I am a tech entrepreneur and CEO - AMA

[TechieGeek]

Before people assume, I am not an entrepreneur who has equity worth millions (yet :-)), I run a small, but fast-growing startup in the tech industry.

How much are you looking to raise? Why an angel round and not a traditional seed funding or series A?

I am a techie and not a finance person, so am going purely by the advice of the others at the moment

do men explain things to you?

Never happened yet! I seem to be explaining a lot of things to men all the time though.

Are you profitable yet?

Yes, but barely. Not enough for me to take a salary.

Will any of your investors be women or funds run by women?

I am still in the hunt for investors, but there are no women who have wanted to invest so far.

How do you feel about the investment and the loss of shares, etc? Is there no way of borrowing the money instead?

I feel miserable and worry about loss of control. I worry about what kind of investors will come in, and whether they will dictate how we work/run. I worry about losing my flexibility. On the other hand, excited I can finally take home a salary and perhaps go on holiday once a year.

If I don't find the right investor who I feel very confident about, I will stick to what we do, and focus on making bigger profits. Definitely in a state of flux at the moment, and some big decisions to be made..

sympathies. it's tough isn't it.

The difference between what the world sees (the Queens Awards and Press Releases and Ted Talks and the suspicously expensive lunches hosted by accountants) and the grim financial reality on the other hand.... I have one CEO who actually sleeps in the office. She could set up a meet with the Prime Minister tomorrow (or could before Brexit) but she can't dream of buying a house. It's shit.

our CEO (ex venture capital) has stuck to 100% ownership and always encourages clients to stick it out and borrow from friends and family rather than take on investors - and most of our investors are lovely!!

Absolutely @speakingwoman, the way the world sees me is also as a high achieving woman, speaking at events around the world, getting awards etc, but in reality I can't afford to send my kids to holiday club, go on holiday, go to the gym, go out with friends etc. Life comes to a standstill. However, I know it's temporary and hope I start making the money before a breakdown.

What did The Doctor whisper to Rose?

don't get me started....

I do struggle not to rant, esp. at Universties and the NHS with their salaried "entrepreneur" staff on a secure £70-£150k who ALSO want a share of my client's equity ............

I am still in the hunt for investors, but there are no women who have wanted to invest so far.

Sorry if stating the bloody obvious, but have you tapped into the women's angel investment networks?

Angel Academee*

Investing Womenn*

Female Founders Fundd*

Full list of sources of funding for female-led startups, teams and venturess* from Girl Geeks

I work as PA to the CEO of a tech business and have done for 8 years. I've seen us grow from 6 of us originally to around 120 staff with offices internationally now too so I love hearing of startups and how well you are doing. It was tough at the beginning and being one of the ones from day one you become very attached to the business and the people. We also have investors and some of those are women!

Where are you based?