The Arduous Race from Fundraising to First Sales
The Arduous Race from Fundraising to First Sales
Tuesday 27 October 2026 | 08:00 – 10:45
THE SHERATON | EDINBURGH
The Arduous Race from Fundraising to First Sales
The Arduous Race from Fundraising to First Sales
Tuesday 27 October 2026 | 08:00 – 10:45
THE SHERATON | EDINBURGH
With a record amount of investment money available for new and emerging companies, Scottish innovation is in a great position to acheive success. With Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish National Investment Bank, angel syndicates, and the arrival of sovereign wealth funds, there has never been a better time for young and scale-up companies to secure funding support.
The Business Q3 DealMakers’ Breakfast in Edinburgh on Tuesday 27 October recognises the flow of capital, but we will dive deeper into the issues CEOs and founders face once they secure that first funding.
Of course, everyone wants their company to succeed. But securing funding is the starting gun for an arduous race to keep the show on the road, so you can reach commercial independence and sustainability. Many delicate matters come up when you are ‘pre-revenue’.
Our panel have all been there, has the battle scars, and will share their experiences and take questions from delegates.
The morning begins at 8:00 am with breakfast and networking. Discussion commences at 8:45 am, and the event concludes promptly at 10:45 am, allowing delegates to continue their daily business.
So please join The Business and an exceptional panel of speakers for a unique networking experience and a great breakfast at The Sheraton on Tuesday 27th October 2026.
08:00 – 08:45 Breakfast & Networking
08:45 –08:50 Welcome from the Chair, Editor of The Business, Kenny Kemp
08:50 – 09:10 M&A activity and trends Q.3 and YTD, Doug Lawson, CEO, MarktoMarket
09:15 – 10:45 Expert Panel
Expert Panel
Doug Lawson, CEO, MarktoMarket
Doug Lawson co-founded MarktoMarket, the gold standard provider of data on SME’s now used by hundreds of corporate advisory, accountancy, legal, private equity and venture capital firms. Before MarktoMarket, he spent his career in fund management after qualifying as a chartered accountant with EY and working in corporate finance. He co-founded Amati Global Investors, a Scottish-based specialist fund manager with over £1b in assets under management and exited when Mattioli Woods plc acquired a 49% stake in 2017.
Andrew Noble, CEO & General Partner, PXN Group
Andrew was a partner in Par Equity, an award-winning venture capital firm, until the merger with PXN Group at the end of 2025. Working now working with a portfolio of fast-growth businesses and with frontier technologies, including the likes of iGii, to accelerate their commercialisation plans. Andrew’s assessments of the UK funding markets are essential for mid-tier investors.
David Wither, CEO, Sofant Technologies
David is an early-stage deep-tech entrepreneur and leads the Sofant team in Edinburgh. Sofant Technologies is revolutionising mobile satellite communications on the ground, at sea or in the air. Sofant secured £6.25m in an equity funding round led by EMV Capital Partners and is now raising new capital to scale up operations. Sofant are one of Scotland’s most exciting scale-up companies with Withers at the helm.
Claus Marquordt, Co-founder, iGii
Claus, as co-founder has led iGii to become one of the biggest investments in a Scottish start-up. iGii recently announced £22.7m of new funding to accelerate its commercialisation plans, including £11.7m Series B fundraise, led by the Scottish National Investment Bank and follow-on investment from Archangel Investors and PXN Ventures. He is now a consultant helping technology companies understand the growing pains of raising capital.
Why attend
- What goes through a CEO’s mind as they prepare the monthly accounts?
- What kind of capital expenditure is required when you have a novel innovation?
- Who do you approach for genuine help?
- How do you handle these tough board discussions when cash looks like it is pouring out of the bank account?
- How do you secure that first purchase order (PO)?
- And what do banks and funders really need to know about your circumstances?
- There is more to keeping the original team on side and focused on their work. How do you compensate the founding team, and what options can you offer to keep them motivated and on plan?
Who should attend
- Advisers and funders who need to hear a founding CEO's perspective.
- Legal advisers who are involved in legal documentation for fund raising.
- Accounting advisers interested in cash flow projections and EBITDA multiples.
- Company founders looking to hear more about issues of fundraising.
- Investment professionals in the pre-revenue funding space.