Sam Simpson

FounderCatalyst

FounderCatalyst is an exciting and disruptive play into the UK legal tech sector, underpinned by our superb technology platform. 

Our mission is to create all of your funding legal paperwork quickly and professionally, with no compromise on quality, at a fixed low price.  

Our aim is to make your fundraising legal journey as simple as possible, whilst managing investor engagement, putting you back in control.

My role in FounderCatalyst is to ensure that our platform and customer service is exemplary, to build industry partnerships and to own and execute our service roadmap.

Founder

Forge Technologies Ltd

Forge Technologies is a digital IT services business focusing on three technology pillars; Future workplace, Cloud optimisation and Network transformation. Forge has no legacy infrastructure that it needs to deliver returns against; no costly office space, external investors or banking covenants and unencumbered from legacy working practices that have to be turned on their head to adapt to new working practices.

Within Forge Technologies, I am responsible for all aspects of commercial and back office services.

Co-Founder and CCO

University of Bristol

Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre (QTEC) is a world-leading incubator for quantum-based technology innovators, its vision is to educate and create the quantum entrepreneurs of the future. I'm mentoring two fantastic entrepreneurs as they develop their businesses.

Visiting Fellow and Mentor

Various Companies

Providing ongoing advice and support to the founders of incredible investees

Angel Investor and Board Advisor

Roc Technologies

I co-founded the business and successfully established the project and professional services delivery functions along with all back-office functions. This included finance, HR, IT, legal and corporate governance & compliance and vendor partnerships & accreditations.

Roc was recognised by the Financial Times as the 17th fastest growing company in Europe in 2017, and was the fastest growing IT Services business in the UK in 2016 according to the Sunday Times Tech Track.

Following a strategic review, I led a corporate finance process which resulted in a leveraged MBO and the acquisition of an IT Services business. At the time Roc had more than 200 people and run rate revenues of £25m. I subsequently exited my shareholding and Directorship as a part of this process.  The exit process was recognised by Business Magazine Thames Valley as Mid-Range Deal of the Year at the Annual Thames Valley Deals Awards 2018, held at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on the 19th April 2018 and subsequently as Tech Deal of the Year 2018 at the Thames Valley Tech Awards.

Founding Director

Daisy Group PLC

During my short period of employment at Daisy I was responsible for stabilising the Professional Services elements of the business following the acquisition of 2e2's managed services business. I also developed a repeatable process for integrating acquisitions.

Director of Project Services

Consolidated five disparate Project Services team into a single consistent directorate. Responsible for more than 150 staff across multiple disciplines and a portfolio of 500+ projects with a value in excess of £200m.
I also supported the sale of the company’s business units and assets to Daisy and O2.

Accountable for all delivery operations including management of a team of 90 technical engineers, consultants, project managers and PMO staff. My team delivered in excess of £110 million of customer solutions per annum.

Operations Director, Unified Communications Business Unit

Delivery of the company’s largest and most complex programme for a high security UK government client. Recruited and led a team of more than 60 technical and project management professionals. Successfully delivered the programme to time and budget.

Technical & Delivery Director

Prime Business Solutions

Management of pre-sales technical support and post sales delivery for IT infrastructure solutions based on Microsoft and Citrix.

Server and Client Line of Business Director

Evotree Limited

Evotree was an early cloud computing and Microsoft/Citrix Integrator startup. I established and managed all technical and operational delivery capability. The company achieved revenues of £1m in the first 6 months and was subsequently integrated into Prime Business Solutions.

Co-Founder and COO

Technical development, management and support in the Education and Insurance sectors.

Various Network and IT Operations Management Roles

You're seeking that all-important funding to catapult you to the next level.

YET despite how motivated you are and how good your business idea is, you may still struggle to…

▫️ Get funding because of the advance assurance needed
▫️ Afford the production of expensive legal paperwork
▫️ Know-how to find those elusive investors.

Simplifying and accelerating the early-stage investment legal journey, FounderCatalyst is the ONLY affordable fixed price method of funding round legals for start-ups.

WHO WE HELP
Pre-incorporation to start-ups in England & Wales that want expert AND affordable help with SEIS & EIS and the legal process and documentation required to complete their funding journey. 

3 WAYS WE HELP
1. Apply for SEIS & EIS advance assurance
2. Produce all legal funding round paperwork and manage investor engagement
3. Introduce start-ups to possible sources of funding.

Enjoy the relief all of the legal paperwork you need in as little as 30 minutes and your investor engagement managed through the process.  

PROOF WE HELP
✅  Complete fixed price service per funding round just £1,495 +vat
✅  99% success rate for advance assurance
✅  Legal paperwork produced in just 30 minutes.

YOUR NEXT STEP
Haven’t yet got your funding legals sorted and you’re determined to give your start-up the best and most affordable chance of success?

Book a chat at https://calendly.com/sam-fc/meet

Thanks for viewing my profile.

Sam

"Founders seeking to raise equity finance - use this service! It’s simple to use, reliable & secure, & provides unrivalled value for money. You're in complete control of your fundraising process & timescales." Jules & Charlie, Founders, The Nue Co

FREE RESOURCES
Because we’re here to help start-ups, we offer the following for free:

✅  SEIS/EIS advance assurance submission
✅  Customised Term Sheet
✅  Template Forecast Models
✅  Founder Collaboration Agreements

Visit: foundercatalyst.com to find out more and access the freebies.

