Features
Imagine yourself, a passionate entrepreneur, building your dream company from the ground up. You’ve poured your heart and soul into it, navigating the treacherous waters of the startup world. After years of relentless effort, you’re finally approaching an exciting milestone: the exit.
There are many reasons why the idea of striking a deal with an investor from Japan may feel like a bridge too far. There’s the language barrier, and the cultural differences, not to mention the sheer distance involved. It’s natural, then, that many consider working with such an investor only as part of exploring the Japanese market itself.
In a world where a single tweet can launch a brand or a viral TikTok can transform a small shop into a global phenomenon, digital literacy is the difference between SMBs thriving or falling behind. Today, entrepreneurs are faced with a new reality: digital hesitancy is just as – if not more – important than understanding business cash flow or generating sales.
The race to net-zero is no longer an aspirational goal – it’s a global imperative. As we surge forward, significant technological gaps stand in the way of realising this ambition. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a striking 35% of the technologies required are still in early development or pilot phases, not yet commercially available.
As taxation is set to rise, is it killing your business? Is tax making it hard for you to turn a profit? At least, a meaningful profit that makes all the risk and hard work worth it.
Hiring international team members can help startups grow quickly and cost-effectively, but navigating international laws can be challenging and often leads to compliance mistakes. Many startups struggle with managing payments and onboarding, especially when using multiple tools, which increases the risk of errors. A lack of proper compliance processes can harm investor confidence and damage the startup’s employer brand.
“The model of the lone entrepreneur – the poor boy with a brilliant business idea who rises single-handedly from poverty; the isolated scholar scribbling brilliant ideas in a garret or country village – is largely mythological.” That was what John Kay and Sir Mervyn King, the former governor of the Bank of England, wrote in their book Radical Uncertainty.
Gartner forecasts that by 2028, three out of four enterprise software engineers will use AI code assistants – a significant increase from less than 10% in early 2023. AI and Generative AI are challenging the traditional software development process, but the integration of this rapidly advancing technology is imminent.
Anna Brailsford, CEO and Co-Founder of Code First Girls, is dedicated to educating and building a community of female coders to bridge the gender divide in the tech industry and connecting them with economic opportunities.
“Talent is the driving force behind tech.” Or so we are told. Yes, someone with the right skillset is critical when it comes to scaling up a startup. But, and I can’t stress this enough, so is their mindset. And that mindset is shaped by you. The leader. The co-founder or the CEO.
A mental health crisis is unfolding among young women. At wonderwork, an ethical marketing agency, we see the critical work that needs to be done within our industry to address the harmful narratives and unrealistic expectations that contribute to this crisis.
Throughout my 20 years working in and around European startups, I’ve always looked to the UK market for inspiration, collaboration, and, of course, investment. At Ryte, we successfully raised funds from UK-based Octopus Ventures. Led by their partner Paul Davidson, we experienced firsthand the immense value that cross-border collaboration can bring.
Statistics show that first-time founders have an 18% success rate. To avoid failure, many new ventures focus heavily on customer feedback.
There were many reasons The King’s Speech could have been draped with discern, doubt and incredulity, as the cracks in the creaking NHS continued to deepen and wild election-based promises faded into insignificance. Yet, that address, even without Colin Firth’s involvement, instilled a surprising level of optimism. For the first time, it seemed genuinely plausible that the words broadcast across the country from the new monarch actually held some promise.
As an entrepreneur, you will face many obstacles on the road to success in your field, and it is crucial that you are passionate about your product or service so that your startup can take off and build a solid customer base.
In the age of thriving online shopping, with millions of people making purchases every day, choosing a product has turned into a challenging task. Endless lists of features, a sea of options, and an ocean of prices, how does one avoid drowning in this flood of information?
Fintech startups are a very hot topic among investors of any kind. Reports state that over the past nine years, they have been ranked as one of the top sectors for investing, especially for VCs. Numbers show that 12% of all VC investments go to fintech startups.
With the Autumn budget just days away, investors and entrepreneurs are waiting nervously for news on the “painful choices” that are being made to plug a £22 billion gap in public finances.
The investment and wealth space is entering an exciting period of change driven by the significant transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. Boomers to millennials. This has been labelled as the Great Wealth Transfer, and will be the largest generational transfer of wealth in history.
A common question that founders ask themselves is when their new company will start to make money. The answer is rarely straightforward, and every startup faces unique challenges based on its industry, market conditions and growth strategy. However, understanding the key stages of its life cycle can provide valuable insights and set realistic expectations for business success.
