An online talent matching website that uses the technology behind dating websites has scooped £300,000 worth of investment capital from FTSE 250 outsourcer Mitie Group PLC.
The cash was awarded to ProFinda following a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitching event organised by Mitie in front of an audience of 70 leading business figures and three judges.
The talent-matching technology beat off strong competition from four other entrepreneurs at the event held on Monday 28th May on the rooftop of the Southbank National Theatre.
ProFinda was founded by Roger Gorman, a 37 year old digital innovation expert, after he left his job at Draftcb in 2011 to pursue his dream of launching ProFinda to solve a problem he faced every day in his job and running his own business.
It is an internal talent matching system that helps mid-large companies to mobilise their workforces to help them win more and larger business, retain top talent, motivate staff, and access powerful data.
One bidder sought capital for a start-up using digital innovation to conduct water testing for Legionnaires disease. Another team was starting a business that helps retailers to reduce clothing returns through complex mathematical algorithms.
Also presented was a device to retro-fit office lighting and save energy, as well as an innovative training platform to help educate the UK’s diabetic population.
Oli Barrett, co-founder of the Clean and Cool Mission, which helps UK entrepreneurs to meet investors in the US, was compere for the proceedings.
Judging the entrepreneurs was Ruby McGregor Smith CBE, the Chief Executive of Mitie, Peter Ibbetson, Chairman for Small Business banking at RBS and Suzanne Baxter, Group Finance Director of Mitie.
Mitie has supported over 100 start-up business to grow in its 25 year history, and created a £10m fund for new start-ups.
After investing nearly half that money, Mitie launched Mitie Millions to encourage entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas at Monday’s event.
Mitie Millions winner, Roger Gorman, said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to have secured an investment for ProFinda, which will help my team to see our big aspirations become reality. I'm addicted to creating and implementing truly meaningful services and products.
“I have first-hand experience with the challenges and benefits surrounding start-ups and taking ideas from inception to successful delivery and beyond. To do this with the support of a FTSE 250 company behind us is an amazing opportunity.”
Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, Chief Executive of Mitie Group PLC, said:
“I’d like to congratulate all of the entrepreneurs who pitched their brilliant ideas at Mitie Millions, which took a huge amount of courage and hard work.
“At Mitie we are always looking for ways to help our clients operate in a more efficient way and ProFinda offers incredible innovation around talent and resourcing. We are really excited about supporting this business to grow.”
-ENDS-
For further information, contact:
Mitie
John Telling, Group Corporate Affairs Director
D: +44 20 3123 8673
M: +44 7979 701006
E: john.telling@mitie.com
Erica Lockhart, Head of Investor Relations and External Affairs
D: +44 20 3123 8675
M: +44 7979 784488
E: erica.lockhart@mitie.com
