UpStartNetwork which has so far held First Tuesday-style events for students of Oxford and Bristol universities, brings together students with investors and other start-ups, with the aim of promoting young entrepreneurs and encouraging more internet and high-tech initiatives.
UpStartNetwork is sponsored by OUT-LAW.COM. As well as a five-figure sponsorship deal, OUT-LAW will run legal advice clinics at workshops for students starting up in business.
Jon Fell of OUT-LAW.COM said:
“More and more young companies are starting up in the world of e-commerce without properly considering the potential legal pitfalls.
“Whilst it’s always great to see innovative new ventures achieving success in the new economy, all too often many of them fail as a result of not being properly prepared before launching.
“UpStartNetwork is a tremendous facility for young entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future. Some of the best business ideas come from university undergraduates who have the vision but not quite the knowledge or experience to facilitate them. Here they have access to industry leaders and a host of other advisers and will benefit hugely from their advice.
“Mentoring has long since been the key to successful entrepreneurs but with a new age of entrepreneurs now in place thanks to e-commerce, someone had to take the lead in guiding future talent and UpStartNetwork has taken the initiative by expanding its network.”
UpStart’s first event will be held on 24th October in Bristol.
To date, the organisation has hosted three entrepreneur forums which have been attended by over 200 people. One of the six ex-students who founded the project, Jeremy Sugden, expects the numbers attending the events to increase significantly. He said:
“The response has been phenomenal. We seem to have struck a chord amongst the growing number of students keen to start up their own businesses and have no doubt that our experiences in Oxford and Bristol will be mirrored throughout the UK.
“We will hold three forums at the ten locations each year together with a follow up workshop three weeks after each. The workshops will be run in-house featuring outside speakers from industry, venture capitalists and law firms.
“It’s great to have the backing of such an established law firm as Masons and its OUT-LAW.COM service will undoubtedly be of great use to the upstart companies as they begin trading on the internet.
“Attendees will have access to the best legal advice in relation to several key issues which face them in the early days of their venture such as formation of the company, shareholders agreements, advertising and sponsorship agreements and applications for registration to various bodies.
“These forums will prove vital for young companies of the new economy and I would urge more people with a start-up in mind to come along to the events and make the most of the advice on offer."