A new initiative bringing together experienced business leaders has launched in Milton Keynes with a mission to support entrepreneurs by combining mentorship, real-world experience and investment.
The Investment Room is a collective of experienced operators who have built and led businesses themselves and are now working together to support entrepreneurs across MK postcodes.
Designed to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the initiative aims to provide something many early-stage businesses lack – direct access to experienced people who understand the realities of building and scaling companies.
Unlike traditional angel investment networks, The Investment Room focuses not only on funding but also on mentorship and active involvement. The entrepreneurs behind the initiative are motivated not just by financial return, but by the opportunity to share their experience and support others building businesses in the region.
The initiative aims to create a collaborative environment where entrepreneurs can access not just capital, but the insight, guidance and trusted networks that often determine whether businesses succeed or fail.
The launch comes at a time when new businesses face significant challenges. Research shows that around 60% of UK startups fail within their first five years, often due to lack of guidance, experience and access to trusted networks. However, studies suggest that around 70% of businesses receiving mentorship survive beyond that point, highlighting the role experienced support can play in helping companies grow sustainably.
Among them is Shalom Lloyd MBE, founder of Naturally Tiwa Skincare and Emerging Market Quality Trials, who has built internationally recognised businesses rooted in ethical supply chains and social impact.
Charles Mong, a Cambridge-educated engineer, brings experience from investment banking at UBS, Lehman Brothers and Nomura, alongside international business operations across African markets.
Joanna Fay, co-founder of consultancy firm FAYTH, has more than 20 years’ experience leading transformation and growth programmes across the private, public and non-profit sectors in highly regulated industries. She specialises in helping large organisations navigate complex and large-scale change to achieve their objectives and smaller businesses launch and scale their operations such as
Olney-based business FAYTH Health.
The initiative has been brought together by Milton Keynes business leader Colin Gleghorn, who believes the region has enormous entrepreneurial potential but that many entrepreneurs lack access to the kind of practical, experience-led support that can help businesses grow. Together, the group brings decades of combined experience building, scaling and advising businesses.
“Milton Keynes is full of ambition and innovation,” Colin said. “But many entrepreneurs are trying to build businesses largely on their own. What we want to provide is a room full of experienced people who have faced those challenges before and can help others navigate them.”
The initiative will now invite entrepreneurs from across the MK postcode area to submit an Expression of Interest via The Investment Room website.
Selected applicants will then be invited to present their businesses at a Pitch Day event in Milton Keynes later this summer, where investors will explore opportunities to support ventures with strong potential.
Further details of the event will be announced in the coming months. Entrepreneurs based in the MK postcode area who are interested in learning more about The Investment Room can submit an Expression of Interest through the website.
