Sometimes called “Access to Finance”, the function of the investment readiness process is to provide the business with independent critique and feedback on its plans and business case, its markets and financials, and to help the business improve its chances of being able to access finance, whether debt or equity or a combination of different funding options.

It also helps the business really understand the differences between debt and equity funders and what they are looking for, the importance of recruiting the right board and Chair, and to hone their presentations.

Lack of or limited access to funding is one of the most challenging barriers to growth for small companies.  For women in business, a tendency to under-capitalisation can also have a real impact on sustainability and timescales.

Many propositions fail to secure finance because they try to engage funders with a business plan or model that has clear deficiencies, frequently in the marketing and sales forecasts that underpin the financials, poor pitches, presentation skills and unconvincing explanations, and a lack of credibility and realistic understanding on the part of the founder.

YTKO specialises in helping businesses ensure that the most critical part of all business plans – proving there is a real need for the product or service, and validating where the best market opportunities are – means that financial projections are realistic.

Unless this part of the plan is strong, there is no point in trying to raise finance, which takes substantial time and effort even with great propositions. Private investors receive thousands of funding applications, most of which don’t get read past the executive summary. Our services help your business to attract interest, debt funding, and investments at good valuations.