The 2002-2003 Coventry University Entrepreneurs networking events began with a bang as students were given the chance to develop their skills in making and marketing a product.  Given only basic resources, students assembled products in teams and then wrote a marketing strategy for their highly desirable innovations.  The evening was rounded off with a one minute elevator pitch to the rest of the audience. 

As usual guest speakers were invited to provide genuine and sometimes funny stories about their own experiences in entrepreneurship.  This week we were very happy to welcome Dr. Andy Richards from Syngenix  and Doug Richards to say a few words about what it was like for them. 

The Coventry University Entrepreneurs program of events is carefully put together in order to allow participants the opportunity to develop the skills they will need if they are to go on to start their own companies.  Later in the term students will be given the chance to develop these and other skills through CU Entrepreneurs events, innovation days and ideas markets and through the Basics of Building a Business course run by the Coventry Entrepreneurship Center. 

Guest Speaker profile:

Dr. Andy Richards

(Chairman, Syngenix)

Andy Richards is a biotech entrepreneur and business angel. He graduated from Coventry University with a PhD in Protein Chemistry.  Following this he was a research scientist with ICI then a consultant with PA Technology.

In 1992 he founded Chiroscience, one of Europe's most successful Biotech companies, where he was Business Development Director until the merger with Celltech in August 1999.