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<\/p>\nCreated: Oct 09, 2026 08:00 AM (Updated: Oct 09, 2026 09:15 AM)<\/p>\n
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Connecting platform: Simon Glass, chief executive of Qodeo<\/p>\n
Accessing seed capital is one of the greatest hurdles on the way to converting a great idea into a business.<\/p>\n
An event in Bermuda next month aims to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and international contacts to succeed in early-stage fundraising.<\/p>\n
The Bermuda Democratising Venture Global Summit will feature high-profile speakers from overseas and a series of sessions providing practical advice on raising capital.<\/p>\n
The event, which will take place at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on November 6, will connect Bermudian entrepreneurs, investors, family offices, advisers and policymakers, with themes including artificial intelligence, cyber, fintech, insurtech, black entrepreneurship, older entrepreneurship and family businesses.<\/p>\n
The event has been organised by Qodeo, an international platform that conects more than 20,000 entrepreneurs and over 7,400 investors, including venture capital and private equity firms.<\/p>\n
Qodeo says its platform \u201cmarks the end of the needle-in-a-haystack approach to finding investment\u201d.<\/p>\n
The platform uses qualitative data and algorithms to match entrepreneurs with potential funders. It is subscription-based at $99 per year.<\/p>\n
Next month\u2019s event, planned to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week, is backed by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, entrepreneurial incubator Ignite, and several local sponsors and partners, including Bermuda Commercial Bank, KPMG, Bacardi, BermudAir and the Bermuda Tourism Authority.<\/p>\n
Simon Glass, chief executive and director of Qodeo, told The Royal Gazette: \u201cThe aim is to upskill the local community and broaden access to international networks. It\u2019s not a pitching competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cEntrepreneurs need to find investment and investors are looking for a deal flow. Qodeo provides a platform for them to connect.<\/p>\n
\u201cEntrepreneurs typically make a lot of mistakes in their fundraising journeys, which impinge on their ability to even start the right journey. We want to help them understand how to avoid those common mistakes and improve their chances.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said many people believed venture capital flowed only to large centres of innovation, such as London, New York, Berlin, Tel Aviv, and Singapore. They were mistaken, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout 80 per cent of the opportunities for VCs are regional,\u201d he said. Qodeo\u2019s mission was to break down barriers between diverse entrepreneurs and capital, he added.<\/p>\n
Qodeo, which was founded in 2021, has staged similar events elsewhere, including Edinburgh, Durham, North Carolina, and the House of Lords at London\u2019s Palace of Westminster.<\/p>\n
Mr Glass said ten to 12 international speakers will be participating in the event, with details to be released shortly.<\/p>\n
The day-long event will start with a panel discussion providing insights from leading global venture and private equity investors, entrepreneurs, and academics.<\/p>\n
The sessions will include sessions on:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Improving your pitch \u2014 what investors want<\/p>\n
\u2022 Building angel investor and family office networks<\/p>\n
\u2022 Black entrepreneurs<\/p>\n
\u2022 Women entrepreneurs<\/p>\n
\u2022 Older entrepreneurs (55 plus)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sectors \u2014 including agri, tech, telco, insurtech, and cyber<\/p>\n
\u2022 Family business<\/p>\n
\u2022 Hospitality and tourism<\/p>\n
\u2022 Intrapreneurship; education, health and fitness<\/p>\n
The event will include a \u201cmini fundraising myth-busting workshop\u201d, as well as a segment on AI.<\/p>\n
The RBYC venue can accommodate up to 120 people for next month\u2019s event. Standard entry costs $399, while entrepreneurs can be approved for a discounted $249 rate.<\/p>\n