Investor Ready Program
‘The riskiest thing we can do is just maintain the status quo’
—Disney CEO Bob Iger
Say you’ve spent 10-15 years building your business and reached the point where you want A. to get bigger and/or B. to bring in an investor or C. to sell your company. What do you do next?
INVESTOR READY is for anyone who’s reached that point or wants to start preparing for it:
- Finding an equity partner to invest in your business
- Negotiating a merger with another company like yours
- Selling your business to a bigger company
- Bringing in a junior partner or partners
- Readying your business to carry on after your exit
None of these things just happen. You have to work towards them. In this program, we’ll show you how.
INVESTOR READY is delivered in two parts:
1. WORKSHOPS. A series of 3 intensive two-day workshops where you will learn key methods and strategies and, working in groups, take part in a detailed case study showing how to put these methods and strategies into practice.
2. PRIVATE COACHING. A personal business planning program where you will develop an Investor Ready Plan for your company through private one-on-one coaching with Ian Murray and David Court.
You can choose to undertake the workshops only, or the workshops and private coaching together.
WORKSHOP CURRICULUM
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Exit strategies
We explore what it takes to ready a business for the exit of its founder. The idea is to build a business that can continue without you.
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Understanding investors
Investors vary in their appetite for risk, time horizons and expectations of return on investment. They also have different strategic needs. Understanding the differences is key.
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Business structures
You need a structure that gives the right incentives to the people who own it and work for it – and the people who might want to buy it. Do you have the right structure?
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Reverse financial modelling
If you know where you’re heading, you can construct a financial plan in reverse. We teach this innovative planning method.
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Growth strategies
Growth is about focus, not ‘more of the same’. We lay out four proven growth strategies.
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Sales and marketing
Sales and marketing are the twin revenue engines of your business. They need to be well matched and highly tuned.
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Resourcing, capital expenditure, performance management
What resources do you need to build your business and how can you get the most from them?
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Business planning and modelling
Planning’s a waste of time, right? Not if you want to sell your business. The plan is the narrative – the story you’re going to sell.
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KPIs, reporting, and business intelligence systems
Managers need data to guide their decisions. So do investors. We help you design a business intelligence system for your business.
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The sale process
How to prepare for your investor/buyer’s due diligence process.
WORKSHOP DELIVERY
- The workshops will be delivered in 3 two-day sessions, running over a Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm each day. Workshops will be delivered alternately in Melbourne and Sydney.
- Participants will work in groups on a detailed case study which will be the ‘stalking horse’ for the course.
Workshop leader – Ian Murray
Ian is the founder of 113 Partners, Australia’s premier creative industries advisory firm. An experienced, hands-on media expert, he has held senior executive roles in both public and private businesses including COO of Brand New Media and Freehand Productions. Ian advises many of Australia’s top television production, broadcast, music, design, advertising, media and entertainment companies, as well as working directly with several government agencies. His focus is helping clients achieve domestic and international growth, financial stability, sustainable resourcing, and streamlined operations. Ian has a passion for all things digital.
Workshop Convenor – Abigail Tabone
Abi is a producer at Midwinter Films, where she is co-producing The Butterfly Tree, which will premiere at Melbourne International Film Festival in 2017. She previously worked as a producer at The Project Factory for clients including Channel 7, Sherlock: The Network, Home and Away and NITV. Abi’s career has spanned theatre and events as well as film and TV for clients including The Wolverine, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Outta Here, Handa Opera’s Carmen on Sydney Harbour, Where the Wild Things Are and Gods of Egypt. Abi holds a Masters in Screen Arts & Business from the Australian Film Television & Radio School.
Guest Lecturer – David Court
David was previously Head of Screen Business at the Australian Film Television & Radio School, where he led the highly regarded Masters of Screen Arts & Business program. He has been involved in the financing of more than a dozen film and television productions including Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom, Dean Cavell’s The Wiggles Movie and Andrew Horne’s The Animated Leunig. As author of Film Assistance: Future Options (Allen & Unwin, 1986), he was policy architect of the Film Finance Corporation established by the Australian Government in 1988. David holds a PhD from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University.
Workshop dates:
- To be advised
Workshop venues:
- In Melbourne: To be advised
- In Sydney: To be advised
PRIVATE COACHING
In part 2, we switch mode from classroom discussion and case studies to private coaching.
We recognise that every company is different. You may face a particular challenge – or opportunity – that can’t be dealt with in the classroom. Or your plans may have commercially sensitive elements that require confidential treatment.
Part 2 is therefore designed to help you develop a tailored Investor Ready Plan for your company through a series of private, one-on-one coaching sessions.
Our coaches have specific expertise in the content industries and understand the complexities of intellectual property, the financing challenges, how these influence business structure, and the different valuation methodologies.
You can choose from 3 levels of coaching, depending on the complexity of your business — Level 1: 2 x 3 hours. Level 2: 4 x 3 hours. Level 3: 6 x 3 hours.
Coaching sessions are delivered one-on-one, and may be conducted in person or online. Sessions may be scheduled in parallel with the workshop program or after its conclusion. Coaching includes assistance with financial modeling and detailed written feedback on your Investor Ready Plan.
Coaches
PRICES
- To be advised