I'm Mike Thompson (Guy's techie in this Community), but I'm also a start-up founder. I closed a biscuit business earlier this year to launch a food packaging machine business. I've been inventing a new bagging machine for small businesses (especially bakeries) and through government funding, it's nearly ready to go. The cost of buying a commercial bagging machine is HUGE, and they're very hard to operate, especially for a small business. My machine will let you package a few thousand products per day (compared to the thousands per hour of the big machines) but cost a fraction of the price. Funding is the next step to launching. In the meantime I have a website with free packaging advice (www.bakeandbag.com) and a free community here on Skool: https://www.skool.com/bake-bag-3531

Have you started a business? Introduce yourself, tell us which country you're in and what your business is all about. Why did you start it? What problem do you solve / product do you sell? Where can people find you?

Welcome to the Community! Wherever you are in your start-up journey, we're with you. We've been there and created multiple start-ups, some successful, some not, but now we have the knowledge to share on how to get your business ready for funding. Guy is a serial entrepreneur, guiding business start-ups through funding rounds (that's Pre-seed, Seed, Series A and Series B (if you're not familiar with funding rounds, this 3 minute guide will explain all: https://www.businesssimples.com/blog/investment-stages-a-wild-ride-through-start-up-land). When it comes to launching and scaling a business, Guy is the first person I call with a new idea. He only gives honest feedback and has a wealth of knowledge and connections. Mike (that's me) has started several businesses in technology, retail and manufacturing. My background has always been a mix of technology and sales, bringing innovative products and processes to market. If you have questions about Skool, attending our courses or need some digital guidance, I'll do my best to help you out. When it comes to funding and building a business that attracts investors, Guy will do his best to provide insight and experience, but the absolute best way to get talking to him 1-2-1, is during a live course. Look out for new course dates being posted in the Community or join our mailing list at www.businesssimples.com/newsletter. One last thing - take our quiz and let us know your experience: Have you run a business before?