Myles Dickinson took the entrepreneurial world by storm at the beginning of the year when he appeared on BBC’s Dragons’ Den as the youngest EVER solo pitcher and caught the eye of formidable dragon, Steven Bartlett.

Pitch decks and business plans are a very common area for discussion amongst founders and early-stage business owners, especially if those businesses are seeking to raise external funding in any way. And this is as it should be, as these two documents are essential foundation stones for both understanding and running your business, and for raising finance.

Craft, the company building the future of documents, has revealed how incorporating low-maintenance office plants can improve your productivity. 

Greenwashing poses a huge risk to brand reputation, investment prospects and the planet, yet often we think of it as a crime only committed by large, faceless corporations. But the broad definition of the term and increasingly tighter regulations means businesses of all sizes may find themselves subject to greenwashing allegations. There are, however, several steps businesses can take to feel confident in their green claims. Hugo Kimber, CEO of carbon accounting firm Carbon Responsible offers his advice.

For over six years, I’ve been CEO of BetterMe – a health and wellness platform based in Kyiv, Ukraine that caters to users worldwide by providing a tailored, bio-individual approach to fitness and wellbeing.

It’s 2023 and we are truly living in the digital age and all well aware of the rapid rise of social media. In fact there are over 2.5 billion monthly active Instagram users and TikTok, 30.8 million. With this, entrepreneurs and influencers have become much more aware of personal branding and its importance in building a cohesive online presence. Having a powerful personal brand is critical for both personal and professional growth.

The best analogy I ever read about starting your own company is there’s no detailed map to guide you — you have to create your own. That’s why core values become extremely important navigators for any company big or small. Considering the uncharted nature of starting a business, core values serve as the compass that guides your entrepreneurial journey.

With the rise of eCommerce and changing customer behaviours, more businesses are selling their products and services online. This year, the UK’s revenue is expected to increase by 19% - showing the scale of this growth.

The fashion e-commerce industry, valued at $765 billion in 2022 according to a report by Grand View Research, has grown tremendously over the last years, fuelled by an increase on digital connectivity, widespread smartphone use, and a generational shift towards online shopping. However, e-commerce fashion seems to be at risk of losing the growth it has achieved in the past decade by overlooking the transformative power of artificial intelligence.

The dawn of the AI age has only just begun, and we can only guess at the developments which will come to fruition over the next few decades. Some have said that the recent AI breakthroughs are comparable to the invention of the steam engine – and just as the steam engine ushered in the industrial revolution, the AI era will change the way we work forever. Chris Griffiths and Caragh Medlicott, authors of The Creative Thinking Handbook share their insight. Chris is also the founder of Ayoa. 

A successful business needs a well-built and well-designed website in this modern digital era. Nowadays even a small family business has its own website. Having a unique and memorable website is important if you want to build brand recognition, differentiate yourself from your others and stay in the memories of your visitors.

Having climbed the corporate ladder for 18 years within organisations such as; Adobe and Virgin Media O2… Tara Rule, celebrates stepping away from her corporate career, to embrace full time self employment, driven by her love of positive psychology and human behaviour as she now shares her knowledge, and own personal experiences as part of her mission to show other startups, business leaders and professionals… how she reached Senior Director of Global Business Operations at Adobe, whilst bringing up a family, pursuing her own hobbies and interests, training in positive psychology and setting up her business - all with a smile on her face.

When it comes to raising capital for your company, an experienced founder will tell you that getting your foot in the door to pitch for investment is only just the start of the journey. One of the biggest obstacles founders face in their efforts to get funding is the dreaded first round of persuading a group of strangers to put money into your business.

Seth Godin, a writer, speaker, marketing expert, and influencer, describes audiences as tribes, which are groups of people with shared beliefs. As a startup or founder, it's important to determine who your product or service is for and how to connect with them. This is what Seth Godin refers to as finding your tribe.

The world of work is unrecognisable compared to five years ago. The pandemic propelled workplace trends forward and many businesses faced economic headwinds. The unprecedented circumstances prompted people to re-evaluate what they really wanted from their careers, provoked ‘The Great Resignation’, and a battle for talent.

Today, apps are an integral part of our lives. Think about it, to communicate, bank, learn, travel, share content, game, stream, shop and listen - you name it - we all use apps! They’ve transformed the way we live our lives, and at this point, they’re almost tricky to avoid.

Social media has created a new profession known as 'influencer', where individuals with a significant following on social media collaborate with brands to promote products or services in exchange for payment or other compensation. These influencers can be found on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms, where they can create and share content related to the products or services they are promoting.

Do you have frequent feelings of anger, irritability, cynicism, or dread about the prospect of the working day ahead? These could be key indicators that you’re approaching burnout.

Perhaps the biggest question in creativity is, ‘What do you do when you’re stuck?’ In interviewing Andrew Reich, one of the head writers and executive producers of hit TV sitcom Friends, I discovered that there are a number of techniques in leading the creative process that can be generalised and applied to any function or industry. One of the techniques that emerged repeatedly was to embrace taking breaks and changing one’s environment.

While the relationship between wellbeing and performance of employees is often discussed, the mental health of leaders can quickly take a back seat in the face of challenging times.