Welcome to our latest newsletter. It has been an exciting start to 2010 for think M'. Here are some of our recent highlights:

 
Mobliq keeps an eye on the detail for North East Finance

One of our clients, North East IT solutions company Mobliq, has won a major contract with North East Finance, the holding fund manager of the region’s new £125 million Finance for Business programme, formerly known as the ‘JEREMIE’ fund. 

Mobliq specialise in software to support business process management, tracking and reporting. They have developed a unique platform for North East Finance that will provide the mechanism for managing all data related to the Finance for Business investments, monitoring every stage of the investment process from investee applications right through to reporting on the outcomes of any particular investment.

Mobliq have been working with the think M. team to develop a strategy that will result in the business scaling up over the next 12 months. Through a series of early stage workshops, think M. have collaborated with Mobliq to evaluate their existing services and define business growth opportunities. Mobliq’s latest win is a timely one as it coincides with the onset of a period of significant potential growth for them.

At think M. we like to get interactive with our clients. This makes developing strategy an engaging process and allows you to share the process with key members of staff. think M. is not a traditional consultancy - we provide a very ‘hands on’ approach to implementation that produces tangible and effective results.
Proud to be an approved provider of Innovation Vouchers

We are proud to announce our new status as an approved provider of Innovation Vouchers from Business Link, meaning you can now access our services using grant funding secured through this scheme. 

Innovation Vouchers can provide you with 100% funding for the first £3000 of your project and up to 70% on the remainder, up to a total value of £7000. The vouchers can be used by trading SMEs to purchase a knowledge solution to an innovation project and are only available through approved academic or private sector suppliers.

Your eligibility for an Innovation Voucher will be assessed upon submission of a project proposal from us to Business Link. The Business Link website has some more information on the Innovation Voucher scheme.

think M. are providers of proven processes to support successful strategy development and commercialisation. So, you could use an innovation voucher to review an opportunity or carry out early stage market research to begin building marketing strategy for successful business growth.
To discuss your project in more detail and to find out more about Innovation Vouchers, contact Graeme on 0191 2111 957.

KBO Dynamics take to the global stage


Durham based KBO Dynamics showcased their TubeSync technology with Hiwatt at the high profile international music fair, Musikmesse in Frankfurt last month.
 
Hiwatt is one of the world’s most prominent guitar amp manufacturers and KBO Dynamics are delighted to have TubeSync technology incorporated in their latest amp designs.

A regional innovation, TubeSync achieves unique benefits including vastly improved reliability and performance in tube amps. Securing orders from Hiwatt is a significant achievement. The company has been supported with market research, manufacturer introductions and early product launch activity by think M.

Andy Fallon, KBO Dynamics: think M.’s channel research played an important part in helping us to secure investment by providing the market evidence required to prove TubeSync’s growth potential. It also helped us to refine our offering to amp manufacturers and was instrumental in getting us through the door at some really high profile organisations.’

As well as supplying Hiwatt they already have further collaborations underway and anticipate generating more interest from manufacturers, amp technicians and musicians alike. If you would like any more information on TubeSync technology, please visit the KBO Dynamics website.

Commercialisation of technology, supporting innovation through tailored research, developing routes to market and early stage channel development are areas in which think M. has proven expertise.

 

 

 

Pelaw Presentation Packaging unfold new opportunities

After undertaking a business growth project with think M., Pelaw Presentation Packaging, a bespoke packing solutions company, is embarking on a new fundamental service innovation.

The new strategic business direction for Pelaw Presentation Packaging was born out of a think M. workshop conducted to uncover a sustainable long term growth strategy.

The new unique service will encompass an online interactive toolset for planning production and timely delivery of packaging requirements. It will enhance Pelaw Presentation Packaging's core business, open up new opportunities and provide a medium for new service expressions.

Pelaw Presentation Packaging are now developing this innovative new service opportunity through the Codeworks DEV programme and continue to work with think M. for operational marketing support.

think M. ’s clients include a number of well established organisations looking to identify and exploit potential opportunities for business growth. We’d love to work with you to review your current position and establish marketing strategy for future success.
Finance for Business North East – investors looking for evidence!

2010 has seen the official launch of the brand new ‘Finance for Business North East’ programme (formerly JEREMIE).

Over the next five years, £125 million will be invested in businesses in the North East through loans and equity investments designed to drive business growth.

Building on One North East's official launch of the funds, Service Network held a "match making" event bringing together the fund managers and regional businesses, in order to enhance knowledge of the funds and discover the opportunities they present.
To secure investment from any of the six funds, businesses will have to prove that they have true growth potential and that appropriate due diligence has been applied in analysing and developing opportunities.

The role of market research in this process is an important one. Are you able to provide evidence of demand? Have you established fit with your markets and channels? Do you know enough about the market barriers that stand in your way and how you will overcome them?

We have extensive experience of providing research services to support high growth businesses in securing investment. If you’ve set your sights on ‘Finance For Business North East', we can support you by objectively assessing market feasibility and developing justified strategy. To find out how we can help you contact Graeme on 0191 2111957.
Welcome to another new team member!

With our increasing involvement within the ICT sector we have recruited another new employee with a strong ICT background. We are delighted to welcome Simon Pilgrim to our research team.

Simon brings a combination of experience from previous roles within the marketing departments of global software company SAP and educational software provider Research Machines. This has provided a background in research skills, technical knowledge and commercialisation within this important sector.

Having been involved in the development and launch of innovative new products, Simon has developed a passion for research and its application in refining and marketing new technologies.  “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work with think M.’s diverse range of clients and to be involved in supporting innovation through research.” 

think M. Ltd                                                   
6 Charlotte Square
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4XF
0845 838 7372
www.think-m.co.uk