Live-in care startup marta secures €6.6m in Seed funding to revolutionize the elderly care sector

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25 August 2022

SumUp Impact Fund announces first Venture Investment into marta

marta, the European digital platform for live-in care, announces a €6.6 million Seed round led by Capnamic, alongside co-lead Almaz Capital. GMPVC, Ithaca, SumUp Impact Fund, Verve Ventures and renowned business angels also participated in the round. Existing investors include some of the most prominent German entrepreneurs and business angels Christian Vollmann, Johannes Schaback, Laura Esnola, Dr. Steffen Zoller and Julian Stiefel. The fresh funding will be used to expand the core team in Germany, Poland, Romania and Lithuania and scale up business processes – driven by the mission to set new standards for more affordable, transparent, and reliable live-in care.

marta is changing the way elderly care is offered today, tackling the €18B market in the DACH region alone. Germany alone has more than 4m elderly seeking at-home care, while only 280.000 caregivers work in the ambulant care sector. This huge imbalance creates an opportunity for over 600.000 live-in caregivers from CEE countries to come to Germany to fill the gap.

With its algorithm-based marketplace, marta solves the most pressing problem in live-in care, namely the usually poor fit between careseekers and caregivers. marta’s data-driven approach ensures successful matchmaking and significantly decreases costs and complexity for families seeking care for their elderly relatives while increasing caregivers’ ability to negotiate the terms of their contract and their earnings. Emphasizing transparency and the human sides of the experience, marta aims to improve the quality of elderly care and addresses a pressing societal issue at the same time.

All around the world, families with relatives in need of care and, on the other side, caregivers themselves are facing similar hardships: organizing care is difficult and time-consuming, the market is fragmented and lacks transparency, legal security and expert guidance. Yet, as the worldwide population ages, elderly care is becoming increasingly important. Existing solutions for elderly care can involve as many as 6 intermediaries, which means information critical to matching caregivers with careseekers is usually ignored or lost in the process. Four out of five placements fail as a result, an unsustainably high breakdown rate that leads to distress, confusion and frustration among all involved. marta’s platform leverages data and a proprietary matching algorithm which creates a self-service platform that eliminates such avoidable failures entirely.

“There are hundreds of examples of how elderly care can go wrong and it’s almost impossible for humans to accurately predict placement success. There are simply too many requirements, skills and preferences on both sides to consider. We have seen how difficult it was to organize care with our grandparents. Aging is a natural process and we must have the tools and skills to manage it appropriately. We believe that we can leverage technology significantly to help elderly people and their families as well as the caregivers,” said Jan Hoffmann, co-founder of marta.

marta enables its customers to make their own choices around live-in care. Seniors can decide with whom they want to live. Families have peace of mind knowing that the contractor, who comes into their home has been verified and has been rated by staff and other families before. Caregivers have the opportunity to choose a household based on detailed, verified case information, including photos of the housing arrangement. In addition to the matching function, marta has developed several features to automate the caregivers’ backoffice, enabling them to manage their registration, insurances, invoices and taxes through the platform. Caregivers are thus free to focus on what they do best: providing high-quality care.

“marta has created a transparent marketplace that connects caregivers directly with families seeking care. At this point a truly unique approach based on digitization. We have been following marta for the past months and are impressed by the technology and traction the team has delivered. Most importantly, we are excited about the teams’ enthusiasm for solving a paramount societal problem,” said Jörg Binnenbrücker, Founding Partner at Capnamic.

Philipp Buhr and Jan Hoffmann, marta’s founders, discovered the care industry in a similar way most people do: their grandparents needed care and they were in charge of finding a live-in caregiver. In a complicated, overpriced market, both searched for five years to find a decent agency to work with before their frustration led them to launch marta in 2020 and build what they were looking for themselves. 18 months after launch, marta is active in four countries, and has cumulatively provided at-home care services to over thousand customers and caregivers.

Source cosmyc Partners

We have an ambitious roadmap and we are taking it one step at a time

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Quepatagra

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23 August 2022

0

Upmarqt is a personalised platform that helps early stage startups, in a matter of minutes, build perfect outsourced teams of experts who specialize in working with startups and only join by referral from other founders and after a 2 step vetting process

Please introduce yourself and the Startup Upmarqt to our readers!

I’m Olga Ten, the Founder of Upmarqt. I started my entrepreneurial journey in early 2022 after 12 years of corporate.

At Upmarqt our mission is to make building great startup teams really straight forward. We do that by matching founders in a matter of minutes with specialists and boutique agencies referred by other founders and additionally vetted by us.

We cover areas such as marketing, development, design, fractional CMOs/COOs, fundraising and more. Pretty much anything a startup needs to successfully grow through the early stages.

Why did you decide to start a business?

