Mixologist offers cocktail masterclasses as part of business startup fundraising drive
BankToTheFuture.com, the crowdfunding platform that offers entrepreneurs an alternative to high street banks for business finance, is helping a Thurso-based mixologist raise funds to open a new cocktail bar in the Scottish town.
Simon Collier, founder of MRC Bartending, intends to bring exotic and expertly blended cocktails to Thurso, increasing the options available to the people who live, visit, work and socialise in the town.
To get the outlet up and running, MRC Bartending is looking to raise £20,000 by the end of July 2013. To help reach this target, Simon has added an innovative twist to his fundraising campaign. As well as offering 12% equity in the business, he is offering smaller investors the incentive of one of two cocktail masterclasses for themselves and nine guests.
Investors pledging £100 will be able to book a session for ten people on the Group Cocktail Masterclass. This includes a welcome drink and demonstrations of how the classic cocktails are created. The ten guests will also have the opportunity to create their own cocktail – which will then go on sale at the bar for the following seven days. Investors will also receive two invites to the launch event of the new outlet. Places on the Group Cocktail Masterclass normally cost £13 per person.
Investors pledging £200 will receive ten places on the MRC Bartending Expert Masterclass, which normally cost £25 per person. As well as a welcome drink and demonstrations, this enhanced session also includes instruction from a trained mixologist on the techniques and skills used by professional bartenders. Each guest on the Expert Masterclass will also receive an invite to the launch event.
Funds raised through BankToTheFuture.com will furnish and equip the new bar to the highest professional standard, helping to create a truly unique atmosphere. Already several investors have committed funds, helping MRC Bartending achieve a significant percentage of its target investment.
The only trained mixologist in the area, Simon has 11 years’ experience in preparing cocktails, having received product training from major drinks brands such as Diageo and Maxxium. Non-alcoholic variants of each cocktail will be available at the new outlet, as will other alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and hot beverages.
Looking beyond his first outlet, Simon has plans to extend the MRC Bartending social experience to other towns and cities across the UK.
Simon Dixon, CEO and co-founder of BankToTheFuture.com, said, “We are delighted that MRC Bartending came to us to seek funding for this new venture. Simon is typical of the type of entrepreneur we set ourselves up to assist. With his enthusiasm, training and exciting business idea, we are convinced that MRC Bartending will thrive and prosper.”
Commenting on the opportunity to realise his ambition thorough BankToTheFuture.com, Simon said, “Quite simply, this makes the venture possible. High street banks will not support me. However, thanks to crowdfunding – and in particular the people at BankToTheFuture.com who helped me create and post my pitch - Thurso’s first cocktail bar is well on its way to becoming a reality.”
For more information, visit www.BankToTheFuture.com.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Ends
For editorial, contact redheadPR:
Email Emma De Maio at emma@redheadpr.co.uk
Or call 07921 160 134
BankToTheFuture.com – Backgrounder
BankToTheFuture.com, co-founded in 2012 by former Investment banker Simon Dixon and former Banker Bliss Dixon, offers start-ups and mature businesses a means to secure crowdfunding, crowdinvesting, and crowdloans.
As an investor, BankToTheFuture.com offers two investment options to buy shares and to lend money to private companies:
BankToTheFuture.com is a hybrid crowd funding platform which offers the opportunity to contribute and invest in startup and mature businesses. It comprises:
- Crowdinvesting - giving investors the opportunity to secure equity in a business in exchange for their investment
- Crowdfinance – which is most like the crowdfunding model that people currently understand where people donate money in exchange for rewards. However BF allows people to contribute and invest at the same time, or independently
- Crowdloans - allowing creditworthy businesses to borrow money for their company from the crowd, rather than a bank, paying the interest directly to investors
In the first 6 months from the launch, BankToTheFuture.com helped to secure more than £250,000 for businesses pitching for investment. In order to prove the concept BanktotheFuture.com secured its own funding on its own platform and successfully launched on that basis.
Potential investors can read a business plan, view a video from the business and can begin managing an online portfolio of investments from as little as £10.00.
BankToTheFuture.com won British Innovation of The Year 2012 and has been enthusiastically endorsed by Sir Richard Branson. The company works with businesses and investors across a wide variety of industries.
Businesses wishing to pitch for investment using BankToTheFuture.com go through a three-stage process. Each process begins with an online questionnaire outlining the business model and the investment they are looking for. Stage two offers training and risk assessment to businesses to ensure they are in the best position to pitch to investors. The third and final stage of the process sees the pitch going live on the BankToTheFuture.com website. From here, businesses can pitch online or offline to secure the investment they need.
Visitors to BankToTheFuture.com looking to invest simply register their details, log on and search for suitable available pitches.
Simon Dixon, CEO of BankToTheFuture.com says, “We are democratising investing where businesses secure funding not because banks say “yes” or only rich people say “yes”, but because every day people are deciding who gets the money. We’ve taken the best practices which have previously only been used to raise finance for large companies and stripped out the cost and turned it online, so that small and medium businesses can raise the sums they need without the upfront fees.”
Simon Dixon first qualified as an Economist with a degree in business economics from Kingston University, and went on to gain a Masters degree Economics from the University of Manchester in 2004. Simon then joined the ranks of TD Waterhouse as a stock broker, then KBC as a trader and investment banker.
Simon believes that banking can be transformed by alternative investment, educating the general public on sustainable banking and winning the political argument for banking reform.
For more information, visit www.BankToTheFuture.com
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Ends
For editorial, contact redheadPR:
Email Emma De Maio at emma@redheadpr.co.uk
Or call 07921 160 134