Web entrepreneurs who actually make money on display as SVc2UK goes to ARU
Three entrepreneurs who have mastered the trick of how to actually make money from their online ventures, including an exit to Microsoft and a business that went from concept to paying customers in just seven weeks are to pass on their experiences at Anglia Ruskin University on Friday as part of SVc2UK.
Sean Phelan founded Multimap.com, which was sold to Microsoft for an undisclosed sum in 2007 and is now part of Bing Maps, having previously built it to become one of the 10 most popular British web sites with revenues of £10m and profits of £1m.
Joel Gascoigne claims to have turned BufferApp.com from an idea into a business with paying customers in just seven weeks. The site automatically staggers the delivery of Tweets and Facebook posts so you don't overwhelm followers and friends and he has now moved out to Silicon Valley.
Suleman Sacranie dropped out of university to establish online cash and carry store, 99pwholesaler.com, registering 12,000 hits in its first two days with 50 per cent of visitors going on to spend money on the site.
The event is typical of the business training work of Anglia Ruskin, which doesn't focus purely on high tech and therefore on companies that would be seeking angel or venture capital funding.
"The purpose of this event is to give students a glimpse behind the scenes and learn first-hand from three internet entrepreneurs what it takes to set up a successful online business," said Ben Mumby-Croft, senior lecturer and deputy director of the Centre for Enterprise Development and Research (CEDAR) at Anglia Ruskin.
"Anglia Ruskin has no shortage of students aspiring to launch the next big thing online and we hope this event will give them the spark of inspiration they need to put their ideas into practice."
Titled 'How to Create a Successful Online Business', the free event runs from 5pm to 7pm on Friday 18 November will see the three entrepreneurs discuss how they built their businesses and answer questions from the audience. It is open to non-students and students with drinks and networking too of course. Visit http://groupspaces.com/SVc2AngliaRuskin/ to register.
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