On the runway to SUCCESS April 27, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Cristobal Lowery, founder of GigaFare, which aims to bring algorithmic trading to the airline industry ARE ENTREPRENEURS born or made? In the age-old debate, Cristobal Lowery – the chirpy 20-something who founded his first company straight out of university – makes a compelling case for the former. In 2010, he created [...]
UK innovators beat the US for optimism but challenges remain April 27, 2014 TODAY, Silicon Valley Bank releases Innovation Economy Outlook 2014, its annual global survey of more than 1,200 executives of fast-growth software, hardware, cleantech and healthcare companies. It offers food for thought for entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers. Thankfully, the main course is a feast of optimism, although challenges remain. Many stereotypes are rooted in fact – [...]
Gimme 5 April 27, 2014 …EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LONDON AND THE SOUTH FINALISTS Aldermore The private equity-backed UK bank provides retail and SME savings accounts, commercial and residential mortgages, and asset and invoice finance. Founded by Phillip Monks, it has operated in the UK since 2009. aldermore.co.uk Cote Restaurants Operator of 47 casual dining restaurants across the UK, [...]
The Iron Brady April 14, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to sporting executive-turned TV star Karren Brady – the Conservative Party’s ambassador for UK small businesses SHE IS known as the First Lady of Football, but Karren Brady’s list of accolades extends far beyond the beautiful game. Wikipedia describes Brady as a sporting executive, novelist, author, TV broadcaster and columnist. And as [...]
The MBA myth: Why business schools are failing entrepreneurs April 14, 2014 WHEN I was 20 years old, I quit my undergraduate degree to become Skype’s first employee. It was an easy choice – trading in the stuffy lecture hall to change the world at an exciting startup. Seven years later, I went back to the classroom, studying for an MBA at the business school Insead. Since [...]
Gimme 5 April 14, 2014 …STARTUPS CROWDFUNDING THIS MONTH Humble Grape Target: £250,000 for 15 per cent An existing and profitable wine merchant and events company raising funds to take the brand to the high street. Raised £308,000 via Seedrs Expires before 10 June Bikini Fling Target: £120,000 for 16 per cent Swimwear brand that enables customers to mix and [...]
Opportunity knocks April 14, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Dan Clays, the man who gave OMD new direction WHEN Dan Clays joined OMD UK as managing director in 2012, he was on a mission. There was, he says, huge opportunity to “bring the agency back into the spotlight”. It was good timing – Clays had been in his previous role [...]
Generation Wealth: Brands are overlooking the most lucrative demographic April 14, 2014 @LiamWardProud COURTING millennials is something of an obsession among media types. With brands chasing the digital trendsetters born between 1980 and 2000, marketing campaigns seem increasingly driven by Twitter hashtags, Facebook follows and all manner of social media buzzwords. This could be a huge mistake. The UK’s population is ageing – quickly. In 2015, over-40s [...]
The week in brief April 14, 2014 OMD awarded £21m UK Disney media account OMD has won Disney’s £21m UK media planning and buying account (part of a wider review into Disney’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa). Havas Media will be responsible for local markets in Benelux, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Disney’s EMEA incumbent agency Carat is contracted [...]
Jupiter Fund Management beats expectations April 11, 2014 Jupiter Fund Management has seen assets under its management increase to £32.2bn in the three months to 31 March. The figure beat stockbroker Numis' estimate of £32.1bn by 0.3 per cent. The company also saw net mutual fund inflows of £465m for the same period and enjoyed £0.5bn of net inflows in the first quarter. It continued [...]
