Talking Raising Capital with Roscoe Price Moor, Roady

Dragon’s Den.
Shark Tank.

Many readers will be familiar with these reality television shows in which fledgling entrepreneurs pitch their business start-up idea to experienced business people, seeking their investment.

In 2020 Roscoe Price-Moor stood in front of a group of potential investors and pitched his idea for an app, Roady.

Roady began in 2017 as bespoke itinerary planning business for independent international travellers.

Roscoe worked with clients to design a self-drive road trip taking in aspects of Aotearoa that appealed to independent travellers.

It was though, a labour intensive process. Taking inspiration from Pokemon Go Roscoe began thinking about a similar app style that could be used by tourists, whereby they could use the app to devise their own itinerary while adding a game element to a road trip.

Originally trained as a Physical Education teacher, Roscoe worked on his business and kept thinking about potential app development whilst continuing to work as a relief PE teacher.

Then in early 2020 along came Covid and no one was road-tripping anywhere.  Two years on Roscoe says, with hindsight, that Covid was a good thing because it forced him to consider his options and “Put the old model to bed”.

With his travel app idea still very much a concept, Roscoe signed up for a Creative HQ incubator course.

The Incubator is a 6-month hybrid programme open to startups based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington.

The Creative HQ programme allows participants time to concentrate exclusively on the development of their idea, whilst providing them with the information required to start a business alongside mentoring from experienced business people.

An invitation followed to participate in a development accelerator programme specifically for tourism at the end of which Roscoe’s idea was refined and he then pitched the concept to a group of Angel HQ investors.

“Raising capital was completely new to me.  It was certainly something Creative HQ and the mentors in the programme helped with … making me aware of the options out there …

… you really need to be confident and have a clear plan.  You really need to be able to articulate to these investors what their money is going to get them as a result of the funding…” 

The resulting funding allowed Roscoe to get Roady off the ground, employ a staffer and formally launch the business in August this year.  Free to download, Roady is now tracking at 18, 000+ downloads with more expected as the summer holiday period approaches and inbound tourism numbers increase.

Following the successful uptake in New Zealand the company is now planning expanding into the Australian market.

Learn more about the Roady journey and development plans in Wellington City Libraries’ interview with Roscoe.

If you want to know more about how to successfully seek investor funding we’ve collated some resources for you.

Online resources and articles

Callaghan Innovation has created and made available, “Capital education resources to help businesses understand the equity capital raising process in New Zealand. No matter what age or stage your company or innovation is at, these resources offer expert advice on how to raise the capital needed to build a thriving business – even in a COVID-19 impacted environment.  You can find them here

Late last year the University of Auckland published research “documenting the experiences women entrepreneurs have had when trying to raise capital has revealed the challenges they face navigating entrepreneurial ecosystems”.

Dr Janine Swail’s research Raising Capital in Aotearoa New Zealand: Insights From Women Entrepreneurs provides insights from 26 female entrepreneurs.

Business.govt.nz outlines what lenders look for if you are Applying for a Loan
“Lenders want to see good financial habits, a clear vision for the future, and a funding proposal supported by processes and a strong team. See what else they look for and how you can improve your chances of getting finance”.

Samantha Novak’s article 7 Creative Financing Options for New Businesses and Startups looks at some of the alternative, less traditional routes to raising investment to help develop your fledgling business.

Jason Yeh, Adamant Ventures, shares some of the lessons learned from over 15 years in business in How to Avoid Your Biggest Fundraising Mistake and Successfully Raise Capital

8 Things to Know Before Raising Startup Capital offers advice from business owners and lending experts to those seeking startup capital for new ventures.

