Thoughts on technology start-ups in Scotland
May 21, 2013 Leave a comment
It is very important to me that I respect the confidentiality of the people I work with, so when I write this blog I seldom say much about the work I’m doing at any particular moment in time.
A few months back I started working on a Proof of Concept project at the University of Strathclyde, and since Scottish Enterprise have written an article on the subject I thought I’d share it:
May 17, 2013 1 Comment
There is a phenomenon I have been observing lately that I’m calling the “Hero Hump”. It concerns the ability of an enterprise to grow beyond its founder, and it’s a question I need to consider in my own business.
The most obvious place I observe it is in small design (and web design) agencies. The process goes like this:
May 8, 2013 Leave a comment
EIE13 takes place in Edinburgh tomorrow, and is one of the biggest investment focussed events we see in Scotland. Some companies will be pitching from the main stage or in one of the specialist areas, and many others will attend to meet and network with investors.
It seems like a good time to point out that I have talked a lot on this blog about the importance of starting to build relationships with investors early on, not least in the Investment Series.
I know I keep linking to posts from Mark Suster, but once again he’s hit the nail on the head in explaining why this is important from the investor perspective too – it’s all about proprietary dealflow!
Good luck to everyone attending EIE13 – it looks like it should be a great day.
May 7, 2013 Leave a comment
From the YCF Newsletter:
“In Autumn 2013, YCF plans to launch a Guide to Finance for Young Companies, online (as a website) and offline (as a printed publication). This will include a directory of useful contacts such as investors and advisors, and a selection of articles giving guidance and advice. The Guide will be free of charge, and will help young companies to consider the funding needs of their business through to profitability, and provide the information needed to find appropriate sources of finance.
We have set up an online survey to canvass views on the content of this Guide – please let us have your views and comments.“
I think this has the potential to be a great resource for the entrepreneurial community, so I’d really encourage you to give your input!
May 7, 2013 Leave a comment
Today, I will mostly be blogging about economics, a subject I know almost nothing about. I’d love to hear comments from anyone who does…
I recently listened to a Radio 4 programme on Zombie Companies (Transcript here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ntfwh) which I found really interesting.
The premise is roughly as follows:
Compared with previous recessions, fewer debts are being called in. Partially this is because interest rates are so low that potentially crippling loans are affordable. Companies and families stagger on in a “Zombie” mode. They are unable to move on from their past debts, but neither are they forced into bankruptcy or receivership. At the same time banks are being gentle with their creditors. Those failing to pay their mortgages are being switched to interest-only products or allowed payment holidays instead of being evicted. Companies are allowed to maintain or increase debt levels that are widely recognised to be unsustainable.
There are two alternative views on this. Read more of this post
May 5, 2013 Leave a comment
I’ve met Alex van Someren a couple of times before in his role at the Amadeus Seed Fund, and although I’ve read his bio before his talk this evening really brought his story to life – I thought I’d share some highlights, not least because I love the title:
The harder I work, the luckier I get!
I think this really captures something important about entrepreneurship, Any young company needs some luck to succeed, but “luck” tends to turn up for those who are out creating opportunities.
To summarise Alex’s story very briefly:
May 3, 2013 Leave a comment
Do entrepreneurs really understand how VCs make money? Another great post from StartupCFO Mark MacLeod: Venture Math 101
April 26, 2013 Leave a comment
I’ve written about how technology matters less than many people think before in Investors, Magic and Mythical Creatures. I thought this piece by a web designer was a great example of how it can apply to sales too…
April 24, 2013 5 Comments
I started working with high-tech startups immediately after completing the Saltire Fellowship in December 2009, but it wasn’t until I got my second contract about this time in 2010 that I was confident I could make a job (or even a career) out of this. After all, working for companies that almost by definition have no cash is not an obviously winning strategy. Three years in, I thought it was time to reflect on what I’ve been up to.
April 19, 2013 Leave a comment
This story hits two hot-buttons in startup management for me. The importance of decision making, and the need to act quickly with staff:
Understanding the Consequences of the Business Decisions You Fudge On
Read and enjoy…
