I was recently asked "what is the best time to start a business"? As someone who started her first business by grasping it out of the clutches of an Administrator (or liquidator as they were called then) in 1991 and then founded Redhotcurry.com in 2001 - post the dot-com bubble bursting - my own timing really 'sucks' (as the Americans would say). Or does it? The flip side of adversity is opportunity. Even if you are still in a job, your career prospects may have dimmed somewhat. If you've been made redundant then perhaps you are clutching a cheque for a large enough sum for start-up finance. You may in the company of some really clever, motivated, talented people in the same boat. So, perhaps the best time to start a business is now, in a downturn? A triumph of optimism over cynicism.

OK. As finance is hard to come by, you might have to sell your home, car and granny and sink all your savings and redundancy payout into your business. But ask yourself this, if you aren't prepared to do that, why should an investor back you? Where's the overriding passion? Where is the risk-taking on your part? Where is the single-minded belief in your product? I don't claim to have the answers, but I'll be attending the Entrepreneurs' Summit on 13 May 2009 to hear from those who do - hope to see you there.