Manoj Ranaweera Founder & CEO at Techcelerate Ltd

Founder & CEO

SkilledUp Life

Aug 2020 - Current (6 years 1 month)

SkilledUp Life is the world's Experience Provider for all adults to improve their career prospects or just hang around with an innovative young tech startup. SkilledUp Life is for anyone over 18 yrs until you take the last breath. Yes, we love to help those who have retired feel useful of the contribution that they can still make. SkilledUp Life is a two-sided marketplace for anyone (volunteers) to gain new experiences and build skills free of charge, and for bootstrapped tech startups (companies) to fill skills gaps in their teams with free talent. We also cater for: - those who want to experience new disciplines or skills without jeopardising their career, which may later lead to a career change. - building your portfolio before swi

Founder & CEO (Built on UnifiedVU & Livestax)

Deal Lite

Apr 2019 - Current (7 years 5 months)

https://deallite.uk At Deal Lite, we want to demystify U.K. tech sector by allowing you to analyse the fast growing tech startups and investors backing them. 1. Use Deal Lite as a Lead Generation tool. Companies do not generate investment to improve their bank balance. Position yourself with products and services to help these companies grow. 2. Fundraising - four key questions any founder should ask him/herself before fundraising are how much to raise, how to value the company, how much equity to give away and who to raise from. We want to make this process easier by showing similar companies to you. 3. Deal flow - how to find companies that meets your investment criteria efficiently. https://deallite.uk

Founder & CEO

Techcelerate Ltd

May 2018 - Current (8 years 4 months)

Techcelerate works with founding and management teams of tech companies until their Exits by finding ways to accelerate growth including sharing knowledge on raising investment and M&A. However, we will not take the responsibility to raise funding for you. Techcelerate is here to help tech founders establish a sensible foundation, i.e. product, market, customers and team before dilution starts. We call this the Techcelerate Way. Website: https://www.techcelerate.ventures Founders: https://www.techcelerate.ventures/founders Specialists: https://www.techcelerate.ventures/specialists Community: https://techcelerate.ventures/community Community Hub: https://community.techcelerate.ventures

SaaS Strategic Advisor

Cloud Software Association

Dec 2017 - Dec 2019 (2 years 1 month)

We are the association of cloud software partnership leaders. We strive to build the market for distribution of cloud software. Our 2000+ members span the industry. They are SaaS vendors, platforms, API services, resellers, distributors, and investors. As a service to members, I as a Strategic Advisor is available to connect, network and provide advice.

SaaS Strategic Advisor and Consultant

Venture

Oct 2016 - Aug 2017 (11 months)

Over the last 10+ yrs, I have advised many technology companies in setting up, designing and developing software products, commercialisation, go-to-market strategies, partnership development, investment and acquisition. Venture 9 provides a framework under which I can help companies. Past Clients: Accusoft, Ixis IT, Liquid Bronze (t/a Malinko), Percipience, Convert and Omnis Data. Folding Venture 9 into Techcelerate.

Founder & CEO (Built on Livestax)

UnifiedVU

Jul 2015 - Jul 2018 (3 years 1 month)

One UI for all your SaaS Cloud Applications for increasing organisational productivity. Use of software at workplace is growing at an exponential rate helped by growth in SaaS. Customer records are now scattered across many systems from sales, marketing, finance to support. It has become increasingly difficult to see the single truth of a customer across all the systems used. Furthermore, you engage with customers, suppliers and stakeholders across many channels you no longer control. UnifiedVU has taken on the challenge of fixing Customer 360º View once and for all. UnifiedVU Platform unifies customer records from sales, marketing, finance, support and external systems on one intuitive User Interface (UI) to increase customer Life Time

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CEO (Acquired by Accusoft)

edocrcom

Jan 2015 - Mar 2015 (3 months)

Within 3 months of returning to the helm of edocr, I negotiated the acquisition of edocr by US based technology company, Accusoft.

