Innovation Diary: You can start a company and keep a career – and you don’t need to be a part-time entrepreneur March 2, 2014 WORKING 5 to 9 isn’t a Dolly Parton misprint, but the title of a book by Enterprise Nation’s Emma Jones on the growing popularity of part-time startups. Casual entrepreneurship, fostered by services like AirBnB and Rentmygarden.co.uk, can be an opportunity to make some money on the side by renting out your assets. And the already-wealthy [...]
Gimme 5 March 2, 2014 …STARTUPS CROWDFUNDING THIS MONTH Blue Crow Media Target: £50,000 for 5 per cent Creates apps for consumers to discover casual food and drink venues in London and New York. Raised: £13,850 via Seedrs 79 days left BodyFire Target: £200,000 for 10 per cent Fitness and nutrition business created by England Rugby player James Haskell. Raised: [...]
Under the bonnet of peer-to-peer returns February 25, 2014 Whether democratic finance or risky product, the market for P2P investments is becoming increasingly diverse The peer-to-peer lending debate tends to be dominated by extremes. On one side, we hear claims that direct lending platforms are at the forefront of a radical democratisation of finance, cutting out the “middle man” of traditional banking altogether. To [...]
Fullerton Fund Management set to open London office February 25, 2014 Fullerton Fund Management, the Singapore-based investment management firm, is working to establish an office in London, the Treasury has confirmed. Fullerton, which specialises in Asian and emerging market investment solutions, will soon by applying for a licence from the Financial Conduct Authority. Its move to London follows the launch of the government’s Investment Management Strategy [...]
Original thought February 23, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Adam & Eve’s Jon Forsyth about the importance of agility COMMUNICATIONS agency Adam & Eve shook assumptions about the demise of traditional media when it created the 2011 John Lewis Christmas advert (one of five it has now done for the store). The agency was launched in 2008 and merged with [...]
The week in brief February 23, 2014 Coca-Cola to reinvest $1bn in marketing after fall in sales The soft drinks company – one of many struggling to deal with declining demand – plans to make an extra $1bn (£600m) in productivity savings by 2016, most of which will then be reinvested back into marketing. Earlier this month, it announced a drop in [...]
Wake up and smell the coffee February 23, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Coco di Mama founders Daniel Land and Jeremy Sanders – the childhood friends and pasta fanatics who are bringing quick service Italian to professionals across the City UK PASTA sales grew by 6 per cent between 2011 and 2012 to reach £557m. We’re not the only ones engaged in an ongoing [...]
Gimme 5 February 23, 2014 …upcoming events for entrepreneurs How to attract the right investors 27 February, 2pm-6pm Half day workshop from The Funding Game to explore how to attract the right investors to your business. The British Library, £40 Silicon Drinkabout 7 March, 6.30pm-11.30pm Regular after-work drinks evening for startups of all sizes to meet like-minded people. Google Campus [...]
The Digital Effect February 16, 2014 Annabel Palmer discusses trends with Gwyn Jones, BBH’s group chief executive BRITISH advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) has been Agency of the Year twice at the Cannes Lions Festival, and has created notable campaigns including “Vorsprung durch Technik” for Audi and “The Lynx Effect” for Unilever. Group chief executive Gwyn Jones tells City A.M. [...]
The week in brief February 16, 2014 Samsung launches brand marketing platform The electronics company has launched a brand marketing platform, “Launching People”, that will create a TV series where stars (including Idris Elba, Paloma Faith, Gizzi Erskine, and Rankin), will mentor undiscovered talent. Samsung hopes it will help the brand become the “most loved” in Britain. Mini seeks new creative agency [...]
