River Capital Partners

Matt Scot and Mes customised shoes

Matt Scot, founded Mes Footwork in his second year at Newcastle University. So how did he go from a student bedroom to a venture capital backed company.

In that year Matt worked out the key idea and concept for the business and just started to put the business together. Mes Footwork was entered and won the New Trader award from Newcastle Uni which, he says provided the inspiration and confidence to take the business seriously.

“I had made many contacts through university business competitions that I would need to take Mes Footwork forward… I started producing shoes in my student bedroom and to raise startup funding by presenting to everybody I could find, a thorough plan of how I was going to implement my business idea.

He goes on to say; “many of my pitches for cash failed, but with advice from a number of sources, I managed to bring together £32,000.  I bought the equipment I needed, set up our interactive shoe designer website, and started trading.”  

Two years later the point came where the company needed more funding.  Matt started on the fund raising trail again.  It was around then that we came to Rivers Capital and Jonathan who was one of the many I had talked to back when I won the new trader award. Four months later and after numerous presentations, countless meetings and due diligence, we had our investment from  Rivers Capital. Not as painful as it sounds but preparation and attention to detail as well as good advice helped.

Having made in roads into many different footwear markets, gained interest of celebrities and industry experts, I can see Mes Footwork going from strength to strength,

My advice to any student wanting to start and run their own business is to; gain contacts and seek advice from taking part in as many business competitions as possible. Most importantly be persistent and hang on in there, taking set backs as they come. 

If I can start a business from my bedroom so can you.