FIG Process

FIG works with young entrepreneurs, specifically undergraduates and graduates of the past five years, to see them crystallise their ideas, support them through the development of their business plans and introduce them to suitable investors.

stage one

The FIG website offers young entrepreneurs unique tools to build their business plans. The FIG website enables anyone to complete a thorough plan, whatever their experience or education, as well as providing links to a wealth of carefully selected web resources, safe in the knowledge that the only parties with access to their concepts are trusted individuals.

stage two


FIG offers the young entrepreneurs an approachable and trustworthy resource that removes financial barriers associated with developing their ideas, receiving professional advice and ultimately having their ideas seen by appropriate investors. At FIG we think the only obstacles young entrepreneurs should face in realising their goals should be the quality of their idea and the people involved.

We do not charge the entrepreneur any money for our services; instead we retain five percent equity in the businesses that find investment through FIG. We also work with strategic partners who provide professional advice for free or at a heavily discounted rate.

stage three
 

FIG works closely with FIG Strategic Partners and Sponsors to give FIG Seeds access to the best possible professional advice and required resources to get their businesses off the ground.

The FIG Seeds get access to professionals they would otherwise not have had and exclusive offers designed with them in mind. FIG Strategic Partners provide a guaranteed high level of service, feedback on FIG Seed concepts and trusted quotes for the FIG Seeds to build their plans on. This helps to give our network of investors, the FIGureheads, the confidence they look for when selecting investment opportunities.

stage four 

FIG directors work closely with FIG Seeds to make sure their plans are carefully researched and their presentations are well prepared. FIG Strategic Partners work in tandem with the FIG directors to begin investors' due diligence process. Strategic Partners are able verify and validate FIG Seed proposals.

FIG is focused on delivering the best possible service. To do this we have to realise our limitations, this does mean that some FIG Seeds may not make it all the way to the Pitch To Investors events. If we feel we do not have the expertise to progress their concepts further we will not leave them floundering, we make sure that if we can't help them that we point them in the direction of other suitable sources of support.

stage five  

FIGureheads are trusted high net worth individuals who are active investors and proven entrepreneurs. FIGureheads have access to the FIG website to browse and precisely filter investment opportunities that are of interest to them with a view to investing themselves or to offer their expertise as part of a management team.

FIG also allows for passive investment as a vehicle to enable rapid investment in the form of “FIG Seed Funds”. FIG Seed Funds are managed by external wealth management companies. The wealth management companies have raised funds (minimum of £500,000) and the managers of the fund select investment opportunities. The caveat being that they may only invest alongside a FIGurehead. This gives added value to the FIGurehead membership and provides the young entrepreneurs with another trusted point of contact.

stage six 

Potential FIG Seed Outcomes

FIG Seed Stage 1 - The entrepreneur completed their business plan using FIG's tools
FIG Seed Stage 2 - The FIG Seed was invited to a FIG workshop
FIG Seed Stage 3 - FIG directors worked with the FIG Seed to assist in the development of their business plan
FIG Seed Final Stage - The FIG Seed completed the FIG Pitch preparation process
Growing FIG Seed - The FIG Seed company successfully found the resources they needed to get their company growing.

Through FIG they may have found one or more of the following;
 - An improved management team
 - Investment from one or more FIGureheads
 - A FIG Seed Fund backed investment