Expara is a leading organizer of workshops, networking events and investor forums designed specifically for entrepreneurs, start-up companies and investors in the interactive and digital media industry (IDM). Expara has developed a comprehensive program of workshops, investor forums and networking events, designed to improve the business skills, business plans and presentation skills of local media companies and to help them to connect with and raise money from potential investors. The program also introduces the venture investment industry to promising media companies for potential investment, and helps to educate the investment community about investing in the media industry.

Our IDM workshops are designed for participants who want to create a scalable business – a business which can grow to a significant size. They will be especially useful for participants who are interested in seeking venture funding for their business.

These are not just courses about “how to write a business plan” – they are intensive, hands-on workshops, in which participants will develop their business ideas into an actual business plan which they will be able to present to potential venture investors.

Workshop courses

From Idea to Investment for the Media Industry
This highly successful workshop serves as an introductory course in business planning and presenting to investors for media companies. The three-day workshop gives participants an overview of the elements for success in a business plan and how to present the business plan to investors. The third day of the workshop includes an investor presentation session, where participants pitch their business plans to a panel of investors who will give them feedback.

Course Information

Schedule

Marketing and finance advanced workshop
This workshop will focus on improving the participant’s marketing and financial plans. Each topic will be covered for one full day of the two-day workshop. Both days will include investor panel sessions, where participants will present their marketing and financial plans to investors who will give them feedback. Participants will have either completed From Idea to Investment, or will submit a completed marketing and financial plan before entering this workshop. Class size will be kept small to facilitate attention to the participants’ plans. The two day workshop will be followed-up by a one-hour private consultation with each company to further improve their marketing and financial plan.

Course Information

Schedule

Business skills master class
This workshop will focus on improving the participant’s business plan, investor presentation and presentation skills. Both days will include investor panel sessions, where participants will present their business plans to investors who will give them feedback. Participants will have either completed From Idea to Investment and the Marketing and Finance advanced workshop, or will submit a completed business plan and investor presentation before entering this workshop. Class size will be kept small to facilitate attention to the participants’ plans. The two day workshop will be followed-up by a one-hour private consultation with each company to further improve their business plan and investor presentation.

Course Information

Schedule

Intensive coaching
Intensive one-on-one coaching will provide personalized attention for companies who are chosen to present at the investor forums. Each full-day session will allow presenting companies to hone their investor presentations to professional levels. Companies will meet with the facilitator one-on-one to work on elements of their business plans, financials, and investor presentations.

Investor forums
Selected participants from the workshops will be invited to present their business plans to investors at a series of Media industry investment forums, which will be held on a regular basis. The forums will be held at easily accessible venues and will include lunch for both participants and investors. Selected companies will have a chance to present their business plans to a group of investors. Investors will be drawn from the business angel and venture capital community. In addition to introducing investors to promising media companies, the investor forums will feature guest speakers who will educate investors about the opportunities for investing in the media industry and will help them to understand the special aspects of identifying and investing in media companies.