SPECIALITIES: Start-up, Startup, Start Up Funding, Funding Round, Funding, Investment, Investor, Investor Engagement, Angel Investor, SEIS, EIS

The Workshop

Responsible for designing and delivering programmes that develop leadership capability across the business.

Leadership Development Consultant

VirtualCoachWorks

As an executive coach I work alongside business leaders and their teams navigating complex change, leadership transitions and tricky relationships. Certified by the International Coaching Federation

I also provide wider business consultancy support and am currently leveraging my organisational development experience to foster a more diverse and inclusive culture within the global Scientific Python Open Source Software community.

During Covid, I started an online community called VirtualPeer for remote workers to test a business idea. For the next year I ran a series of coaching peer groups and online events on topics like ‘making a career change’, ‘looking for work’, ‘leadership’ and ‘burnout’ for them.

Director

BETA100™

A talent network connecting startups to people who want to invest their skills and expertise in exchange for equity, cash or a blend of both. 

We launched a proof of concept and brought on board 160+ users to test the platform. Unfortunately the project closed due to restrictions in funding.

Co-Founder

NatWest Group

I held several roles during my tenure at NatWest. All of them involved designing, developing and implementing solutions that enhanced individual, team and organizational performance.

Leadership & Performance Coach: This role provided me with a fantastic opportunity to work with leaders on a more personal level - helping them to deepen self awareness of their leadership brand, impact and presence, as well as on topics like increasing employee motivation, engagement and trust; managing complex stakeholder relationships; making leadership transitions; and developing clarity around vision, strategy and goal setting.

Senior Consultant | Organizational Development and Change Management:  Within the Commercial & Private Banking division, I was the HR lead on various transformation programs affecting up to 5,000 staff.  Projects included operating model reviews, change management and restructures; performance culture, diversity & inclusion.  

My last two projects were a) realigning 1000 staff to new roles across three different business areas - achieving a 96% success rate; and b) co-designing and delivering a successful Women In Leadership programme which was a finalist in the CIPD Diversity & Inclusion awards, 2016.

Organizational Development | Leadership & Performance

Interim role as the Lead for the implementation of a new capability framework, assessed existing organisational structures, designed, developed and evaluated roles in line with a new position classification model.

Organisational Development Lead

Laing O'Rourke

Provided strategic HR management support to Crownhouse Technologies, a subsidiary of Laing O'Rourke.  Key projects involved performance/talent reviews, managing restructures and TUPE consultations.

HR Business Partner

Vero Insurance New Zealand

Partnered with the Executive GM, Commercial and Personal and provided e2e strategic HR management support to his business.

IndependentHR Ltd

I provided strategic HR consultancy advice to a variety of clients, specialising in the high-tech industry.
Significant business development experience resulting in a client base of 6 key accounts in 3 months. The ECN Group (subsidiary of NZ Post), The ICEHOUSE (high-tech start up accelerator), ICONZ, NZ Lotteries Commission, Mobile Mentor Ltd, PST Software.

Services offered included designing and facilitating strategic planning workshops to help companies clarify vision, strategy and operating model. I also designed and delivered leadership development workshops specific to ‘setting objectives’, ‘giving and receiving feedback’, ‘effective communication and coaching’ and ‘managing performance’.

Director - Organisational Development | HR

NetIQ

I initially started as HR Business Partner for Marshal Software LLC in New Zealand. This Saas company specialised in software security solutions. I introduced HR policies and processes at pace and helped the company double in size within 18 months. We were voted 'New Zealand's fastest growing business in 2003' and one of the 'Best places to work'.

In 2003, Marshal Software was acquired by NetIQ, a US multi-national organisation providing IT Systems & Security Management and Web Analytics solutions, my remit expanded to include the Asia-Pacific region. I partnered with the VP of Sales, APAC and became responsible for the e2e strategic HR management across satellite offices in NZ, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

Regional HR Business Partner, Asia-Pacific

The University of Auckland

Following my Masters degree, I lectured in Stage 3 Business Ethics and Stage 2 Organisational Behaviour.

Faculty

My passion is people!  Helping, strategizing, coaching and collaborating with others is where I get my energy. 

Organizational Development and HR Change Management are areas where I have deep experience.  I'm also a certified executive coach specializing in leadership and performance.  People approach me when they want a dedicated partner who thinks strategically but is also not afraid of jumping in with sleeves rolled up. Resourceful and outcomes-focused, I'm known for bringing structure to chaos!

I also love building things from the ground up and am dedicated to bringing people together around a shared purpose. These are things I care deeply about and I've spent the last few years exploring how best to bring people from around the world together to work on shared goals and challenges.

During the pandemic I ran regular peer coaching groups for remote workers from around the world.  More recently I launched a prototype (BETA100) connecting founders with people who want to exchange their expertise for equity.  While I've since moved on from these ventures - a strong focus on creativity, collaboration and building meaningful connections is still an ethos I bring to all that I do.

For more information about me and my work, visit https://mayireland.com

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The Battle

Sam Simpson

May Ireland

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