Media and resources
With her vast expertise and experience, Rachel is a highly sought-after media commentator.
Podcasts
High growth leadership podcast 2024
Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Podcast 2024
High growth leadership podcast
ScaleUp Institute – ScaleUp stories
Articles
31 May 2024
Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade
King’s Award-winning SnapDragon Monitoring founder explains how to protect your products from counterfeits
31 October 2023
SnapDragon’s Rachel Jones on helping inventors and toy firms fight the fakes
5 May 2023
Letter: Remember, counterfeiting is not a victimless crime
12 April 2021
SnapDragon’s Rachel Jones on helping inventors and toy firms fight the fakes
16 June 2020
A week in the life of… Rachel Jones, founder of SnapDragon Monitoring
May 2021
Conquering Counterfeits | Three Stories with Rachel Jones, Founder & CEO of SnapDragon Monitoring
Funding tips
I am often asked for advice about equity investment, what to look for, how to go about it etc etc.
While it is sometimes, absolutely, the route to go down, it is often far too early a consideration for the business and the operating model.
The most important thing any business can do is to generate sales.
Sales, sales, sales – give you the lifeblood of income/cash – AND demonstrate you have customers willing to PAY for what you are selling.
Other things to consider, in no particular order are:
Go for startup awards and competitions—these opportunities can provide valuable funding and visibility.
Odd though it may seem, follow your heart on philanthropic ventures which will give you a boost
doing good for someone else and introduce you to new networks, which will come good in many
ways.
Explore debt options such as loans, overdrafts and invoice financing.
The most important thing any business can do is to generate sales.
Sales, sales, sales – give you the lifeblood of income/cash – AND demonstrate you have customers willing to PAY for what you are selling.
Other things to consider, in no particular order are:
Explore debt options such as loans, overdrafts and invoice financing.
Consider personal financing options, can you max out your credit card? Try and avoid taking out a second mortgage, and/or giving personal guarantees, please.
Look into government grants, local enterprise company grants and, if you’re in Europe, IP grants which are designed to support innovative projects.
Offer your services to others, such as establishing yourself as a part-time/fractional CMO/CFO/whatever your field is, to create additional revenue streams.
Defer certain expenses, where you can, such as salaries, through debt or convertible notes that can be settled later when you hit sales targets/investment being achieved or a successful exit.
Join an accelerator program for early support and guidance. They are many and various and often industry/sector specific.
Consider bartering with other organisations for mutual benefit. Can you work with someone who’s good at PR to raise your profile, in exchange for what you can deliver for them?
Consider crowdfunding to engage supporters and secure early capital. But do your research thoroughly first and talk to people who have been successful.
Helpful resources
Being passionate about intellectual property, both registering and protecting, some of my favourite, recommended resources are below:
General links
If you’re looking for an IP Attorney, for trademarks, design rights or patents, please get in touch. I have worked with, and recommend, many around the world and, through SnapDragon, have access to an even wider pool. We always – always – only recommend people we have worked with, or whom we have met in person, not merely ‘members of networks’.
The Intellectual Property Office (www.ipo.gov.uk) offers a myriad of information about protecting your brand.
The IPO team also offers a cost-effective service around whether your trademark is likely to be eligible for registration through the Right Start scheme. [If you’re registering marks yourself, this may be a worthwhile consideration].
And, of course, fantastic search tools.
The British Library’s Business and IP Centre is also another fabulous resource – online and in person.
The EUIPO’s Ideas Powered for Business website is particularly relevant for those in Europe – notably around European funding to help protect your IP – but it also features a wealth of useful articles and training courses.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO, offers a global brand database to search trademarks, geographical indications and more.
Brand protection resources
For help and guidance around removing fakes from marketplaces, the SnapDragon blog has some excellent articles.
Protecting your brand on social media
Removing a fake from Facebook
Removing a fake from Amazon
ACID [AntiCopying in Design] – the UK’s Leading Membership & Campaigning Organisation for Design & Intellectual Property
Funding
There are many excellent people to follow who comment, regularly, on funding opportunities – too many to name without offending those I forget.
A few useful sites below – but these are honestly only a very small sample of what’s out there.
Being an NED at Equity Gap gives me a particular interest in Angel groups … those working in the UK with a particular interest in female founders/cofounders are listed here [site created by Considered Capital] https://bit.ly/4glKtFN
And a map of major Angel investment networks globally https://bit.ly/3P3jFOF
Impact investors across different sectors and geographies, compiled by the University of Oxford https://investors.impact12.com
UK-based social investors and funds compiled by Good Finance UK https://www.goodfinance.org.uk/investors-advisors
There are so many VC/PE investor lists I’m not going to compete with what Google, or ChatGBT will give you!
All I will say is whatever your business, approaching investors who have an interest in your space is more sensible than a blanket approach.
Do your research, identify those who look relevant, reach out … investors are looking for deals as much as you are looking for investment so an initial conversation should not be hard to organise IF your Elevator Pitch can grab them in an email.
Work with Rachel Jones and SnapDragon
If you’re ready to take the next step in protecting your brand, securing investment, or seeking expert guidance on business leadership, connect with Rachel today.