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We are, first and foremost, entrepreneurs with a passion for supporting disruptive and dynamic businesses at each stage of their journey.
Novo combines extensive venture finance and management expertise to target the critical areas and challenges faced with any early stage or growth business. These include: access to capital and corporate finance support, growth engineering, strategic and operational management expertise, sales and marketing, team development and recruitment.
The senior management and venture partner team hold extensive experience across corporate finance, venture capital, management consultancy and building early stage companies from the ground up as founders.
Iek has 25 years’ experience in the investment banking industry, working in London, Singapore, New York and Los Angeles, and is the Director of Strand Ventures, a division of Strand Hanson – one of London’s most well established advisory boutiques. Iek has a extensive range of sector and transaction experience having previously worked for Silverwind Securities, Libertas Capital and various equity capital market roles including at HSBC and Merrill Lynch. His expertise spans all entry points of equity (private and public), debt and hybrid capital structures coupled with detailed insights in organisational growth and development.
Taj is a commercially focused, practical MBA; having a 25 year track record of growth, turnaround, and financing whilst operating as an executive in VC/PE environments, coupled with advisor and funding lead for multiple EIS ventures across energy, renewables, biotech and technology platforms. Taj has also led and been directly involved in trade sales and IPOs for PE owned businesses. Alongside Talon, Taj founded, co-managed and exited an award-winning multi-million pound nursery group in the West Midlands, Bright Minds Daycare, which was backed by Guinness Asset Management (EIS Fund).
Talon is an experienced VC/PE executive and entrepreneur with a focus on capital raising and implementing targeted growth strategies for early stage enterprise. Talon has raised over £50m in early stage equity finance and has 15 years’ VC/PE experience, coupled with hands-on strategic and operational venture development expertise. Prior to co-founding Novo, Talon worked at Mercia Fund Management as Head of Sales & IR, being responsible for the launch and investor-side operations of all EIS funds. After the successful exit of Bright Minds, Taj and Talon further created a training provider group (organic and acquisition) which sits in the portfolio.
Joe brings over a decade of experience in strategic leadership within the FE sector. In 2019, Joe won a silver award as National Business Person of the Year at the SME Business Awards at Wembley Stadium and won Business Person of the Year at the Blackmore Vale Awards on the south coast. He sits as a secondary school governor with a focus on careers, on the board of WESPA (World Elite Sports Performance Academy), delivering world-class performance training to young athletes, along with various NED roles within the FE sector.
Combining FTSE100 financial services experience and years working for a leading venture development consultancy, Will is well versed in the art of stakeholder communication and harbours a thorough appreciation of the requirements and rationale behind investor decision making.
Operating primarily on the founder side of the fundraising process, Will has assisted over 30 early stage ventures (ranging from pre-seed to Series C) with their respective funding rounds and supported numerous more regarding their commercial strategy and investor readiness. Furthermore, Will has built an extensive network of UK and international HNW and institutional investors, working across venture transactions from £100k up to £10m. This combined experience and network ensure Will is perfectly positioned to support Novo’s clients in the role of Venture Director.
Will comments “It is too often we see founders and startups being advised by individuals that haven’t been through the process themselves so I’m excited to join a firm that prides itself on a strong entrepreneurial backbone.”
“Operating on the apex of innovation and funding, I’m looking forwards to playing a pivotal role in the facilitation of capital for some of the West Midlands most exciting companies”.
Georgia is a skilled Marketing Manager with over five years’ experience in various B2B and B2C sectors including early years, technology, accountancy, legal and retail. She holds a 2:1 in BA Advertising and Digital Marketing; her expertise consists of strategic marketing plans, social media management, Google Ads and paid social campaigns, content creation and website optimisation. Georgia implements innovative marketing and branding strategies that increase sales, drive brand awareness, and solidify customer relationships across both the Group and our venture clients.
Simon joined Novo to support our accounts team across the portfolio and is currently completing his Level 4 Apprenticeship in Finance & Accounting with Novo. Simon currently holds an AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting.
Kayla is ambitious and goal oriented. With her passion for helping others and her determination to make a difference, Kayla has joined Novo to help inspire individuals and get them on to the right track into reaching their ultimate goals. Kayla is currently undertaking a level 4 sales executive lead apprenticeship and wishes to continuously further her skills and experience alongside the team.
Novo Ventures Limited. Company No: 09924740. Registered address: 16-17 Newhall Hill, Birmingham, B1 3JH
