process - knowing how to get in front of the right investors - can be crucial to successfully getting your business to the next level. That’s what Growth Capital Summit is about.”

The goal of the Growth Capital Summit will be to educate business owners about the available funding options and ease the process of obtaining capital, while showcasing the best opportunities for growth businesses and investors.

“The Business Post is supporting this event, because this is mission-critical to what we're about,” said Enda O’Coineen, chairman of The Sunday Business Post investor Kilcullen Kapital.

O’Coineen said attendees would have the opportunity to meet leading investment firms and growth-support organisations in one day.

“The Growth Capital Summit is a onestop shop, bringing entrepreneurs and companies looking for funding together in one room with funders, market makers such as Euronext, legal advisers and financial engineers,” he said.

High-profile speakers lined up for the Growth Capital Summit include:

• Pat McCann, chief executive at Ireland’s largest hotel group, Dalata;

• Orla O’Gorman, head of equity listing Ireland at Euronext Exchange;

• Caroline Keeling, chief executive and managing director, Keelings;

• Marcus Stuttard, head of UK primary markets and head of AIM, London Stock Exchange;

• Sandra Whelan, chief operations officer, Immersive VR Education;

• Rory Godson, founder and chief executive of Powerscourt;

• Dr John Ghent, chief executive, Sytorus;

• Mary O’Brien, co-founder and chief executive, videoDoc;

• Brendan O’Riordan, chief executive, Zutec;

• Leo Casey, head of Republic of Ireland, Business Growth Fund (BGF);

• Cathal Friel, founder and managing director, Raglan Capital;

• Dr Fergal McAleavey, senior investment director, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund;

• Drew O’Sullivan, lead equity adviser, InterTradeIreland;

• Enda O’Coineen, chairman, Kilcullen Kapital and The Sunday Business Post;

• Mark Flood, partner, Renatus Capital Partners;

• John Flahavan, managing director, E Flahavan & Sons Limited;

• Mari Hurley, chief financial officer, Premier Lotteries;

• Lotta Edling, editorial director, Bonnier News, Sweden; and

• Joe Barrett, chief operations officer, Applegreen Plc

The organisers of the inaugural Growth Capital Summit want to meet an important need in the Irish market in helping growing companies to access all available finance options to drive the next stages of their development.

Attendees will learn about fundraising practices, private equity, bank debt and alternative funding options for business growth in addition to the IPO route, the role of financial and legal advisers in the fundraising process, legal work and due diligence.

Other topics under discussion on the day will include pitching to and maintaining good relations with investors and how to go about securing Irish and EU grants and other government-funded initiatives designed to support ambitious high-growth businesses.

“The Growth Capital Summit is the first in a series of exciting additions to the existing events programme that spans a range of industries and disciplines,” said Sarah Murphy.

“The growing programme and increased range of hard-hitting industry- focused events will champion the current booming business market in Ireland.”

For more information on the Growth Capital Summit, visitcapitalsummit.ie or contact Jackie Bryan on 087-0557913 or by email:jackie.bryan@sbpevents.ie.