Army Reservist Entrepreneur Raises £2.2M

An Army Reserve soldier in Military Intelligence has raised the capital to launch his tech startup

ARMY RESERVIST ENTREPRENEUR RAISES £2.2M

MarkDemery / Via glrfca.org

The WeWork office in Old Street is just what you’d imagine a technology focused shared space to be – guests sign in on an iPad to a back drop of comfy sofas, modern art and the aroma of freshly roasted coffee. But when Charles Taylor bounds down the stairs he’s not quite the picture most people have of a tech entrepreneur because today Lance Corporal (LCpl) Taylor is wearing his military uniform to celebrate Reserves Day.

 

For the last three and a half years LCpl Taylor’s served with 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, completing his training while also starting a new business from scratch.

 

That’s meant taking on the physically and mentally demanding courses to qualify as a soldier and military intelligence specialist while also coaxing £2.2 million from  venture capitalists to get his graduate jobs and internship app debut.careers off the ground.  Negotiations to raise those investments include a provision specifying Charles’s Army Reserve commitments. Far from putting people off, he says service in the Reserves is a strong selling point:

 

“When investors look at a business the first thing they’re interested in is the people behind the project, what drives and motivates them, will they be up to the challenges ahead. When they learn I’m in the Army Reserve they see that as a positive demonstration of resilience and determination to succeed.”

 

Charles joined the Reserves for the challenge, fitness and the opportunity to serve but he’s also found the experience a perfect fit to life as an entrepreneur.

 

“Army training builds mental and physical endurance, the ability to keep going when things aren’t going well. That’s exactly the sort of determination you need to overcome the hurdles of starting a business.  Military Intelligence also focuses on just the sort of persuading and influencing skills that an entrepreneur needs to pitch to investors and clients, and to build a team of talented people to work for you.”

 

But while there’s a cross over in skills between Military Intelligence and business entrepreneur Charles also enjoys the opportunity Reserve service gives him to take a break from the management responsibilities of his day job.

 

“In my civilian job I’m a thinker, as a Lance Corporal I’m a doer.”

MarkDemery / Via glrfca.org

LCpl Charles Taylor