Books in the WCL collection

Pitch like Hollywood : what you can learn from the high-stakes film industry / Desberg, Peter
“A clinical psychologist and writer/producer share secrets to overcoming presentation anxiety and crafting the perfect “award-winning” pitch-no matter what industry you work in! From impromptu elevator pitches to full-board presentations, sales and marketing professionals face an “audience” daily-often with make-or-break consequences. No matter what business you’re in, you can up your game substantially by incorporating elements of a classic Hollywood pitch: driving emotion, piquing curiosity, and ultimately winning over decision makers with top-notch persuasion and performance. Pitch Like Hollywood, clinical psychologist Peter Desberg and writer/producer Jeffrey Davis take you on an insiders’ tour of the entire process, from defining the fundamentals to smart strategies for overcoming stage fright (pitch panic). They also include a step-by-step guide so that you can adapt the Hollywood Pitch for your next board meeting or sales call…”– Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Backable : the surprising truth behind what makes people take a chance on you / Gupta, Suneel
“No one makes it alone. But there’s a reason why some people can get investors or bosses to believe in them while others cannot. And that reason has little to do with experience, pedigree or a polished business plan. Backable people seem to have a hidden quality that inspires others to take action. We often chalk this up to natural talent or charisma…either you have “it” or you don’t. After getting rejected by every investor he pitched, Suneel Gupta had a burning question: could “it” be learned? Drawing lessons from hundreds of the world’s biggest thinkers, Suneel discovered how to pitch new ideas in a way that has raised millions of dollars, influenced large-scale change inside massive corporations, and even convinced his 8-year old daughter to clean her room. Inside are long-held secrets from producers of Oscar-winning films, members of Congress, military leaders, culinary stars, venture capitalists, founders of unicorn-status startups, and executives at iconic companies like Lego, Method, and Pixar. Backable reveals how the key to success is not charisma, connections, or even your resume, but rather your ability to persuade others to take a chance on you. This groundbreaking book will show you how.” — Goodreads.” (Catalogue)

The entrepreneur’s guide to raising capital / Nour, David
“Ask any established business owner to identify his or her toughest challenge when just starting out, and you’ll likely get this answer: raising capital. Most aspiring entrepreneurs know far too little about the sources of money that can help start a business or fuel its growth. Where do you get capital? What are investors looking for? How do you ask for money in a way that gets results? This book answers these and many other critical questions… The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Raising Capital, designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the money-raising maze, shows how to attract financing to fund the start-up and growth phases any business moves through. It answers the most common_and the most perplexing_questions entrepreneurs have about financing a business: How do I put together a credible request for funds? How do I choose wisely from among the plethora of financial and strategic investors, consultants, investment bankers, and other intermediaries? How do I identify and avoid the risks associated with various sources of capital? How do I plan for the right kind, amount, and source of smart capital as the business evolves? How do I get the highest return on invested capital? How do I avoid the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when raising capital? This book provides real-life, pragmatic advice from entrepreneurs who have raised money from friends, family, angel investors, and banks, as well as institutional investors such as venture capitalists and private equity firms. It details the process from start to finish while spotlighting the danger spots and ways to avoid them. It will be especially useful to those who are uncomfortable making important financial decisions, and to those who are confused by all the conflicting opinions offered by advisors_both well meaning and otherwise. By showing readers the financing ropes, Nour removes a major source of stress for budding entrepreneurs and moves them closer to their dream come true: a successful business.” (Catalogue)

Funded : the entrepreneur’s guide to raising your first round / Hague, Katherine
“The venture capital world is often intimidating and hard to navigate, even for the most seasoned entrepreneurs. But it doesn’t have to be. Entrepreneurs who run effective fundraising processes don’t do it by accident. With this book, you’ll learn what it takes to successfully raise a round of funding for your company. Author Katherine Hague explains how the venture capital industry works, and walks you through each step necessary to plan, execute, and optimize your own fundraising round. Packed full of exercises, checklists, and templates, this book guides you through the process from start to finish. It’s ideal for entrepreneurs raising later rounds of capital, as well as those just starting out.
Gain an understanding of core venture capital concepts and standards
Learn how to develop and hone an investor pitch
Come away with a plan to hit the fundraising trail for your company
Develop the confidence you need to negotiate key terms in a funding deal
Understand best practices in fundraising, and learn how to avoid the top 10 fundraising mistakes” (Catalogue)

