The sharing economy and VCs: A marriage made through money July 13, 2014 Hitchhiking once meant a compassionate driver picking up a rain-sodden stranger for nothing more than heartfelt gratitude. Today, its modern equivalent is “ridesharing”. Drivers now list journeys on their smartphones and sell seats in advance to offset the cost of petrol. Passengers book a seat online just like booking a train ticket, except that [...]
Gimme 5: Useful websites for entrepreneurs July 13, 2014 ECorner Stanford University’s free resource for entrepreneurs, with over 3,000 podcasts featuring leading businesspeople and experts. There’s also a free app you can download. www.ecorner.stanford.edu Medium The brainchild of Twitter co-founder Ev Williams, Medium is crammed with blogs and accounts from current entrepreneurs. It also offers advice on life and careers more widely. [...]
The nominations roll in as we launch our awards June 29, 2014 It’s that time of year again – City A.M. is today launching its fifth annual awards, one of the most hotly anticipated occasions in the City calendar. The event, which celebrates those who have helped put the City of London at the centre of the world’s financial markets, will take place on 13 November at [...]
Finding strength in numbers: Meet SBD Apparel founder Ben Banks June 29, 2014 Peter Spence talks about the powerlifting business with SBD Apparel’s Ben Banks If you've ever come across the extreme world of strength sports, you’ll probably have got your first introduction stumbling through the TV channels on a Boxing Day morning. Last year, more than a million of us tuned in to watch the competitors of [...]
Gimme 5 June 29, 2014 …OFFICE SPACES FOR STARTUPS Campus Set up by Google, Campus is seven floors of co-working space designed for collaborative innovation. Desks can be rented via TechHub, and its cafe is open to any registered user. Contact TechHub for prices www.campuslondon.com Hoxton Mix A virtual office that offers desk rental in the heart of Tech City, [...]
The perfect fit: Meet Girl Meets Dress co-founder Xavier de Lecaros Aquise June 23, 2014 Harriet Green talks true grit with Girl Meets Dress co-founder Xavier de Lecaros Aquise. Advocates of the sharing economy, otherwise known as collaborative consumption, claim that it is finally reaching a mainstream audience. Earlier this month, for example, the government announced reforms to outdated legislation, ending long-running questions over the legal status of ultra short-term [...]
The workspace, the incubator, and the accelerator: What you need to know June 23, 2014 It's a truism of entrepreneurship that the road to riches is full of at least as many lows as highs. That’s why many entrepreneurs don’t take the leap until they meet the right partner to jump into business with. This isn’t just about co-founders having complementary skills; the support of a business partner can be [...]
Gimme 5: Inspiring books for entrepreneurs June 23, 2014 The Smart Entrepreneur: How to Build for a Successful Business Bart Clarysse and Sabrina Kiefer A hands-on book which coaches the budding entrepreneur through starting a new venture. The 12 chapters can be read as mini-manuals, and cover everything from managing uncertainty to staying ahead of competition. How to Fail at Almost Everything [...]
Raw ambition: Meet Yo! Sushi founder and ex-Dragon Simon Woodroffe June 16, 2014 Harriet Green talks Yo! Sushi and embracing disaster with ex-Dragon Simon Woodroffe For one of Britain’s most ebullient entrepreneurs, Simon Woodroffe is modest about his first steps into business. “The initial motivation was desperation”, he says. The founder of Yo! Sushi, Yo! and former BBC Dragon says that he “started a restaurant in a world [...]
It’s easier than ever to start out as an angel investor – and there’s more to it than money June 16, 2014 IN THE bad old days – when Britain was clearly divided between haves and have-nots – it was easy for the average Marxist to distinguish between the capitalists and the rest of us. However, with shareholdings, private pensions and crowdfunding, things have got a little complicated for those who want to bring down the “owners”. [...]