Startups

It’s no secret that being a founder is a tough ask. However, you’d be hard pushed to find an entrepreneur that has had to overcome as much adversity as Nour Mouakke, Founder of Wizme, a meeting and group booking management technology solution for venues, intermediaries and organisations that provides end-to-end automation of the booking process.

Balpro helps businesses balance aggressive revenue goals with employee wellbeing, creating aspirational corporate cultures that are safe to log off from. A typical client would be a company that’s flown through hyper-growth but forgotten to nurture their staff along the way, meaning that they’re suffering from a decline in productivity and have started haemorrhaging staff. Balpro helps their leadership get their mojo back, reignite employee engagement, help employees reconnect to the corporate vision and create a more safe, supportive and sustainable environment. Here we interview Founder Amber Coster.

In the UK educational technology (or edtech), is currently significantly under-funded, compared to a market like the US. Despite this, London-based company The Profs is shining through and making great strides when it comes to enhancing the offering of one-to-one education. Startups Magazine caught up with Founder Richard Evans.

Inspiration can be found in the most unusual of places, although clinging to a yacht’s mast in the middle of a Caribbean storm might not be an obvious source of entrepreneurial zeal. However, this was the case for Jelte Liebrand, Founder of marine navigation platform Savvy Navvy, who has also recently been named as the Seedrs Entrepreneur of the Year. We caught up with him to find out more.

With interest rates constantly changing, it can be difficult to secure the best rates every time the market moves. So how can you make the most of your cash?

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, more than ten million people are living with Parkinson’s disease worldwide.

As a keen runner, I have always felt a little caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to headphones while exercising – from the inner earbuds, which while relatively comfortable, tend to be quite unstable and are prone to falling out; and the over-ear versions which are pretty sturdy but by the end of a run feel like they’ve pushed your ears through a mangle (and are not to mention very sweaty). My interest was piqued therefore, when I heard about a new earphone kid on the block, Drown Audio, so I was all-ears when I spoke to Founder and President, Mark O’Callaghan.

As parent to a young child growing up in London, entrepreneur Chris Turner wanted a greater understanding of the air quality in the capital and how it impacts on peoples’ lives and that of his family. However, when he failed to find the air pollution monitor that he was looking for, he decided to set up his own company, BREATHE Tech, and create his own. Startups Magazine caught up with him to find out more.

Every business was once a single person with an idea. Some companies stay that way of course, but most founders will inevitably reach a point where they need help from others. If not before, then at the time when they’ve finished building a product, found a foothold in the market, and their natural next step is focusing on growth. 

British tech startup StageClip is in active discussions with over 250 American universities to facilitate ‘virtual graduations’ in light of many in-person ceremonies having to be postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

This startup has one of the nicest mission’s I have ever come across, and especially with the current global situation it seems we can all use a little bit of Livitay in our lives. At Livitay they are on a mission to make people happier at work. Day to day the co-founders, Jack Needham, James Naylor want to empower teams and individuals to take their wellbeing into their own hands using technology.

Ontruck is an innovation-oriented logistics and transport company, founded in order to develop technologies which will make the road freight experience a smooth and efficient one for both truckers and companies who send shipments.

There are a lot of solutions and products out there to help, monitor and control our physical health but what is out there to help with mental health problems?

Zara Nanu, CEO and Co-founder of Gapsquare, caught up with Startups Magazine to explain how she’s closing the gender pay gap with her cloud-based software.

In today’s technology-driven world it’s easy to forget that some sectors have remained relatively untouched by its advance, and the global gold jewellery industry is a case in point. On the face of it, it’s perhaps difficult to see exactly where technology could make an impact in this extremely traditional industry, which hasn’t changed much since the ancient Egyptians began to adorn themselves with gold nearly 3,000 years ago.

Quite often the best ideas are born out of adversity, and that was certainly the case for Immersive Rehab, a startup specialising in the creation of interactive and engaging physical and neuro-rehabilitation programmes in Virtual Reality (VR).

Atypical is combining the finest natural ingredients with cutting edge customisation technology to create luxury bespoke skincare. Each product is individually made and personalised to suit individual skin types, skin goals and lifestyles. Empowering people to co-create their own skincare products with the help of Atypical Cosmetic’s clever customisation algorithm, using real data to create a bespoke product that helps meet their skin goals.

Finally at The Business Travel Show, Startups Magazine got to speak to Orkun Acikgoz, General Manager of Rent ‘n Connect that allows you to stay stay connected in over 130 Countries, with 4G high-speed pocket WiFi for up to 10 devices. Reserve your choice of Mobile Hotspot on Rent ‘n Connect for the dates you wish to have it or throughout your stay, the essential arrangements will be made and sent to you, so therefore you will be available to use it freely as soon as you pick up your Mobile Hotspot device.

Also at the Business Travel Show we caught up with Khalid Medaghri, Chief Executive Officer at FlightBox, who offer multi-brand and ready-to-go travel kits with Personal Care essentials in travel size (cabin luggage adapted).

Seatfrog is a rail upgrade app that lets standard class passengers bid for a First Class upgrade in real-time or simply ‘buy it now’ and get a new boarding pass instantly on their phone. We caught up with Iain Griffin, the CEO at the recent Business Travel Show.