FLIP MCR bridges the gap between founders and investors as it offers insights into investor perspectives ahead of the new year. Taking place at Peak‘s headquarters in Manchester on 25 January 2024, the event will be hosted by Zally and SoSquared following a new collaboration.  

Patrick Smith, founder and CEO of Zally, the Manchester-based user authentication platform and Sam Royle, founder and CEO of SoSquared, the UK influencing marketing platform will host FLIP MCR, the free-to-attend event. Its primary audience is local entrepreneurs who may be seeking or considering seeking private investment in the coming year.

Starting at 6pm and ending at 10pm, FLIP MCR aims to encourage transparent discussions around seeking investment. In turn, it hopes to help generate truly actionable information and introductions for seed and pre-seed founders to benefit from.

Those in attendance will be privy to a number of unique elevator pitches from investment professionals. Additionally, they will have access to several short talks by featured guest speakers and an interactive Q&A session. Notably, each section will feature numerous point-of-contacts for businesses in attendance to use.

Speaking on the event, Patrick Smith commented: “FLIP MCR represents a new type of networking event. We’re ready to help facilitate all the unapologetically candid yet essential conversations that founders need to have in order for the best chance of success in the next 12 months. It’s time we prioritise the needs of founders and provide crucial insights and networking opportunities to help them on their business journey.”

Confirmed investors

• Andrew Sheffield – VC associate at Playfair, a generalist fund with a contrarian approach to pre-seed technology investing.

• Tania Rahman – investment manager at Praetura Ventures, a North Western investor with a proven track record of investing in early-stage businesses and providing ‘more than money’ support.

• Katherine Spooner – investor at Speedinvest, the early-stage investment company with more than €1billion in assets under management.

• Giles Moore – regional development manager at Par Equity, a venture capital firm, based in Edinburgh, which invests in innovative technology companies with high growth potential.

Experience sharing

To help do this, the event will also feature a fireside chat led by David Leitch and Richard Potter, co-founders of Peak, a multi-national artificial intelligence company headquartered in Manchester. During the talk, the influential leadership team will explore their personal investment experiences and share stories about the challenges they faced as they worked to scale their technology internationally.

In bringing together many of the region’s leading lights under one roof, events like FLIP MCR also reaffirm the growth of Manchester as a leading tech hub in recent times.

Highlight Manchester as an emerging fintech hub

The success of businesses like Peak, SoSquared and Zally highlight the scope of this vibrant ecosystem. Especially as it contributes significantly to the broader economy and is supported by a growing network of accelerators and investment programs.

By pooling the collective wisdom of these companies together, and unlocking rare observations from investors, the trailblazing event aims to ensure those leading the next wave of innovation coming out of the North have access to the same level of opportunity and resources as those founders emerging from more traditional tech and fintech hubs, such as London. In doing so, events like FLIP MCR are helping the region to retain its strong position.

Speaking on this, Zally’s Patrick Smith commented: “It’s clear that Manchester has a thriving business ecosystem. As we properly kick off 2024, we must continue to harness this momentum and ensure this flourishing community doesn’t go to waste. Events like FLIP MCR are crucial to that effort and can help to cement Manchester’s role as a high-growth economic powerhouse.”

Sam Royle, co-founder and CEO of SoSquared also expressed enthusiasm for the event: “FLIP MCR is a testament to the united vision shared by businesses, investors, and supporters, acknowledging Manchester’s pivotal role in showing the potential the North brings to our economic landscape. It goes beyond a typical networking event, and we are excited to be a part of this movement to amplify the voice of Manchester.”

Bitcoin (BTC) rose above $38,000 on Nov. 24, but the bulls could not build upon this strength. This suggests hesitation to buy at higher levels. Bitcoin is on track to form a Doji candlestick pattern on the weekly chart for the second consecutive week. This signals indecision among the bulls and the bears about the next directional move.

With Bitcoin maintaining near its 18-month high, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes retained his bullish stance. In a X (formerly Twitter) post, Hayes said that the United States dollar liquidity was increasing, which is likely to push Bitcoin higher.

Another bullish projection came from PlanB, creator of the stock-to-flow family of BTC price models, who said in a post on X that Bitcoin may not stay at the current levels for long. PlanB expects Bitcoin to maintain an average price of at least $100,000 between 2024 and 2028.

Analysts have turned increasingly bullish in the past few days, but traders should exercise caution because every uptrend is bound to have corrections.

Could Bitcoin soar above $38,000 or start a corrective phase? Let’s look at the charts of the top 5 cryptocurrencies that may outperform in the near term.

Bitcoin price analysis

Bitcoin’s march higher has hit a wall near $37,980 but the bulls are not hurrying to close their positions. This shows that traders expect the uptrend to progress further.

The immediate support on the downside is the 20-day exponential moving average ($36,546). If the price snaps back from this support, it will signal that every minor dip is being purchased. That will increase the possibility of a break above $37,980.

