A programme powered by the leading Business Angel Network in Norfolk and Suffolk, designed to prepare early-stage, innovative companies for angel investment.

Mentoring Opportunities on the Halo Progamme

Delivered by industry experts, this course goes into detail about every aspect founders need to understand and prepare before approaching angel investors.

Mentors form an important part of the programme. Each company is allocated two mentors who commit to supporting the founder throughout the duration of the programme.

We have a mentor pool of extremely experienced mentors who are a part of the ACG angel investor network either as investors or experienced company founders. We welcome applications to join the mentor pool from individuals with experience and skills that they feel would be valuable to share with a new founder.

In order to provide a comprehensive support network for our founders we need a mix of skills and experience in our mentor pool including:

- starting & scaling a business

- taking a business to successful exit

- operations

- business strategy

- financial

- legal

- marketing

- pitching to investors

- evaluating businesses for investment

If you have significant experience in any of these areas (or any other area that you feel will be valuable for a founder) and are interested in supporting local start-ups as part of the Halo Programme then we would love to hear from you. Please contact us using the button below and include an overview of your experience and what areas you feel you could support on.

Apply here

The Halo Programme 2025

In partnership with Suffolk County Council, Connected Innovation and the British Business Bank, Anglia Capital Group are excited to be bringing The Halo Programme to Suffolk in January 2025.

Founders looking to take part in the programme, please apply via our webpage.

Future cohorts are planned across East Anglia later in 2025.

Download The Mentor Prospectus

Programme Agenda

Over the course of 10 weeks Founders will attend a series of workshops which cover all aspects of investment readiness.

Welcome Session - A chance to meet your peers, the programme co-ordinators, mentors and
partners.

Marketing - Understanding your marketplace and go to market strategy.

Financial Forecasts & Tax - Financial forecasts and modelling. Understanding tax reliefs for Angel Investors..

Legal Documents Demystified - Understand the purpose of and differences between the various
shareholder documents used by businesses.

Intellectual Property - What constitutes IP? What needs to be protected and what value do investors put on IP?

HR & Building the Right Team - Why is it so important to have the right team from the start? Simple tactics to avoid catastrophe. Employee share schemes and options for recruiting the right person when you don't have the budget.

Valuing Your Business - Understanding how the value of your business affects the % shareholding
that an investor will take. An overview of valuation methodologies and why valuing a start-up
business is so difficult. How do you value your business today?

With follow-up 1:1 valuation sessions.

ACG Pitching Event - Complimentary invitation to attend a real Anglia Capital Group pitching event and get a behind the scenes look at the questions that investors ask and the discussions they have. Meet ACG members and the pitching companies.

Pitch Practice Workshop - Each participant will give a pitch using what they have learnt.
Everyone will have the opportunity to provide feedback to their peers. This session will be attended by a real Angel Investor who will provide feedback.

With follow-up 1:1 practice and feedback sessions.

Finale Showcase - This session will comprise of a live pitching event. Participants will use
everything they have learned over the course to deliver a pitch to a panel of Angel Investors.

"Startup success is all about successful execution. I have experience of many startups and, while no two are exactly the same, the themes that underpin success are definitely similar even if the emphasis may vary between startups.

East Anglia has traditionally been weak in providing support for budding entrepreneurs because of its geography and rural nature. It’s difficult to access advice face to face. The range of startups in East Anglia has a much broader base than in many other areas of the UK – which often tend to focus on particular niches. The Halo programme addresses that with direct access to a range of successful people in the region who understand startups at a granular level, have a wide experience of different business models, markets, and technologies, and who are keen to pass on their knowledge.

There is nothing more exciting than creating a successful startup and whatever happens, you will gain a huge range of transferable skills, expertise, and experience. Enjoy the journey."

Richard Barber, ACG Investor Member & Halo Programme Mentor

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.