The startup using tech to deliver a personal message
When the post arrives with one handwritten envelope and one that’s typed, which will you open first? Robert Van Den Bergh knows from experience that most of us will pick the one that’s handwritten – in fact, he believes in the power of the personal approach so much that he’s based his business on it. […]
How I evolved from introvert to entrepreneur
Although it’s relatively common, becoming an entrepreneur after spending years as a programmer is a hard transition. Why? Let’s look at the common traits of a programmer: Now, before you brandish the pitchforks at my Twitter account (@Derry_Holt), consider that this is your “introverted” programmer. I’m no stranger to the varying types of coder you […]
How we built a challenger brand on a budget
When we launched Crowdcube in 2011, we were the world’s first investment crowdfunding platform. We were doing something that no one had ever tried before – we were challenging the status quo in a very traditional industry. Being innovative and the first in the market has its drawbacks. It means that you need to create […]
The startup building cutting-edge experiences for Sky and Snickers
Quander’s end-to-end interactive technology experiences have secured them valuable contracts with business giants like Sky, Samsung and YouTube. The team is planning to raise its first outside funding this year, aiming to raise £1.3m to take its immersive tech even further. As a young startup, Quander reached the final stage of The Pitch 2017 and […]
Crowdfunding for seed-stage businesses
In recent times we’ve seen a growing number of more established businesses securing investment from the crowd, but despite that shift, crowdfunding is still the lifeblood for many startups. There is no doubt that crowdfunding has helped open the doors for ambitious entrepreneurs who previously would have found it tough, or even impossible to secure […]
The strategies big subscription box startups used when they launched
Consumer demand for curation has created a big opportunity. Startups are thinking about how products can be delivered, and benefiting from recurring revenue and a captive audience. Did you know you can subscribe to get hand-picked craft beers delivered to your house every month? What about shaving equipment, coffee or film memorabilia? We spoke to […]
How Crowdcube grew from a side hustle to help startups raise more than £625m
Crowdcube’s founders were fed up with the difficulty everyday people had raising funding and investing. Angel investing was limited to people who were very wealthy and you needed a good network to get funding. They envisaged a platform where anyone could invest. The disruptive idea has helped over 800 startups raise more than £625m over […]
Finding startup mentors and getting the most out of the relationship
Starting out young meant that much of our entrepreneurial journey has been heavily influenced by the smart people we’ve met along the way. We were teenagers with an unbridled sense of ambition, but little clue what steps we needed to get there. We were guided by the insights of far more experienced entrepreneurs who gave […]
How to call in favours, make connections and get free stuff
Bootstrapped businesses depend on the founder’s tenacity to cut costs, develop partnerships and get stuff for free. Emma Durkin started Where the Wild Is after leaving her full-time job as head of marketing at a tour operator. She’s built the business on a shoestring budget by getting people to buy into its purpose. Durkin gave […]
How to get shortlisted for a startup competition
Thinking about entering a startup competition? Over 500 startups entered The Pitch 2018. Here are the top five things we learnt from reading those applications and why the shortlisted startups stood out. We’ve packed the blog post full of examples. Use the comments section to share your advice or ask questions. 1. Explain what you do […]
