Shaz Sulaman

Founder

2016

Solid Bond Capital Limited is a hybrid VC and Angel Investment firm, we specialise in early stage businesses usually at the pre-launch or launch stage although we also invest in follow-on seed rounds for more established start-ups.

Chairman

2020

PixelMax, a simple, scalable immersive communications platform that helps businesses solve any problems and wows any client. The business creates a world where virtual is a better reality. PixelMax amplifies every voice, transforms every experience, and gives every idea a chance. The Company’s mission is to become the go-to communications and collaboration platform for businesses that push the bounds of possibility. Remote and hybrid working is here to stay and PixelMax is the long-term solution.

Chairman

2017 - 2021

Send and track parcels through a single APP. No labels, No forms, just tap to send. eCommerce returns are just as easy Clicksit is the No1 e-commerce returns solutions for SME's e-Tailors and Shopify Sellers

Joint Managing Director

2011 - 2016

Sales Director

2008 - 2011

Buy As You View is a hybrid retail and consumer finance organisation which supplies household consumer durables including white and browns goods as well as furniture. The company provides its own finance to consumers and manages all sales and collections activities through a direct to home (employed status) work force. BAYV are the largest ‘coin meter’ operator in Europe and provides a unique service to over 100,000 customers who pay for their goods via HP agreements using a meter, whereby weekly payments are collected from their home on a defined collection cycle. Operating from 6 regional offices with over 800 staff the company is significantly investing in technology and systems to increase its market share of a potential 9 million customer base in the UK alone. The company’s route to market is via its own catalogue and online offerings but intrinsically relies on the strength of human relationships.

Deputy CEO

2004 - 2008

Northway is a High Net Worth investor group based in London which has varied worldwide interests. They acquired lottery licenses similar to ‘Camelot’ that culminated in the creation and management of Retail National Lotteries in Pakistan and Mauritius. Under their Comset Services brand they set up an Islamic compliant lottery on a commercial basis, with PST (Pakistan Sports Trust) being the main charitable cause. I returned to the UK after helping the business re-launch successfully, gain further investment and establish a joint venture with Worldcall Pvt Limited who sell and distribute across Pakistan in over 60,000 outlets Under the remit of my role as Deputy CEO I chaired the operations and trading meeting of the directors and managed the business on a day to day basis, allowing the CEO to concentrate on the external relationships with Pakistan Sports Trust and the Government. Bluewaterbio PLC – for the final 6 months of my time with the investor group I worked on helping develop sales and marketing strategies for a newly formed (AIM listed) PLC, which is introducing a highly advanced Waste Water Treatment technology (Hybacs) from Korea into the UK, Middle East and Asia. As well as working on the above projects I worked on 2 new retail start up businesses here in the UK, one in the food sector and one a new concept in retail lighting.

Director of Sales

2001 - 2004

I started as an Associate Sales Director responsible for 26 stores reporting directly to John Caudwell for a short period, I was promoted to Director of Sales within 1 year of joining. Part of the operating board responsible for growing Phones4u from 80 stores to 350 within 30 month, this was the fastest organic growth for a retailer in the UK. Full P+L responsibility for 180 stores (approx £320 million turnover) and Business Development Teams. Controlled the store opening program including, site selection, financial appraisal, recruitment and store profit. Developed a blue print of in-store processes, audit procedures, team structure, sales floor management programs and store commissions. Successfully launched a B2B sales program in key store locations. Helped launch Home-call (low cost route, fixed line) into the retail channel, sales grew from 1000 a month to in excess of 20000 per month. Developed an affinity program with other retailers and businesses that created a 6 million closed user group of staff who received exclusive Phones4u discounts. This initiative delivered an additional £5million gross profit. As well as my daily duties, I was responsible for reducing stock loss and fraud in-store, developing all store requirements from our MIS systems and developing a B2B channel within stores, working closely with other group companies and Networks.

Regional Operations Manager

1996 - 2000

• Responsible for 16 stores with a turnover of approx £60 mill • Developed the region’s profitability to first place nationally in 3 out of 5 KPI’s. • Top region for extended warranty sales, top margin and lowest manager’s discount. • Operational representative on the national strategy team, which developed and rolled out Comets new fixed-price marketing policy, resulting in increased market share for Comet nationally and changing the way the market place as a whole now operates. o Senior store manager with Norweb, responsible for 10 stores o Achieved the status of top area for sales and extended warranty, this success leading to an emphasis on business development. o Selected to integrate with Comet following the take-over, I achieved an exceptional level of staff retention together with record stock shrinkage reduction in closing stores.

General Store Manger

1994 - 1996

• Started as a General Store Manger when the company had 3 stores • Opened two 25,000 sq ft superstores • Uno offered a unique low price led extensive range of suites in destination store formats. • Appointed to GM Blackburn Superstore, responsible for a satellite warehouse, sales, purchasing and staffing within my store. • Turnover approx £7million

Graduate Trainee Manager

1989 - 1994

• Started as a Graduate Trainee, part of a nationwide recruitment drive and appointed to Deputy manager within 4 months • Sales Manager Curry’s Blackburn, responsible for relocating the store, moving from 5000 sq ft to 15000 sq ft. Turnover increased from £6 to £10 million • I was appointed as Curry’s youngest superstore manager at 21 years of age in Burnley, I increased turnover from £750K to £2 million p.a. within 2 years.