Building wealth through venture capital : a practical guide for investors and the entrepreneurs they fund / Batterson, Leonard A.
“Venture capital demystified, for both investors and entrepreneurs Building Wealth Through Venture Capital is a practical how-to guide for both sides of the table–investors and the entrepreneurs they fund.” (Catalogue)

Angel : how to invest in technology startups-timeless advice from an angel investor who turned $100,000 into $100,000,000 / Calacanis, Jason
“One of Silicon Valley’s most successful angel investors shares his rules for investing in startups. There are two ways to make money in startups: create something valuable-or invest in the people that are creating valuable things. Over the past twenty-five years, Jason Calacanis has made a fortune investing in creators, spotting and helping build and fund a number of successful technology startups-investments that have earned him tens of millions of dollars. Now, in this enlightening guide that is sure to become the bible for twenty-first century investors, Calacanis takes potential angels step-by-step through his proven method of creating massive wealth: startups… He guides you step by step through the process, revealing how leading investors evaluate new ventures, calculating the risks and rewards, and explains how the best startups leverage relationships with angel investors for the best results. Whether you’re an aspiring investor or a budding entrepreneur, Angel will inspire and educate you on all the ins of outs. Buckle up for a wild ride into the world of angel investing!” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Crowdfunding intelligence : the no-nonsense guide to raising investment funds on the Internet / Buckingham, Chris
“Crowdfunding’s time has arrived! Through the power of the Internet, it represents one of the most exhilarating ways to raise investment funds for your dream project. It enables you to get exposure in the public domain and can mean a seal of approval being given to your ideas by the masses. Developed from crowdsourcing – where people get together to generate ideas and solve problems – crowdfunding is an extension of this, only now the crowd add money (funding) to a project. It offers investment solutions to project needs in all sorts of fields, from apps to zoos. This book provides unrivalled explanations and frameworks to help any entrepreneur or business to prepare and execute a successful crowdfunding campaign and raise the capital they need. It contains expert insights and advice from the major players in the sector, including the leading crowdfunding sites, on how success can be achieved.”–Amazon website.” (Catalogue)

Last, but not least, if you are interested in tourism development this new publication from Bridget Williams Books may interest.

100% Pure Future: New Zealand Tourism Renewed
Sarah Bennett (ed).  Contributors: Dave Bamford, Susanne Becken, Hugh Logan, Rod Oram, Raewyn Peart, David Simmons, Erna Spijkerbosch, Te Ngaehe Wanikau and Tony Wheeler.
Covid-19 has had a devastating effect on New Zealand tourism, but the industry was already troubled by unchecked growth and questionable governance that has put pressure on the environment, infrastructure and communities. In this urgent collection of essays, nine writers outline their vision for sustainable tourism, the barriers to achieving it and how they can be overcome. This BWB Text is a rallying call for a genuine tourism ‘reset’ that puts the environment first and creates more meaningful exchanges between visitors and their hosts.

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Talking about a passion for pinball with Hamish Guthrey, Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe

“Ever since I was a young boy
I’ve played the silver ball.
From Soho down to Bond St *
I must have played ’em all”  

Wait! Where? Bond Street?  (*Apologies to The Who)

Yes, Wellington’s pinhead community already know there’s a new game venue in town and now word is getting out that Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe (YOPS)  has opened in Bond St in Wellington’s CBD.

Hamish Guthrey, a self-described AV integration geek, has turned a long-time passion for pinball into one of Wellington’s newest niche businesses. YOPS is both a pinball arcade and a showroom for Multimorphic machines for which Hamish holds the NZ distributorship. He is also able to help enthusiasts source and import machines produced by other companies and provides an installation and maintenance service as well.

When I dropped by in early January the windows were covered in newspaper and what appeared to be a very random selection of words – bumpers, gobble hole, draining. My first exposure to the international language of the pinball afficionado. 

Since then, the fitout has been completed, the front doors opened for business and regular monthly pinball tournaments are being hosted.

