Fiercely ambitious former management consultant Tim Aikin set up Team Boxwish in 2007. Having raised two angel rounds he's looking to accelerate the growth of its social shopping concept.

What’s the concept?
We’re a new media start-up focused on building cool social websites and applications centred around elements of popular culture. Our flagship site Boxwish.com is a movie inspired social shopping site where people can find and buy products (like fashion and gadgets) seen in movies. We also recently launched Movie-Cupid.com - a dating site for film lovers.

Why’s it unique?
With our first site Boxwish.com we were the first company around to build a site focused entirely on the inspirational aspects of movies – like being able to get the fashion, use the gadgets, drive the cars, visit the locations etc. Since then we’ve grown a basic concept into a powerful association engine, which ties together shoppable content with elements of popular culture, such as movies, characters or people.

Where are you now?
We’ve just expanded the team to six people, relaunched Boxwish.com and are working on a number of other great products including a new type of advertising platform and an e-commerce marketplace. We’re also just about to open a new funding round.

Where will you be in two years?
If all goes to plan we’ll have quite a bit going on, including not just our own consumer sites like Boxwish.com but also running our different e-commerce and advertising platforms for other consumer companies.

Who’s backed you?
We’ve got a small team of excellent angel investors who have been a tremendous support. They include a former investment banker, a chartered accountant and the UK marketing director for a very successful e-commerce company.

How much did you get?
We haven’t disclosed the amount raised so far but it’s six figures.

When did you raise it?
We raised our first round in March 2008, completed a small second round earlier this year and are just about to open another.

How long before the cheque cleared?
The time from initial meeting to money-in-the-bank was actually very quick in both rounds. That said each had at least three to four months of prior planning and preparation put into them.

What did it teach you?
The key thing I learnt was the value that being both prepared and passionate have in convincing investors to back you. It’s not only about constructing a convincing argument for the merits of your product, the strength of your team and the rigour of your financial model, but also delivering it in a way that demonstrates you’ve got the passion and dedication it takes to put in the long hours required to execute.

How has the investment improved the business?
In lots of ways. Completing our first round allowed us to get the ball rolling and prove our initial concept. Our last round gave us the chance to expand the team, bringing on board really talented technical and marketing leads. It also allowed us to evolve our strategy to be even more ambitious than what we started with.

Tell us something that would help another entrepreneur keep an investor happy.
Two key things, honesty and enthusiasm. Keep them constantly informed of what’s going on, good and bad (if it’s bad make sure you follow it with what you’re doing to get things back on track) and in doing so be enthusiastic and passionate enough to make them an ambassador for your brand. If they invested in your business they probably have more than just a passing interest in your industry, product or service. Make sure you engage them in what you’re doing, share your plans and visions for the future, get them excited about you and your brand so that they’re telling all their friends and colleagues about it.

Why should we keep an eye on you?
Our flagship site, Boxwish.com was an exciting first step but we’ve got a really ambitious product plan for the next 12 months and a passionate and dedicated team to make it happen.