Dear All,

On Friday Harjeet and Kulveer showed us the trials and tribulations of building a start-up, from living off cheap Ramen noodles to getting offers from Live Media, Google and Facebook. Inspirational stuff, great to see over 100 of you there to share it.

This week takes a visit to the Israeli scene to examine why it is so entrepreneurially hot at the moment, the final deadline to get investment through the venture fund, and your chance to join us in running Oxford Entrepreneurs.

Don't miss out,
Alasdair

Contents

1. The Pioneers of Today: Israeli Business & Entrepreneurship
2. Oxford Entrepreneurs Influential 100 Meal
3. Join the Oxford Entrepreneurs Team!
4. Hot Enternships
5. Said Business School Venture Fund - DEADLINE CLOSE
6. cmypitch.com - Do you require funding for your venture?
7. Warwick Entrepreneurs Young Entrepreneurs Forum
8. Speedfunding
9. Mobile Games Innovation Challenge
10. Venturefest 2008 - Supporting enterprise and innovation
11. Odds and Ends

1. The Pioneers of Today: Israeli Business & Entrepreneurship

Oxford Investment Club, ManSoc, OUIFS, Oxford Entrepreneurs, E&M Society and the Oxford Israeli Cultural Society present:
Thursday May 1st (Week 2) 8 - 10pm, Said Business School

"Israel is like a bit of Silicon Valley." (Bill Gates)

While 60 years ago the challenge for Israel was to build a state from scratch, today it is an economic one and its pioneers are its entrepreneurs, scientists and businesspeople. With venture capital firms investment growing by 8.5% ($1.76 billion, in 2007), Israel has the second highest number of start-ups outside Silicon Valley and is considered a vital "incubator" for new technology companies to form before they are taken over by larger conglomerates.

This talk by two of Israel's most successful businessmen will look at their own secrets of success and address what entrepreneurs in other countries may learn from the examples of their Israeli counterparts.

Dr. Abe Peled set up and launched Israel's first Internet Service Provider, after which he became Chairman and CEO of NDS Group. Its clients include DirecTV, BSkyB, CanalSat and SkyItalia, and during his tenure, he has expanded the company 15-fold bringing it to its current position of holding 35% of the global market for digital pay-TV.

Zeev Holtzman is the Founder and Chairman of Giza Venture Capital. Giza was founded in 1992 and is one of the pioneer funds in Israel. It manages over $500 million, currently raising its 5th fund.

Chairperson: Colin Green was Commercial Director and Company Secretary of BT Group plc, Chairman of BT Spain and Senior Board member of ECI Telecom, one of Israeli's largest Hi-Tech global companies. He is currently Chairman of the Hermes Group Pension Scheme, Green Aid, Shalom Nursery Ltd, a Trustee of Nightingale House and a voluntary adviser for the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Sign Up: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=11712694581

2. Oxford Entrepreneurs Influential 100 Meal

Thursday 5th June (7th Week), Said Business School

We are bringing together the 100 most influential, active and inspiring people in the student entrepreneurship scene for the ultimate networking meal.

If you feel you deserve an invite email 100@oxfordentrepreneurs.co.uk explaining why you need to be there.

3. Join the Oxford Entrepreneurs Team!

Want to join an exciting and dynamic team to help build and improve Europe’s largest student enterprise society? We are currently recruiting for the positions of:

President (full time sabbatical, starting August 2008) Marketing Officer (student position)
SIFE Co-Coordinator (student position)
Relationships Manager (student position)

For full details please visit http://groupspaces.com/oxfordentrepreneurs/emails/1223

4. Hot Enternships

<strong>NGO Post - Short term part time</strong> NGOPost.org is a website for sharing information and ideas about social welfare initiatives, and facilitating change through collective effort. They are looking for an Entern to help them programme some interesting sections for the site.
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/108?h=1

<strong>Graduate Recruitment Advertising Sales for GroupSpaces.com?</strong>
Starting this Trinity Term, GroupSpaces is looking for 1-2 Sales Managers to manage advertising client relationships with Heads of Graduate Recruitment at blue chip companies such as McKinsey, JPMorgan, Clifford Chance and Sankaty Advisors. Having recently raised 6 figures of venture funding, and been covered in Cherwell, The Oxford Times and Tornado Insider, they're looking for dynamic people who can handle the pace! As well as great CV points they're offering generous commission - click here for more information, and to apply: http://groupspaces.com/team/item/6037

<strong>Mint Digital - Web concept visionary - full time position</strong> We are looking for an exceptional person to help develop new web hits. You'll be working closely with Creative Director, Andy Bell, imagining ideas for new social websites and cross-platform events. You'll probably be; very bright, a great writer, passionate about the web, and a thinker of big strange thoughts. £22-28k pa.
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/105

<strong>CrewDates LTD - Voluntary Internship</strong> Intern to work alongside co-founders in sales/marketing role to help take the Crew Dating tradition to the world
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/104

<strong>Monica Vinader Ltd / 2-6 months</strong> Online strategy and PR for a high growth luxury brand. Monica Vinader Ltd has produced luxurious but accessible designer jewellery collections since 2002. They are looking for an intern to help us develop and implement an online strategy. This would include; product uploads, site look and design, email marketing, online marketing including search and targetted partnerships, long terms online strategy, offline PR.
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/106

