Don’t fear falling tech firm valuations: This isn’t a repeat of the dot-com bust April 19, 2016 Is tech overvalued? Are we heading for another painful bust? If you only read the headlines and looked at the numbers, you might believe that. After reaching record levels, some tech startup valuations are falling. And with global economic conditions looking gloomy again, those valuations might drop further. Together with my partner Steve Schlenker, I [...]
Britain’s nineteenth century tax system is breaking under twenty-first century strains April 15, 2016 Politicians have noticed (perhaps belatedly) that they have been fiddling with a nineteenth century tax system while taxpayers have been operating in the twenty-first century. The existing tax system is a result of years of tinkering, reflecting the influence of political views and special interest lobbying. This has created vast complexity. We could look to [...]
London Craft Week 2016 kicks off next month – and here’s what to book before tickets run out April 14, 2016 Craft is the new cool. How many craft beers are tickling the taste buds of trendies from New York to New Zealand right now? From craft beer to modern-rustic homes to country-casual hotels, across the globe we have fallen for all things home-made, upcycled, and – the holy grail – bespoke from the maker. And [...]
The three leadership skills to take your business digital April 14, 2016 It would often seem that, to succeed in the digital world, you need to be a young manager in a startup born with digital DNA, like Alibaba, Uber or Google. This is not the case. Research I have conducted indicates that many traditional companies are successfully transitioning to become digital companies, steered by executives with greying [...]
Going to City A.M.’s mayoral debate? Why not play buzzword bingo? Here’s what the bookies think will come up on the night April 12, 2016 Sadiq Khan and Zac Goldsmith go head-to-head in City A.M.'s Mayoral Election Debate on Tuesday night, but what will they say? Never ones to miss the chance to turn a profit, bookies at Ladbrokes have made us offers on the big questions and key points coming up tonight. The betmaker is confident that Labour candidate Khan will hammer [...]
Beware fintech’s pivot to China April 12, 2016 Ever since former Barclays chief executive Antony Jenkins declared an ”Uber moment” for banks, the powers that be from the Square Mile to Canary Wharf have rushed to defend themselves against a herd of ambitious fintech unicorns. But if recent collaborations between financial titans and spritely startups are anything to go by, it appears the [...]
Now you can split London black cab fares with friends (just like Uber) April 11, 2016 One of the features beloved by Uber users is being able to share a fare with a mate at the tap of a phone, but now, you'll be able to do the same with a black cab. Anyone getting one of the 15,000 London black cabs via on-demand app Gett, can now split the cost between [...]
Another sign London’s ultra-high-end homes are losing their sparkle, as One Hyde Park designer Candy & Candy falls into a loss April 8, 2016 When the first homes were sold in 2012, its gleaming towers became the centre of a storm of criticism: now the interior designer behind controversial uber-prime residential development One Hyde Park have slumped into a loss. Figures filed with Companies House yesterday show interior designer Candy & Candy, which designed the communal areas and many of the apartments [...]
Uber to pay millions to settle US dispute over background checks for drivers April 8, 2016 Uber's in the thick of it again, this time having to pay $25m in a settlement to end a lawsuit in America over claims it made on background checks for drivers. The ride-hailing app had been accused of misleading customers over the strength of its background checks on drivers, prosecutors in Los Angeles and San [...]
Bank worries over fintech and an approaching “Uber moment” are subsiding, new research finds April 7, 2016 Bank worries over fintech and an approaching "Uber moment" are subsiding, a new study suggests. A survey of 127 finance industry professionals by Autonomous Research found that while fintech is seen to matter more, the perceived “Uber risk” is receding. Read more: Fintech is coming to take your banking job Nine per cent of those surveyed said [...]