The Isle of Man Chapter of Startup Grind is excited to present ‘The Decade-Long Startup: Insights from Craig Osborne’ a fireside chat event featuring the renowned tech investor and entrepreneur. Join us on Wednesday, 19th June from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Santander Work Café, Isle of Man, for an inspiring evening designed for local entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, and aspiring innovators.

This event is proudly sponsored by design and web development agency, Afundi and supported by our media partner, Media Isle of Man.

Craig Osborne’s journey is a remarkable one, marked by a decade-long stint in the startup phase, transitioning from a programmer to a successful entrepreneur, and tech investor. During the fireside chat, Craig will share insights into the challenges and triumphs of his career to date, including the risks he took and the sacrifices he made along the way.

Key topics covered will include:

• The Reality of a Prolonged Startup Phase: Craig’s experience of being in the 'startup phase' for 10 years and the lessons learned.
• From Programmer to Investor: His journey and the evolution of his career.
• Mental Health and Entrepreneurship: The importance of mental health, the struggles faced by entrepreneurs, and the benefits of coaching and therapy.
• Success Despite Dyslexia: Craig’s journey overcoming mild dyslexia to achieve academic and professional success.
• Building a World-Class Team: How Craig assembled top talent to transform an opportunity into a successful business.
• Lessons Learned in Building and Exiting a Business: Critical insights and strategies Craig used to grow Iforium, and the real reasons behind his decision to step away.
• Rejecting External Investment Offers: Why Craig chose to self-fund his venture and the benefits of maintaining control.
• What’s Next: Craig's future plans, including the launch of Ebitza Capital, which focuses on providing early-round angel investments and mentorship to startups, and what he looks for when investing in businesses.