SaaS and cloud computing are becoming an accepted part of the fabric of enterprise and SME infrastructure and the current financial climate may actually be helping companies in this sector.

SaaS and cloud computing promise multiple advantages over traditional software models:

• Installation costs are likely to be lower reducing capital expenditure costs.
• License and maintenance costs are lower and reduce lifetime cost of ownership.
• In-house IT staff are able to focus on strategically valuable projects rather than rolling out and maintaining home-grown solutions.
• Computing in the cloud promises that as demand for computing power increases with business demand or complexity, the solution is just available without thinking about it.

While organisations selling SaaS and cloud computing solutions are arguably better placed to sell than traditional software solutions, we believe that everyone wants to sell more. This discussion workshop and dinner will focus on sharing ideas to help organisations reduce sales cycle time, increase revenues and customer retention rates. Participants will comprise founders/CEOs of some of the most dynamic companies in the SaaS and cloud computing space alongside a small selection of active investors.

BLN discussion dinners are run under the Chatham House Rule and draw key participants in business ecosystems – incumbents, investors and growing entrepreneurial enterprises – together to meet and discuss important and pressing issues about the future of their industry.

We are delighted to be partnering with Calibre 1, Deloitte and Taylor Wessing on this important discussion.

Calibre One

Deloitte

Taylor Wessing

If you qualify, and would like to participate, please contact us directly at: info@TheBLN.com

Nic Brisbourne has a great post at the EquityKicker (and indeed Paidcontent’s) about 21st Century Business models for the publishing industry. Nic predicts a much smaller print media industry:

“The successful news company of the future will have to take all this on board and deliver it with a radically lower cost base than this industry is used to. In the digital world, the news industry, like many others, will be radically smaller. This contraction is partly a consequence of much reduced distribution costs, but is also a reflection of the fact that the monopoly rents Fleet Street enjoyed in the last century are a thing of the past. Witness how Craigslist has reduced the multi-billion dollar classifieds industry to nearer $100 million.”

Nic Brisbourne

While I think there are a number of things that existing organisations to do to re-engineer themselves for this future, (and indeed if they can lever their brands effectively, they may be able to continue to run highly profitable organisations in the future), something else is less clear to me in the UK.

Times like these should create massive opportunities for entrepreneurs yet all of the examples of successful entrepreneurial led businesses taking advantage of the revolution that Nic cites (Huffington Post, TechCrunch, PerezHilton, Pitchfork Media etc are all US based).

Where are the UK success stories of significant size or ambition?

The BLN CFO Breakfast Brainstorm (7th October, 8.00-10.30), is a high-level peer-to-peer discussion forum for individuals leading the finance function in some of the UK’s most admired companies.

Approximately 20 attendees, comprising successful CFOs and rising stars will attend under the Chatham House Rule. The programme exists to help CFOs network, learn from each other, share best practice and advance the role of the CFO in high growth companies in a relaxed, entertaining and facilitated environment.

Attendees: The BLN CFO Breakfast Brainstorms have already included some of the most experienced public and private company CFOs and FDs in the region including CFO/FD’s from Red Gate Software, NXT plc, nCipher, Xaar, Domino, Owlstone, Zeus, Sphere Medical, PriSmaStar, Atlantic Healthcare and 1spatial amongst others.

Theme: As well as providing a welcome opportunity for CFOs to meet and share issues informally, this event will focus on the challenges a CFO faces in a high growth business. Previous attendees have identified this subject as one of key interest, both from the perspective of running their current business more effectively, but from a personal professional development perspective.

The BLN CFO Breakfast Brainstorms have been greeted by CFOs as a welcome and much needed initiative to facilitate the development of the strategic finance function in organisations – as well as offering a nice breakfast and a chance to meet fellow finance professionals.

Supporters: This initiative is supported by BDO Stoy Hayward and breakfast is provided courtesy of Red Gate Software.

BDO Stoy Hayward

Red Gate Software

Places are limited and in high demand so a prompt reply is advantageous to secure a place. If you would like to attend, please click here.