Marketing PR & Brand positioning

PR

Whilst remaining ultra-sensitive towards the current Ukraine conflict, the fact remains that a high degree of UK Press attention could be generated in association with the launch of a UK/London Office. Clearly, any such approach requires a sensitive, totally authentic and open stance. A Brand building initiative such as this will require the availability of key executive management for the purpose of possible Press and TV-related interviews. As such, a clear pre-determined PR rationale is required prior to any NewCo launch.

Branding

Is the current ‘Software’ led brand message the most appropriate one for this possible expansion? Does it drive a technical engineering message over that of a ‘creative’ tech agency that provides a full suite of services to both mature organisations and entrepreneurial enterprises? I think this requires debate and discussion aligned to whether the UK Venture could become a modified version of your existing brand.

Structure Office & Location

 As with all major international Cities, London has an abundance of high-quality Serviced Office facilities. Thought should be given to what any initial office led infrastructure should be.

1 Can a Serviced Office providing ‘Call Answering Services’ plus ‘Mail Handling’ facilities suffice at the outset?

2 Within most ‘Virtual Office’ spaces Meeting Rooms can also be utilised removing fixed costs for space that until income is flowing, might be unnecessarily costly.

3 Due to the creative essence of the business, consideration does need to be given to the office address, its appropriate location and the quality of any such facility.

Funding Possible Options

Clearly, ongoing structural discussions will yield more details in this regard. However, it should be noted that a range of UK based funding facilities are worth consideration.

CrowdFunding

A commonly understood and fast growth concept, MindStudios UK could be well placed to benefit from a significant capital raise if this is felt to be an appropriate approach. Not least, it is seen as the most cost-effective process in ‘equity’ allocation terms. In addition, it has a cheaper entry cost than many other funding methods and is far less beurocratic. The UK’s leading CrowdFunders are listed below.

Celebrity ‘Funds’

As discussed, a growing number of high-level sport and music personalities are now diversifying into Tech related ventures. Not least Roger Federer, Rory McIlroy, Serena Williams and Andy Murray, all of whom we have significant contacts with and access to.

Corporate lending -P2P

Similar to the above Crowdfunding model, P2P lenders provide more mature entities with funding at competitive rates. A low level of administration and bureaucracy is associated with this sector although it clearly creates a Debt over Equity position at the outset of the ongoing venture.

Summary Timing + Action

It is a tragic reality that major events, usually bathed in devastation, are the forces that ignite change in culture and in turn, create significant opportunities for those both brave enough and insightful enough to act. Those who understand this and make creative, positive shifts are, by definition, usually prosperous over others.

Without knowing you that well I see Mindstudios as a talented, motivated and credible company. One that has an established track record within a rapidly shifting sector, and could be ready for its next phase of growth .

My own possible involvement sits well within this sphere with many influential connections, my own creative ideas and significant commercial experience. The key here seems to be how the mechanics of such a move towards UK markets could be best executed between both parties. To this end, we can analyse my own role as and when the first stage of discussions have been undertaken.

For now, let’s utilise this paper as a starting point for further analysis but, not at the expense of dense and slow moving discussions that drag on and end up nowhere!