Fun fact #1
A precursor to pinball evolved in France in the late 17th century and eventually became known as bagatelle.  The game continued to evolve with the first coin-operated gaming machines being invented in the USA in the 1930s.

The day Wellington City Library visited Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe a diverse clientele popped in for a quick couple of games, and included a preschooler unable to see the table top but who seemed to know what the buttons were all for.

From design to implementation and installation Hamish has been hands-on all the way through undertaking much of the work himself with the help of likeminded friends. The result is a 21st century tech meets 1970s vibe and is welcoming to all.

Fun fact #2
In America pinball was viewed by some as a game of chance (like gambling) and was therefore banned in many cities. New York didn’t lift its ban until 1976.

Wellington City Libraries sat down with Hamish and asked what led him to make the leap from being an enthusiast to setting up a business based on his long held passion passion.

This is a two part video – part one – below – will focus on the business side of setting up a business from scratch.  Part two will look more at the pinball side of the business.

Following on from Part 1 of our talk with Hamish from Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe about how he has turned his long time passion for the game into one of Wellington’s newest niche businesses, we take a look at the long history of pinball, the art and design of the machines, and hear more from Hamish about his plans to develop his business in the months ahead.

At the end of this blog we have included a curated list of pinball related items, some of which are available in the Wellington City Libraries collection

But first some resources to help you turn a passion into a business :

It starts with passion : do what you love and love what you do / Abraham, Keith
“How to ignite your passion, live with purpose, and succeed in life and business. No matter what you want to achieve in life, the secret to doing it is passion. For people to be happy, they need to find meaning in what they do and in the roles they play in their lives, careers, and communities. When we identify the personal passions that drive us, the byproduct is focus, satisfaction, and achievement. But it’s not always easy to find our passions. In this book, Keith Abraham shows you how to ignite the passion in your life, as well as in the lives of your colleagues, employees, and associates. He includes in-depth research, easy-to-understand concepts, inspirational stories, and clear visual models to show you how to find out what’s meaningful to you and pursue it with passion and energy. In the process, Abraham shows you what you can achieve when you align your purpose, passion, and personal goals.” (Catalogue)
Also available as an e-audiobook

Passion, purpose, profit : sidestep the #hustle and build a business you love / Killackey, Fiona
“The must-have book for anyone starting a business or looking to fall in love with their business again. It’s one thing to have a business idea, or even to start a creative business. It’s quite another to scale it sustainably without increasing your financial and emotional stress. For most small business owners, what starts as something energising quickly turns into something overwhelming and energy depleting. You spend so much time in your business, it’s hard to find any time to work on your business. In this practical guide, experienced business coach and creative consultant Fiona Killackey shows you how to scale the business without scaling the stress. From validating your business idea (whatever stage in its development), mapping out your money and specifying your business goals, through to hiring staff and defining your marketing plan, Passion Purpose Profit gives you a clear understanding of where you’re going and exactly how you’ll get there. Complete with step-by-step tips and templates, as well as case studies of successful creative business owners, Passion Purpose Profit will have you empowered and excited about business again.” (Catalogue)
Also available as an e-book

Crush it! : why now is the time to cash in on your passion / Vaynerchuk, Gary
“Do you have a hobby you wish you could do all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take those passions and make a living doing what you love. In CRUSH IT! Why NOW Is The Time To Cash In On Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed in this book, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book, any reader will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, CRUSH IT! is the ultimate driver’s manual for modern business. Gary Vaynerchuk has captured attention with his pioneering, multi-faceted approach to personal branding and business. After primarily utilizing traditional advertising techniques to build his family’s local retail wine business into a national industry leader, Gary rapidly leveraged social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to promote Wine Library TV, http://tv.winelibrary.com, his video blog about wine. Gary has always had an early-to-market approach, launching Wine Library’s retail website in 1997 and Wine Library TV in February of 2006. His lessons on social media, passion, transparency, and reactionary business are not to be missed!”–Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Launch your dream : a 30-day plan for turning your passion into your profession / Partridge, Dale
“Provides a thirty-day plan for starting a new business, teaching readers how to hone their ideas, build an audience, construct an online presence, master social media, craft a brand, and create great customer experiences. — Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