<strong>Enternship: Entern with niggle.co.uk - exciting new tech start-up (starting May/June 08 - flexible)</strong>
The Company: Niggle aims to be the UK's consumer feedback brand. We believe in customer feedback as a driver of business improvement and customer satisfaction, and we think no company - large or small - can afford not to have a brilliant customer feedback process. This is a truly ground-floor opportunity for a Business Development Executive with a proper early-stage start-up. We are just launching our service now, but we have big ambitions! You would be the third person in this company, and would work closely with the two co-founders, who each have over 10 years of previous entrepreneurial and corporate experience. You would take the lead on making deals and sales to large and small companies, and also help us work out where our most promising market opportunities lie and help us refine our marketing & sales strategy.
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/103

<strong>Up (The Up Group) - Full-time/part-time</strong> Up is a new concept in the employment sector; it is a network of high-growth companies and high-flyers. We believe that current models, focused purely on the transactional process of recruitment, are ineffective and unsustainable; they typically fail to add value to both companies and individuals. Instead, Up offers a unique service: a hybrid of head-hunting and talent pipeline development, career coaching, on- and off-line social networking and market intelligence. Help build this start-up.
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/101

<strong>Snagsta.com (commences mid-April)</strong> This is great opportunity for an Entern who wants experience in launching a brand new dotcom start-up. Our company is called Snagsta and our site helps its users find things Google can't (see http://snagsta.com and our blog http://blog.snagsta.com for more details)
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/102

<strong>Calling PHP Developers: enternship with UnLtdWorld</strong> UnLtdWorld is an online platform that enables social entrepreneurs, socially-minded people and socially-driven organisations to share, shape and use social insight to generate greater positive impact in the real world. They are looking to hire a PHP developer. Over experience, we're looking for skills, and for someone who is passionate about using their expertise to make a difference, and wants to be part of a start-up and an entrepreneurial journey.
http://www.enternships.com/enternships/98

5. Said Business School Venture Fund - DEADLINE CLOSE

This fund provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to access seed capital for their new ventures, and is open to SBS members and alumni, plus University members of Oxford Entrepreneurs. It is managed by a committee of MBA students and University advisers, which reviews potential investments and administers the fund's portfolio. Typically, investments are between £50,000 and £100,000.

Deadline for submissions is 5pm GMT, Wednesday, 30th April 2008, entries received after this deadline will not be considered. Full details about the fund can be found at http://www.science-enterprise.ox.ac.uk/html/SBSVentureFund.asp

Please register interest with Sarah.Christou@sbs.ox.ac.uk

6. cmypitch.com - Do you require funding for your venture?

Introducing cmypitch.com Launching in the UK in June 2008, www.cmypitch.com is a new online community for entrepreneurs.

[Using video, entrepreneurs can connect with sources of funding, advice, opportunities and service providers. For example, entrepreneurs can upload a 2 minute video pitch seeking investment – think Dragons' Den (R) meets YouTube(R).]

We are currently seeking entrepreneurs who need funding and who want to pitch using video.

Offer to fellow entrepreneurs

A free video pitch to be hosted on our website for 5 months. This will include a free professionally produced video. (Limited availability)

To register for this offer please contact us on info@cmypitch.com . Alternatively please register your interest in our site www.cmypitch.com

7. Warwick Entrepreneurs Young Entrepreneurs Forum

Warwick will be bringing together 100 young people from Warwick Entrepreneurs and other UK entrepreneur societies. The theme of the event is "Transforming (business) ideas into viable realities" and will include a forum for discussion of entrepreneurial issues, 8 speakers, networking opportunities including dinner.

Speakers Include:
Tracy Playle - http://www.picklejarcommunications.com, James Steward - http://www.cyclepods.co.uk, James Eder - http://www.studentbeans.com, John Ndege -http://www.scribblesheet.co.uk, Sajaad Jetha - http://www.thesmartytrain.com, Christian Lane - http://www.foldio.co.uk (as seen on the Dragons Den), Matt McNeill - http://www.etickets.to http://www.sign-up.to, Fraser Doherty - http://www.superjam.co.uk, and a BBC film crew…

This FREE Day will be followed by a networking dinner (£25) with some of the speakers.

Check out: http://www.warwickentrepreneurs.com/yef.html

8. Speedfunding

“I presented to as many willing angels in 1 hour as would normally have managed in 1 month, with a lot less effort, a lot faster feedback and no telephone tag. Can't recommend it highly enough. Up the Angels.”

1st May, Angels Den, London, £150 to enter, more details here http://www.angelsden.co.uk/Applicants/appone.aspx?tag=11

9. Mobile Games Innovation Challenge

3..2..1..GO! Mobile Games Innovation Challenge is your chance to rock the gaming world. Amaze the mobile game community with a stunning concept with qualities that tie in mobile features in a new and unique way. If your entry qualifies, you have an opportunity to get your concept published.

http://www.developer.n-gage.com/innovation/

10. Venturefest 2008 - Supporting enterprise and innovation

30 June & 1 July 2008
Unipart House, Cowley, Oxford
www.venturefest.com

For 10 years now Venturefest has been providing you with all you need to help you grow your business – and it’s free of charge and open to all. Venturefest invites you to come and meet the experts in business planning and development, raising finance, intellectual property, HR, company law, marketing and a whole range of other resources and support services to help you grow your enterprise.

Check out their website for more information: www.venturefest.com

11. Odds and Ends

“Limited Life Experiences + Overgeneralization = Advice” - Paul Buchheit, Founder, FriendFeed; Creator, Gmail

“If someone says: ‘That’s impossible;’ You should understand it as: ‘According to my very limited experience and narrow understanding of reality, that’s very unlikely.’ ” - Paul Buchheit, Founder, FriendFeed; Creator, Gmail

** Oxford Entrepreneurs is sponsored by Deutsche Bank, www.FreePrintManagement.com, Purple Media, Business Link and the Oxford Science Enterprise Centre **