daring capital: new operating model
we’re evolving how we operate
After six successful showcases, where we’ve invested £1.8m into 16 founders, we’re evolving how we operate.
Until now, we’ve run three showcases a year. Our process was simple:
👉Founders would apply
👉We’d shortlist them
👉The best would pitch at our events
That model has worked well, but it created a few constraints. It limited us to just three investment windows a year, and only investors who could attend those events could participate. It also meant backing several companies at once, rather than giving each the full attention they deserve.
This autumn we’re trying something new
We’ll be accepting applications on a rolling basis. That means if we’re excited about a company, we won’t wait, we’ll host a dedicated investor call just for them.
The benefits of this model:
✅ Allows us to move faster and make decisions quickly
✅ We can focus our energy on supporting one company at a time
✅ Hopefully raise more money in a shorter window
Whilst we are confident in our new model, this is just a trial, and we’ll be reviewing it closely to see how effective it is. There’s a chance we may return to our usual showcase model if it proves a better fit overall.
Working to this model also doesn’t mean everything is moving online and becoming ‘faceless’. We’re exploring additional opportunities for successful founders to meet investors face-to-face, outside of the traditional showcase format.
thinking of raising this autumn
If you’d like to be considered for investment this autumn, please apply by 10th September.
Applications after that date are still welcome, but we’ll prioritise founders who apply earlier. That gives us the best chance to get to know you and invest in time for the season.
Our next Q&A
Join us on 31st July at 10am for a live Q&A.
We’ll walk you though the application process, introduce our new model, and answer any questions you have.
Jem
and the team at Daring Capital