If your interests extend more to pinball than business  check these other interviews featuring Hamish :

From the Pinball blog Knapp Arcade there’s New Zealand’s Amazing New Pinball Arcade – Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe.  Read it here

Listen to Hamish’s interview on Radio Active

In the Wellington City Libraries collection we have :

Pinball : a graphic history of the silver ball / Chad, Jon
“Jon Chad illustrates the little-known story of pinball – how it works and why it all matters in an age of special effects and on-screen gaming.”–Amazon.com” (Catalogue)

 

In the interview we talk about the Guns ‘n Roses game – learn more about Slash’s input into the design of the game with the article Guns N’ Roses Guitarist Slash On New ‘Not In This Lifetime’ Pinball Machine, Collaborating With Jersey Jack Pinball

Fun fact #3
There are pinball museums to be found across America, throughout Europe and in Australia

If film is more your thing you can access this doco via the Library’s Kanopy streaming site.  It’s free but you do need a library card to register.

Wizard Mode: An Autistic Teenager’s Quest to Become World Pinball Champion
2016  (Kanopy)  Library registration is required to access
Runtime : 1hr 37min
In the game of pinball, there is no greater reward than Wizard Mode – a hidden level that is only unlocked when a player completes a series of lightning-speed challenges. Robert Gagno has dedicated most of his life to mastering Wizard Mode, and is now one of the top pinball players in the world. He also happens to have autism.

Special When Lit (2009) 
What made more money than the entire American movie industry through the 50s and 60s? Pinball. Special When Lit rediscovers the lure of a lost pop icon. A product of the mechanical and electrical age, the American invention swept the world and defined cool. Now it is relegated to a nostalgic footnote deserving a better fate. Joining the fans, collectors, designers and champion players from across the globe who share a world many of us didn’t know still existed.  This documentary is available on Youtube

It’s not just Guns N’ Roses that have their own machine.  Ed Robertson from the Canadian group Bare Naked Ladies is also a pinhead and has recently had input into the design of a series of pinball machines dedicated to the group.  Read about it here
You can find BNL music on compilation albums in the Library’s music collection but for a dedicated pinball song but for a song dedicated to pinball check out Silverball on Youtube.

Last up, and it’s a bit cliched, but what’s an article about pinball without the sound track from the rock opera Tommy by The Who?  

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Talking about : Customer Relationship Management

“Everyone needs weather” says Emma Blades and she should know.

A trained meteorologist, Emma is a Customer Relationship Manager with Metservice New Zealand.

Her clients are New Zealand businesses and services who depend on MetService forecasts to schedule work and to know when to take appropriate precautions in order to mitigate risk if severe weather is pending.

New Zealand’s weather can be a challenge to many businesses and can often impact on supply chains.  For instance for horticulturalists a late frost could mean damage to fruit destined for the overseas market.  With strong winds electricity lines can be brought down causing power outages.  An extended dry period and regional water supplies are impacted.

160 years ago a series of meteorological instruments were distributed throughout New Zealand in order to record weather.

From that first step the forecasting service developed. Over time it gradually evolved into the government run NZ Meteorological Service before transitioning into the State-Owned Enterprise we know as Metservice New Zealand.

Thirty years on it remains a business with a head office in Wellington and a team of over 300 staff based in offices across New Zealand as well as in Australia, Asia and Europe.

The MetService brand encompasses public weather information provided through numerous platforms and commercial services for a range of business clients.

In New Zealand this includes transport companies and airlines, regional councils, energy and lines companies and media outlets.

Metservice’s international brand, Metraweather, provides, among a number of services, weather visualisation and data services to all major Australasian news broadcasters as well as to Sky UK and Al Jazeera.