Livestax - Strategy & Commercialisation

Causeway Technologies

Sep 2013 - Oct 2014 (1 year 2 months)

I was brought in by Phil Brown, the founder and CEO of market leader in software for the construction industry, Causeway Technologies to help commercialise LiveStax, a new product incubated as a tech startup inside a mature tech company. In my 10 years in tech startup world, LiveStax is without doubt the best multi-billion dollar enterprise tech idea I have come across. LiveStax addresses number of pain points, among them, helping to increase productivity by unifying software you use everyday. Instead of having to jump from one software application to another to extract vital information, you will now be able to see everything on one canvass, configured to display just the business information you need, and helping you to take action fro

Board and Strategic Advisor - Mid Market Cloud Integration Platform

Cazoomi

Jul 2011 - Jul 2018 (7 years 1 month)

Founded in 2009, Cazoomi has evolved from providing bespoke integration solutions in early days to developing SyncApps, which connects 100+ SaaS Applications. With over 10,000+ worldwide customers, Cazoomi has been developing first to market products on GetSatisfaction.com, SnapLogic.com, Constant Contact MarketPlace, ExactTarget Platform, MailChimp, Infusionsoft, Zoho Platform, Salesforce, VerticalResponse and other Cloud solutions. I'm a trusted advisor to the founder and CEO of Cazoomi focusing on providing strategic advice to strengthening of Cazoomi including partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. We've explored number of acquisitions for Cazoomi and also offers made to acquire Cazoomi.

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Founder (Acquired by GP Bullhound)

Northern Tech Awards

Jan 2011 - Aug 2013 (2 years 8 months)

Founded UK's only black-tie Gala Awards Dinner dedicated to tech entrepreneurs. Sold the business to GP Bullhound, a boutique investment bank in August 2013. http://www.northerntechawards.com

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Trustee

Bridgewater Hall Community Education Trust

Nov 2010 - Sep 2015 (4 years 11 months)

The Bridgewater Hall Community Education Trust exists to maximise the educational potential of Manchester's world class concert venue through a wide range of projects, programmes and activities which take the building and its rich artistic life as their stimulus. The initiatives supported by the Trust give opportunities to school and college students, community groups and individuals of all ages and abilities as well as arts organisations and educational institutions from Greater Manchester and across the Northwest.

Founder Board Member - UKIBC Next Gen North West

UK India Business Council

Jan 2009 - May 2011 (2 years 5 months)

UK India Business Council (UKIBC) is the premier membership-led organisation promoting bilateral trade and investment between India and the UK. The Next Generation Network (Next Gen) is a network of young people of all nationalities who are interested in trading between UK and India. Our aim was to bring together the next generation of top entrepreneurs and business leaders to share ideas and information through networking events that tackle topical areas of interest.

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Founder & CEO

edocrcom

Apr 2007 - Aug 2013 (6 years 5 months)

Responsible for bringing the idea to fruition, funding the company, developing partner led strategy, differentiating against tough well funded competition and continually delivering value to our customers. edocr.com, dubbed as YouTube for business documents, is a leading destination site (social network) where prospects/buyers discover suppliers through documents such as brochures, white papers, case studies, press releases, reports, user manuals, installation guides and any documents/pdfs. Tight integration with Buffer allows documents to be auto shared on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Google+ increasing prospecting. Leads captured can automatically be exported to Salesforce, Marketo, HubSpot, Mailigen, CapsuleCRM and for lead nurtur

Tradex (e-Ivoicing Platform) - Strategist (Interim Management)

Causeway Technologies

Apr 2007 - Aug 2007 (5 months)

Undertook a detailed review of Causeway Technologies' Tradex, an electronic document exchange hub (EIPP) for connecting suppliers and buyers in the UK Construction sector, from go-to-market strategy to operations management and recommended key action points in addition to establishing a channel based strategy.

