The 2011 Business in Focus Month, was launched yesterday by Minister Andrew Barr at The Street Theatre. This year's theme is Canberra The Creative City featuring a program of events during September including awards, conferences, exhibitions and open days, forums, launches and networking. You can find more information at www.business.act.gov.au. 

As part of Business in Focus, Lighthouse is proud to be a partner in the TEDx Canberra event. To anyone lucky enough to have snagged a ticket, look out for Lighthouse CEO, Anna Pino, and Program Manager, Su Hodge. Coming up in Lighthouse's calendar of events is Investment Readiness: An Angel Investor's Perspective. This event is a 'must attend' for any entrepreneur, researcher, student or inventor who is interested in attracting external investment to their project. Lighthouse also is a partner in the September Schmooze, a Business in Focus networking event being presented at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre.

Lighthouse had a strong response to the opening of the Entrepreneur Development Fund and is pleased to announce that three applicants have received in principle approval. The program is again accepting applications. This round will close on 21 September 2011. 

The fourth round of the Brilliant Idea program of microcredit loans for ACT women closed last week and applications are being reviewed. The next round opens on 29 September 2011 with an Orientation Session at Lighthouse.

September is shaping up to be a very busy month.

Kind regards,

Anna Pino, Cindy Reese-Mitchell, Su Hodge, Lachlan Blackhall, Lyn Robbins and Lauren Mitchell

This intensive session covers what Angel Investors want to see in investment proposals and is being delivered by Capital Angels. Capital Angels is a network of professional investors who take equity positions in high-risk, high growth companies. They are not passive investors, working closely and actively with entrepreneurs and inventors to take new ideas to a global market..

Angel Investors are traditionally the first  'arm's length' investors in new businesses and focus on building the growth value in their investments to maximise the value proposition for later investors and also to maximise the return on their own investment. Who better to teach about investment readiness than the investors themselves? 

This is a great opportunity to get to talk with experienced angel investors about pitching for investments, strategies and the tools you need to assist with becoming due diligence ready.

Bookings are essential and places are filling quickly.

Click here for more information.