The Money Train: 10 Things Young Businesses Need to Know about Investors - Paperback

by David Pattison (Author)

***WINNER STARTUP/SCALEUP BOOK OF THE YEAR: BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2022***

Before you get on the Money Train, here's what you need to know...

You have a great business idea but very little money. There are investors out there with lots of money looking for interesting new businesses to invest in. On the face of it, it's a match made in heaven - but beware the details of the deal you do...

You won't be dealing with inexperienced investors. The standard models that investors impose on start-ups and young companies can mean loss of control, overbearing input, disproportionate reward to the wrong shareholders, or founders being squeezed out of their own businesses. The shape of your investment agreements will drive the future success of your business and your ultimate rewards.

This book prepares you for the investment journey and helps you avoid the pitfalls. Once you choose to get on board the Money Train, it becomes a journey with a pre-determined destination. And it can be almost impossible to stop, change direction, or get off.

David Pattison has considerable experience chairing and advising companies looking to raise funds across a wide range of industries. In this book he shares what every young business needs to know about investors before they buy a ticket for the Money Train journey, meaning you have a better chance of riding up front, in control of the journey, rather than in the last passenger coach, being bounced around at high speed, uncomfortable and out of control.

Back Jacket

Before you get on the Money Train, here's what you need to know...

You have a great business idea but no money. There are investors out there with money looking for interesting new businesses. On the face of it, it's a match made in heaven, with lots of positives - but beware the negatives.

Those investment decisions will shape the future of your business. The standard models that investors impose on start-ups and young companies can mean loss of control, overbearing input, disproportionate reward to the wrong shareholders, or founders being squeezed out of their own businesses. Investment can also prop up a business artificially, building false hope and disappointment in the long term.

This book offers alternatives. It prepares you for the investment journey and helps you avoid the pitfalls. Once you are on the 'Money Train' it can be almost impossible to stop, change direction, or get off.

David Pattison has 20 years' experience chairing and advising companies looking to raise funds across a wide range of industries. In this book he shares what every founder needs to know before they buy a ticket for the Money Train. Providing a better chance that they will be driving the train rather than in the last passenger coach, being bounced around at high speed, uncomfortable and out of control

Author Biography

David Pattison left school not knowing what he wanted to do. He 'fell' into the advertising industry and made good progress becoming a main board director at the age of 29. In 1990 he started his own business with two partners that was sold and became part of the Omnicom Group. PHD is now a worldwide brand in eighty markets.

He attended Harvard Business School and lived and worked in New York building PHD USA. Before leaving PHD he launched offices in 35 markets including Moscow, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

After PHD he was asked by the founders to sell an independent digital media business, which he achieved successfully just before the world economic crisis in 2008.