Steven Bartlett, host of the popular Diary Of A CEO podcast, has launched a £100million fund to back European entrepreneurs.
The Dragon's Den star - who Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce is bringing to Aberdeen in October - has brought together a group of successful founders, each of whom has put an average £1million into the Flight Story Fund, with a view to lending their experience and expertise to those who win investment.
The fund has a broad remit to write cheques over the next two years of between £1million and £10million to fast-growth companies that “have the potential to become Europe’s next unicorn”, Bartlett said.
Unicorn is the term used for a privately held, often technology-based, start-up valued at more than $1billion.
He would not be drawn on the names of the backers, only that they include Alan Barratt, from Grenade, the nutrition business recently sold to Mondelez, and Christian Angermayer, a biotechnology investor.
Mr Bartlett said: “A modern founder isn’t looking to take money from suits.
"They want to work with entrepreneurs that have walked the path they’re intending to walk. I probably could have raised a fund in 5% of the time, but staying true to this thesis to bring on board Europe’s best founders to back us, it has been much harder — but it’s much more fun.”
Come see Steven Bartlett in Aberdeen
If you want to hear the inspirational story of how Steven Bartlett $500million social media marketing company from his bedroom, you can see him at the Music Hall in Aberdeen this October.
The entrepreneur is headlining the Chamber's Ultimate Masterclass Festival (UMF) and limited spaces remain for this event, which is being delivered in partnership with main sponsor Fifth Ring and VIP reception sponsors ZLX.
Click here to book tickets now.