We are entrepreneurs who love to invest in entrepreneurs who are building great businesses. Our experience and success in venture investing is vast, but what truly sets us apart is that we have started and grown our own businesses, have done it for other entrepreneurs and are doing it today with people like you. Our experience has given us a privileged insight into why people leave industry, commerce or the City and choose to start their own companies. It’s hard and we know the many and varied pitfalls. It’s not just about having a great idea and team – experience – real world experience counts for as much, if not more. We can show you how to respond to the challenges and the rewards of getting it right. And if we do not know how to help you, we certainly know someone in our Investor Group who can. This group includes hundreds of business people and entrepreneurs who have joined us over the past 10 years to invest in outstanding business people.

Prior to starting Octopus Ventures our investment team has accumulated significant experience in starting companies, growing them from a few employees to many hundreds, taken companies public, as well as bought, sold and merged companies. We have experienced what it is like to build businesses in good times as well as bad. We will be able to show you how to accurately focus resources to gain the maximum market advantage. Having that experience helps us to understand and know what support entrepreneurs need when growing great businesses as much as providing financial resources to ensure that our companies succeed.

In the past ten years, the Octopus Ventures team has invested over £38m into 35 companies and generated a realised return of 3.5x cash on cash (equivalent to 49% IRR). Across the entire portfolio (including those investments not yet realised), Octopus Ventures’ IRR is 20% (IPEVCG guidelines 31st December 2008). The typical deal size ranges from £500,000 to £2 million and the portfolio is currently in excess of 20 companies. Octopus Ventures Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority, 25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HS. Registered office: 8 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HP. Registered in England & Wales under No. 03843058

Credit Suisse provides private banking, investment banking and asset management services to clients across the world. Active in over 50 countries and employing more than 46,000 people, we remain one of the world’s premier banks.

We offer intellectual challenges, high rewards and global development potential for individuals who share an enthusiasm for partnering clients to achieve business success. There are opportunities in Private Banking, Investment Banking (including Fixed Income and Equities), Asset Management, Information Technology, Investment Banking Operations and other support functions, as well as a range of internships and placement programs.

Our training programs are designed to be best in class. Content varies among business areas, but all programs combine formal learning with on-the-job practice and personal coaching to create an environment for further development. And, our award-winning Business School encourages learning and growth throughout your career.

Most people who join us do so because of ‘the people’. We appeal to intelligent and outgoing personalities who want to work together in an atmosphere of co-operation and respect. It’s a different perspective on how a big bank should go about its business, but it works for Credit Suisse. It could work for you, too.

We welcome applications from undergraduates, postgraduates and international students.

Take a closer look at www.credit-suisse.com/careers

Businesslink.gov.uk helps your business save time and money by giving you instant access to clear, simple, and trustworthy information. It is developed in partnership with subject experts within government and relevant business-support organisations to help you comply with regulations and improve your performance.Whether you’re starting up, already running a business, or looking to grow and develop, we can help you. Click here to learn more about how Business Link can help your start-up.

Oxford Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Saïd Business School has rapidly become the focal point for entrepreneurship across Oxford University, bringing together academics, spinout- and student-entrepreneurs, for the study and practice of entrepreneurship. The Oxford Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation brings together innovators from across the world, from Silicon Valley and India, as well as the 2,000 high-tech companies based around Oxford, that form part of the innovation system centred on the School. Click here for more information on the Centre.

Linklaters is a global law firm that advices the world’s leading companies, banks and institutions on their most challenging transactions and assignments. They have 30 offices in 23 countries. There are more than 500 partners, over 2,000 lawyers and around 2,000 professionals in their business service teams. They have been widely recognized as the most entrepreneurial law firm and possess relently drive to be the very best in every facet of their work. Their mission is to far exceed what clients expect from a law firm, and deliver new levels of service, quality, insight and innovation. Click here to learn about opportunities with Linklaters.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Microsoft UK offer a range of programmes for students and start-ups including Dreamspark, BizSpark and the Imagine Cup.

Marketest is a leading online market research company for business start-ups (online surveys). We primarily work for start-up entrepreneurs and companies launching a new product or service.

Starting a business? Launching a new product or service? Test the market first! Click here and ask online for a free quotation today.

Business Boffins (www.businessboffins.com) was established in 1999 by Professor Russell Smith to provide mentoring and support to new and young businesses. The Company currently has six members of staff and is based in Little Haseley in Oxfordshire. The team has broad experience across the fields of media, technology (especially biotechnology), business and education. Business Boffins has a significant track record in the development of intellectual property via ‘high-growth’ companies, often as ‘spin-outs’ from universities including several from the University of Oxford. In addition, the team has an excellent record in the project management of high-value projects in business education and intellectual property development across the UK including many undertaken on behalf of government and government departments such as the Department of Health.

Henmans LLP is the premier law firm in Oxford, with several practice areas ranked as the leading experts in the Thames Valley by commentators such as Chambers and Legal 500. The firm has a national reputation in its specialist areas, handling commercial and personal matters for a wide range of clients both nationally and internationally. We also act for a large number of third sector organisations and insurers across the UK.