Founder (Northern Tech Awards acquired by GP Bullhound)

Techcelerate Ltd

Nov 2006 - Aug 2013 (6 years 10 months)

What was started as a meetup to find few like minded individuals with the help of KPMG and TechCrunch UK, grew into an active community of 2300 tech entrepreneurs, senior managers, investors, deal makers and service providers who were all united in building an ecosystem for technology companies in the North, especially in Manchester and the North West. Techcelerate's self-imposed mandate was to develop a sustaining ecosystem for high-growth technology companies in the north of United Kingdom by providing access to finance, knowledge, markets and skills with centre of excellence in Manchester. By the time I ended the operations, we have run over 100+ tech events in Manchester, Daresbury, Liverpool and London. We brought investors to Manc

CRM Strategist (Contract Position)

BT Plc

Sep 2005 - Feb 2006 (6 months)

BT Retail Service Provider Group serviced the second tier Internet Service Providers in UK through “sell to” and “sell through” strategies. Developed Customer Intelligence System to understand key business drivers and positioned products and services to increase revenues and profits (sell to and sell through strategies).

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Founder & CEO

ebdex Ltd

Nov 2004 - Dec 2006 (2 years 2 months)

ebdex, a #Fintech Startup, embarked on developing an electronic document exchange hub (EIPP) allowing organisations to exchange invoicing and purchasing documents with their trading partners seamlessly, without re-keying. Conducted extensive research to identify market need, analysed competitor propositions, and developed strategy to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Outsourced technology development, developed route to market including partnerships with Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Pegasus and Access Accounting. Recruited trial clients and negotiated terms for £250,000 debt finance package.

Project Manager/Proposal Manager

Parsons Brinckerhoff

Dec 1999 - Dec 2003 (4 years 1 month)

PB is one of the world's leading planning, engineering, program and construction management companies with revenues over $1.5bn. Initially based in the UAE, led and managed £m contracts in the UAE. Notably, defects clearance of Dubai Emirate electricity SCADA project, and developing a SCADA solution for Sharjah Emirate electricity network. I was then seconded to National Grid (FTSE100 company) for 24 months in Leeds. Managed five multi-site multi £m contracts (Siemens and Cruickshanks) with a geographically dispersed team, automating the control of grid substations. Audited internal business units against corporate procedures and ISO 9001. Developed new business opportunities including marketing initiatives for geographical expansion an

Project & Business Unit Manager

Parsons International Ltd

Apr 1998 - Nov 1999 (1 year 8 months)

Parsons is one of the world's largest engineering and construction management organisations with revenues over $3bn. Led C&I business unit to profitability through active business development and cost control, managing projects in the Middle East through a centralised resource pool. The business unit was responsible for all aspects of C&I including SCADA for water, waste water and irrigation projects in the Middle East. Notable projects: SCADA system for connecting the sewerage and irrigation network of Abu Dhabi Emirate excluding Al Ain. Defects clearance and maintenance of largest sewarage treatment plant in Abu Dhabi (Mafraq STW). SCADA system for connecting portable water network in Dubai Emirate. Microwave radio based SCADA solution

Project Team Leader

Parsons Brinckerhoff Merz McLellan Ltd

Nov 1992 - Mar 1998 (5 years 5 months)

Merz & McLellan was one of the largest UK based international consultancies specialising in power and rail, which was acquired by Parsons Brinckerhoff in mid '90s. I delivered multi £m technology contracts in UK and UAE for rail and utilities sectors. Initially, appointed as a Control and Instrumentation Engineer, I developed automation solutions for CCGT and CHP power generating plants. Then developed SCADA solutions for electricity transmission industry, both within and outside of the UK. Notable project: SCADA solution for interconnecting all on-shore gas fields in Abu Dhabi, owned by ADCO and other oil companies. I was stationed in Abu Dhabi for duration of this project. Later supported bidding consortia in targeting light rail tr

Manoj Ranaweera

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