Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) and Dorset Business Angels (DBA) are working together to help student and graduate businesses in the creative sector become investment-ready by connecting AUB’s Innovation Studio with DBA’s network of angel investors.
Mehjabeen Patrick, chief finance and operating officer at AUB, is driving the collaboration and recently joined DBA as a member and investor.
Ms Patrick said: “Bringing AUB’s credibility and Dorset Business Angels’ credibility together is exactly what this region needs.
“There’s real talent here. We just need to help it get investment-ready.”
Peter Eales, managing director of DBA, said: “There’s a huge amount of energy and ambition in the businesses coming through this region, that’s never been the issue.
“The challenge has always been getting them investor-ready.”
The collaboration aims to create an investor readiness pathway, including masterclasses, pitch reviews and mock pitching sessions to prepare founders before they meet investors.
AUB’s Innovation Studio will lead the university’s engagement with DBA, and a first joint event is already being planned.