If that happens, the BTC/USDT pair could rally to $40,000. This level may pose a strong hurdle to the bulls, but if buyers flip the $38,000 level into support on the downside, the rally could stretch to $48,000.

Conversely, if the price plummets below the 20-day EMA, it will indicate that traders are booking profits. The pair may then dump to $34,800.

The bulls are trying to maintain the price above the moving averages but are finding it difficult to overcome the obstacle at $37,980. The relative strength index (RSI) is just above the midpoint, indicating that the bullish momentum is weakening.

If the price slips below the 50-simple moving average, the pair may plunge to the uptrend line. The bulls are expected to defend this level with vigor. On the upside, a break and close above $38,500 will indicate that bulls are in the driver’s seat.

Uniswap price analysis

Uniswap (UNI) fell below the 20-day EMA ($5.44) on Nov. 21, but the lower levels attracted aggressive buying by the bulls. That started a sharp rally on Nov. 22, which pushed the price to $6.60 on Nov. 24.

The up-move is facing selling near the overhead resistance of $6.70. The UNI/USDT pair has pulled back to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level of $5.92, and the next stop could be the 50% retracement level of $5.71.

A strong bounce off this zone will suggest that traders view the dips as a buying opportunity. That may enhance the prospects of a breakout above $6.70. Such a move will complete a double bottom pattern, which has a target objective of $9.60. The bullish momentum is likely to weaken below the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of $5.50.

The bulls tried to protect the 20-EMA, but the bears had other plans. They pulled the price below the 20-EMA, starting a deeper correction. If the price sustains below the 20-EMA, the pair may tumble to the 50-SMA.

If the price turns up from the current level or bounces off the 50-SMA, it will suggest that lower levels are being bought. The bulls will then again try to propel the price to the overhead resistance of $6.70. If this resistance is surmounted, the pair may skyrocket to $7.80.

Immutable price analysis

Immutable (IMX) has been sustaining above the breakout level of $1.30 for the past several days, suggesting that bulls have the edge.

The price may pull back to the zone between $1.30 and the 20-day EMA ($1.20). This zone is likely to witness a tough battle between the bulls and the bears, but If the buyers prevail, the IMX/USDT pair could climb to $1.86.

Instead, if sellers tug the price below the support zone, it may trigger stops of short-term traders. That could accelerate selling and result in a sharper correction to the psychological level of $1.

The 20-EMA on the 4-hour chart has flattened out, and the RSI is just below the midpoint, indicating a possible consolidation in the near term. The first support on the downside is $1.30. If buyers maintain the price above this level, it will suggest that the $1.30 is acting as a new floor.

On the upside, a break above $1.50 will signal the resumption of the up-move. The pair may travel to $1.59 and then to $1.63. Contrary to this assumption, a fall below $1.20 could tilt the short-term advantage in favor of the bears.

Related: XRP price bull flag hints at 20% rally by New Year’s

VeChain price analysis

Buyers propelled VeChain (VET) above the overhead resistance of $0.023 on Nov. 26 but are struggling to sustain the higher levels as seen from the long wick on the candlestick.

Sellers will try to trap the aggressive bulls and pull the price to the 20-day EMA ($0.021). If the price rebounds off this level, it will suggest a positive sentiment. The bulls will then again attempt to overcome the obstacle at $0.023. If they can pull it off, the VET/USDT pair could rise to $0.027 and thereafter try to reach the pattern target of $0.031.

On the contrary, if bears sink the price below the 20-day EMA, it will indicate that the pair may remain stuck inside a large range between $0.014 and $0.023 for a while longer.

The pair has slipped back below the breakout level of $0.023, indicating that the bears have not given up and are selling at higher levels. The pair could next reach the 20-EMA, which is an important level to watch out for.

If the price rebounds off the 20-EMA, the bulls will make another attempt to drive the price above $0.023 and start the next leg of the rally to $0.027. On the other hand, a break below the 20-EMA may start a deeper correction to $0.020.

Algorand price analysis

Algorand (ALGO) reached the overhead resistance of $0.14 on Nov. 25, where the bears are expected to mount a strong defense.

If the bulls do not give up much ground from the current level, it will suggest that traders are holding on to their positions, expecting a move higher. That increases the likelihood of a rally above the $0.14-$0.15 resistance zone. If that happens, the ALGO/USDT pair will complete a cup-and-handle pattern. This reversal setup has a pattern target of $0.20.

If bears want to prevent the up-move, they will have to drag the price below the critical support at $0.12. If this level gives way, the pair may tumble to $0.11 and then to $0.09.

The 4-hour chart shows that the pair is oscillating inside the $0.12 to $0.15 range for some time. In a range, traders usually buy near the support and sell close to the resistance. It is difficult to predict the direction of the breakout with certainty; hence, traders may consider waiting for the breakout before taking large bets.

If the price breaks above $0.15, the pair is likely to start the next leg of the up-move. The pair may first rise to $0.18 and then to $0.20. This positive view will be invalidated if the price turns down and falls below $0.12.