Tim Barnes at University College London made me aware of the availability of summer internships for London companies.  I wrote a Statement of Work, interviewed a couple of students and have settled on a super young guy Sha Gasimov.  Sha will be working for us for several weeks, undertaking a technical and market Investment Landscape Analysis in energy harvesting and small scale power generation.  In Qi3, we’ve undertaken over 150 “TMEs” or Technology Market Evaluations based upon a methodology I developed nearly 20 years ago at Oxford Instruments.  Sha will be following this research methodology and effectively providing us with an extension of our existing database, focused on emerging technologies and businesses in this field.

Or maybe that’s what I was wishing for after interviewing four prospective financial advisors today.

Unfortunately, tax is complicated.  It can drive investment behaviour and deal structure – although hopefully not investment decision-making.  But it needs sharp minds, rigorous option analysis and a shared entrepreneurial spirit to provide suitable financial advice to an owner-manager-investor.  These qualities were absent in spades from today’s grey-suited brigade.