Raising Venture Capital Finance in Europe: A Practical Guide for Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and Investors

European private equity investment reached €47 billion in 2005, up 27% from 2004. Funds raised for private equity were €72 billion, up 250% on the previous year, both figures being all time highs. Raising Venture Capital Finance in Europe provides business owners, entrepreneurs and investors alike with a step-by-step approach to exploiting this market and funding new projects effectively.

Written by Keith Arundale, an advisor and commentator on the European and US VC and private equity industry for over 20 years, the guide blends business experience with practical approaches to enable the reader to maximize the opportunities available. The book includes a series of real-life case studies from venture capitalists and entrepreneurs from around Europe, each with practical tips for successful venture capital finance raising.

With forewords from Sir Paul Judge (Chairman, Enterprise Education Trust) and Patrick Sheehan (Chairman, Venture Capital Committee, European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association) the book begins with a brief introduction to the field, including an analysis of current trends and issues in the industry, and goes on to provide a detailed framework for an objective assessment of each business opportunity. The book looks at sources of finance and private equity, shows how to write a successful business plan, details the entire investment process, and considers the tax and legal issues involved.

A particular feature of the book is that it looks at the topic from both sides - showing what the venture capitalist is looking for as well as detailing how an entrepreneur or business owner can make proposals attractive to those investors This means that the reader will be able to minimize time wasted on unnecessary activities and therefore develop investment approaches which are succinct, relevant, and give every chance of success.

Keith Arundale, MSc, ARCS, DIC, FCA, FCIM, FIoD, FInstP is a speaker, author, consultant and university lecturer in venture capital and marketing. He is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Marketer and provides business planning and finance-raising advice and support for high-growth ventures, seminars and advice for overseas and other potential investors on the European private equity and venture capital markets, training in private equity and business development and marketing advice for professional service and venture capital firms.

Keith studied Physics (BSc) and Applied Optics (MSc) at Imperial College, London and is a Past President of the Royal College of Science Association. He spent two years researching visual psychophysics at the Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital before joining Price Waterhouse and training as a chartered accountant. He remained with PricewaterhouseCoopers until 2005, having worked on assignments throughout Europe and the USA, based out of the London, Windsor and Pittsburgh offices. From 1997 to 2005 he was in charge of marketing, business development and the venture capital programme for PwC's Global Technology Industry Group in Europe.

Keith is the author of the British Venture Capital Association's Guide to Private Equity and his new book Raising Venture Capital Finance in Europe was published by Kogan Page in 2007. He is a Visiting Fellow at the ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, University of Reading responsible for the venture capital module on the new MSc course in Corporate Finance. Keith was President of the English Tech Tour in 2007 (www.techtour.com).

Keith is a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. He is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Marketors (City livery company) in the City of London. He is also a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.

www.keitharundale.com