More than half of our senior lawyers are acknowledged as experts within their fields, so clients are confident of receiving the most authoritative advice available. Our belief is that the best advisers are those who thoroughly understand your concerns, so we work hard to ensure that we have a detailed appreciation of your business or personal questions, and can offer the best possible advice.

RingRing Media is an advertising company focused entirely on mobile. Our clients include Nokia, Warner Music, Skype, Zed and Flirtomatic. Alongside our media buying agency, RingRing Media recently launched the world’s first Mobile Ad Exchange connecting buyers and sellers of mobile advertising in the largest dynamic mobile market place. RingRing Exchange is currently serving over 50 million ads a day across 200 countries and filling 100% of the inventory with targeted mobile ads. The RingRing Exchange offers a global monetization solution for sellers of traffic and improves campaign performance and ROI for buyers.

Purple Frog is a full service advertising and marketing agency based in Thame Oxfordshire.

We help to alter perceptions by creating change in the way people think, by applying experienced strategic and creative thinking to brand development, strategic planning and corporate & marketing communications. We help enable clients’ businesses to grow by building brand share, creating competitive advantage and measurably increasing market awareness, understanding adoption and loyalty. We have a positive view on the world of business and marketing and always believe there are opportunities to be found to improve our clients’ businesses.

We use insights, imagination and creative freedom to look at things differently, challenge standard expectations and help clients and their brands to be the best they can be. We develop brands and campaigns across all media and ensure they are fully integrated and give a positive return on investment, both in the short and long term.

Founded in 1996, Webmart is the UK’s third largest dedicated print management company, and has a turnover in excess of £30 million. Unique software provides access to real-time market pricing information and quality scores for all our suppliers, generating sustainable, low prices for our customers. We at Webmart take our social and environmental responsibilities very seriously, offsetting our entire carbon footprint and donating half of our investment income to charity.

Based near Oxford, and with clients in London and across the UK, award-winning BOTTLE PR was established in 2003 by two senior PR professionals with strong in-house and agency experience.

As its expanding and varied client base has grown, BOTTLE PR has kept its fresh, hungry and energetic approach to business and hold true to our core values of transparency and integrity. The enthusiastic team of consultants at BOTTLE PR all have solid PR backgrounds both in-house and with leading agencies.

Thriving on word-of-mouth recommendations, in 2007 BOTTLE PR became one of industry bible PR Week’s prestigious Top 50 consultancies outside London. In April 2008 BOTTLE PR was listed as one of PR Week’s top 150 agencies in the UK.

In 2009 BOTTLE PR was listed as one of the 10 fastest growing agencies outside London and was accredited with the Consultancy Management Standard by the PRCA – the industry’s gold standard for service.

In 2007, BOTTLE PR launched BOTTLE 2.0 – its new media PR service focused on Web 2.0 and online communication.

Inside Mobile are a multi-award-winning, full-service mobile marketing agency and work with businesses such as HSBC, Reebok and Yahoo! to enhance their digital strategy through mobile.

Inside mobile offer 3 core services –

1) Strategy & Consultancy: At Inside Mobile we think beyond the channel. Our consultancy arm can help with everything from developing profitable mobile strategies through to developing new products and services.

2) Production: We have the experience to manage all types of mobile projects end to end, from the creation, deployment and management of a mobile internet site in 13 different markets, through to developing iPhone applications.

3) Media Planning & Buying: Inside Mobile partner with leading global and local partners to ensure all our solutions are tailored for each individual client requirement whether the key success metrics are ROI or brand engagement led.

Momentum is an innovative web marketing company based in Oxford, but with clients across the South East of England, Europe and the US. Being highly ranked on the major search engines is the most powerful way to generate new business online, and is rapidly overtaking traditional methods of advertising. Great web marketing seamlessly blends design and content with strong sales processes to optimise website to generate online sales. For start-up companies and SMEs creating an effective web presence is a major issue, as all too often the anticipated flood of online orders only produces a trickle. Momentum is expert at website optimisation for search engine visibility, which now forms an essential part of online marketing strategies to produce significant return on investment, and turn websites into a powerful sales generators. Momentum helps commercial and non-commercial organizations become established in their market place and move into a position of dominance. To find out more, you can apply for Momentum’s free ‘Competitor Spotlight’ report today.

Teach First harnesses the energy, enthusiasm and drive of exceptional graduates to provide leadership, motivation and, above all, inspirational teaching in challenging schools across England.

At the same time Teach First’s two-year Leadership Development Programme gives graduates the skills, experience and leadership development training to reach the top level and excel in careers in any field.

Teach First is enthusiastically supported by the government, all major political parties, all of the head teachers and teaching unions, and a host of high-profile corporate, public-sector and charity supporters.

Wenn Townsend

Founded in 1876, Wenn Townsend is one of the longest established firms of accountants in this country. Our continuity underlines the firm’s ability to adapt to meet the changing needs of our clients.

The quality service and advice we give to our clients is secured on a base of expert technical resources, particularly our highly trained and motivated personnel, using the latest information and communication technology.

Our success is derived from the high level of care and commitment we provide to our clients.