In this video I asked Emma about her role and some of the commercial aspects of the business. Emma discusses the importance of building trust and credibility with clients and the way Covid has changed client interactions.

If you are in a role managing relationships with clients you may find some of these resources available through Wellington City Libraries helpful.

From LinkedIn learning these courses may be helpful (Accessible with WCL library membership):

Client Management and Relationships
Client relationships are the foundation of your consulting business. Whether you work for a big firm or are going solo as an independent consultant, the principles of client management are the same. It’s all about building rapport, communicating effectively, and establishing trust. In this course, Lisa Earle McLeod and Elizabeth McLeod teach you how to position yourself for success, keep communication lines open during implementation of your project, and create connections that are the foundation for lasting relationships that lead to repeat business. Plus, get tips for leveraging client relationships to sell to the entire organization

Relationships with product managers  
At a basic level, product marketing is about determining who your users are, what they need, and how to align your products with those needs. In this course, professor, speaker, and product marketing guru Jon Chang shares advanced techniques designed to help product marketers accomplish this central goal—ensuring that a product resonates with its intended audience—with finesse. Learn how to leverage different research methodologies to define your audience and match products to their needs, as well as how to create a go-to-market strategy. Plus, get tips for collaborating effectively with different stakeholders, including product managers, marketers, and other researchers.

From our book collection there are the following resources :

Think like your customer : a winning strategy to maximize sales by understanding how and why your customers buy / Stinnett, Bill
“In Think Like Your Customer Bill Stinnett draws upon more than two decades as a sales professional and consultant to the Fortune 500 to offer you a powerful new approach for connecting with clients and building enduring, highly profitable customer relationships.”–BOOK JACKET.” (Catalogue)

The virtual sales handbook : a hands-on approach to engaging customers / Kvedare, Mante
“The COVID-19 crisis has fundamentally changed the way B2B companies interact with customers, forcing companies to transition from face-to-face meetings to virtual customer interactions overnight. Even after the initial local and regional travel limitations are lifted, corporate travel is expected to be limited and it is uncertain that customers will be open to receive external partners on-site. This presents an urgent need for companies to transform towards a more virtual customer engagement model — where the first (and the most urgent) step is upskilling the commercial frontline by equipping them with the confidence, skillset and toolbox needed to effectively engage customers virtually — and hence secure existing and future revenue streams. The Virtual Sales Handbook will target Commercial Frontline people (customer-facing people such as sales representatives, commercial managers, customer relationship managers) and will have a very hands-on, concrete “how-to” approach — so the reader can apply the learnings and concepts in their customer interactions immediately. We will equip the reader with the confidence, skillset and toolbox needed to effectively engage customers virtually — making them more fit for how sales in the future will look like and hence drive their existing and future revenue streams”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)


The customer rules : the 39 essential rules for delivering sensational service / Cockerell, Lee
“Today, consumers have more choice than ever before. It’s no longer enough to simply provide a service – companies who want to stay in business must also provide impeccable service with such consistency, integrity and creativity that people who experience it will not only keep coming back for more, but recommend your business to their friends, families, and colleagues.The Customer Rules is entirely focused on one ultimate goal: to help you, no matter what your position or job title, secure the most revenue-boosting asset you could wish for: a reputation for excellent service. Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations at Disney World – a company which has redefined what a business can do for their customers – shows you how: from why you should ‘Never say no – except No Problem’ to asking yourself ‘What Would Mum Do?’.His 39 easy-to-follow rules apply to any industry and any company, large, small, public, private, online or High Street. The principles revealed in this book, tried and tested in one of the world’s happiest environments, can give you everything you need to truly connect with your customers.” (Catalogue)
(Available in e-book and hard copy formats)

Finally, if you want to learn more about New Zealand’s weather and how it impacts on us all you can place a reserve for this new publication New Zealand’s Wild Weather. Copies will shortly be available through library branches.

Feedback on this post is welcome and can be submitted via the email link on the Prosearch page.

If you need more information contact the Prosearch team at the library. We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources. All enquiries are treated in confidence.