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Bloom with Michelle: Scot Buzz meets Michelle Rodger

Just when you think Scotland’s down the pan, the economy’s beyond hope, your business is going nowhere and you feel you can’t even get to first base, it’s time to meet Michelle Rodger.
I had the pleasure last week – and came away enthused by her personality, energy, ideas and business mission.
Michelle is a fellow journalist, but much more   - she is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Bloom VC.
Bloom VC is a champion of crowd funding – a fantastic means of getting your fledgling business idea off the ground.
I met Michelle last week at Centotre in Edinburgh’s George Street – cafe bar for discerning go-getters and the up-and-coming social set (Erikka Askeland and her pals go there).
Says Michelle, “Great ideas often get left wilting in the shade because there’s no money to support the nurturing and growing process, and limited support for growth.
“Crowdfunding allows great ideas to bloom. It’s an inclusive way for anyone with a great idea to reach out for financial support without having to give up equity or control of their business.”

The website – www.bloomvc.com - could not be easier. 
You simply describe your idea – be it for a start-up, a business, a social enterprise or a community project - explain much money you need, what you’ll do with the money, and what you’re offering as a reward for those who promise to help you, then just reach out to the crowd and ask.
If you’ve got an idea, simply click on the ‘Start a Project’ button. If you want to support a project, then click “Make a Promise”.

 

Michelle now uses her knowledge and experience to deliver guest lectures in entrepreneurship as well as talks on entrepreneurship, social media and communications at numerous corporate events throughout the country.
She launched Tartan Cat to deliver business, communications and social media strategies to dynamic, growth businesses.
A former national newspaper journalist, she keeps her writing skills honed contributing a weekly business column to Scotland on Sunday.

 

One of the most inspiring stories on the bloomvc website is Bonnie Bling, a unique Glasgow-based Scottish slang jewellery business created by Mhairi Mackenzie.
Her fun jewellery items include “Och Aye” knuckle-dusters, brooches and necklaces. Mhairi wants to make all her products here in Scotland and needed a laser cutting machine to make it happen. She went crowd-funding on the bloomvc.com website – and raised £8,130 – beating her own £7,500 target.
“We want”, says Mhairi, “to offer our customers unique custom products in addition to our core range of slang and dialect words. Fast turnaround times are essential to make sure we can compete in the market and to keep our customers as happy blingers.”
Her ambition? To make Bonnie Bling one of the UK's leading fashion accessories brands.