During the pandemic I did a lot of thinking about what my real strengths and talents were. At work I was recognised as an overachiever and so I thought that if I did something that I was truly passionate about, I could really make a difference.

I’m excited by new ideas and the dynamism of startups and my zone of genius is seeing talent in people and creating great connections. Combining my passion with my corporate background in business launch I felt like I had an idea that could fill a gap in the market.

That is where the idea of Upmarqt came from.

What is the vision behind Upmarqt?

23% of startups fail due to a poor team composition. We want to help more startups succeed. The vision behind Upmarqt is to enable startups to build and manage winning scalable teams fast. We create a plug and play solution of specialists and boutique agencies that know how to take startups to the next level.

From the idea to the start what have been the biggest challenges so far and how did you finance yourself?

I am still financing Upmarqt myself. This came from my savings and the revenue we are starting to generate. I have a very lean and brilliant team. We only spend our resources on things that will take us to the next level. This means that we have to make choices and find creative solutions.

The biggest challenge for me is the fact that as a founder you don’t have the support of corporate resources, where you could just go and ask a colleague. But you are effectively on your own and more often than not you have no idea how you are progressing.

Who is the target group of Upmarqt?

We work with early stage startups that are ready to onboard specialists or boutique agencies for either a retainer or for a project. We come in when founders are looking for part-time marketing support or a development agency to build their MVP or an Accountant.

How does Upmarqt work? What are the advantages? What makes you different from other providers?

Founders spend up to 40% of their time on HR, recruitment and payroll activities. That’s insane.

On Upmarqt founders are matched with the best suited specialists within 2 minutes. All of the specialists and agencies have been referred to us by other founders and additionally vetted by us.

We also hold live training sessions by our specialists for the founders to help them build the best possible team and effectively manage it.

We give time and headspace back to the founders. And that’s what makes us different.

How has your company changed with Corona?

Upmarqt was started during Covid. And if anything Corona has created more opportunities as more and more highly skilled people are turning to freelancing or to starting their own startups. So our talent pool and target market have become bigger.

Where do you see the opportunity in the crisis?

Crisis forces you to find creative solutions and it expands your view. You start to approach things differently, which helps you grow.

Upmarqt, where does the road go? Where do you see yourself in five years?

I want Upmarqt to help the world of startups survive and scale. I have a passion to enable service providers to do more of what they love. We have an ambitious roadmap and we are taking it one step at a time. In 5 years from now I see myself part of this journey in one way or another.

More information you will find here

Thank you Olga Ten for the Interview

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

Take care of yourself

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Quepatagra

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19 August 2022

0

Loupedeck: Loupedeck Live S make editing images and videos easier

Please introduce yourself and your startup Loupedeck to our readers!

Hello! My name is Felix Hartwigsen and I’m the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Loupedeck based in Helsinki, Finland. Loupedeck was founded in 2016 by a team of photo enthusiasts in 2016 to make editing images and videos easier. The associated crowdfunding campaign was a huge success, exceeding its goal by 488 percent! Now here we are in 2022 with a team of 50+ people about to release Loupeck’s 4th console, Loupedeck Live S.

How did you get the idea of Loupedeck?

Our founder Mikko loves taking pictures, but hates editing them on a PC with a mouse and keyboard. It quickly became clear that many creative people feel the same way as Mikko.

Loupedeck started as a one-man project and quickly became much bigger. It was a bit like the classic story of the small garage company that grew rapidly. After successful crowdfunding and seed-funding, we soon hired people for different departments of the company, such as marketing, sales, customer service, etc.

Why did you decide to start with Loupedeck?

For our first console, the classic Loupedeck, we focused on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. That was our proof of concept, the proof that a market existed for our idea. Through this campaign, we attracted the attention of well-known angel investors from Finland, some of whom we were able to get on board. We closed the last major Series A financing round with capital from Razer and PlayVenture in the summer of 2021.

What is the vision behind Loupedeck?

Our vision is to bring back fun to people editing their content – by letting them press real buttons and turn dials to adjust color values, select scenes, create content, stream games, and much more. Loupedeck consoles see themselves as an analog Swiss Army knife for digital creators. A tool that, thanks to comprehensive integrations, can be used with any relevant creative software – from Adobe Lightroom to Photoshop, from Final Cut to OBS.

The Loupedeck+ is designed for photographers and videographers and, thanks to dedicated dials and buttons, speeds up work with Adobe programs such as Lightroom or Photoshop. Let’s take the example of a wedding photographer: After a long day of shooting, I love to have several thousand photos that need to be culled, rated and edited. All of these steps can be assigned to a specific button on the Loupedeck+. Where before you had to search through menus and move sliders with the mouse, now you just need to push a button on the Loupedeck to perform a series of actions.

The Loupedeck Live continues this key idea, but is much more compact than the Loupedeck+ and features a freely customizable and swipeable touchscreen. The Loupedeck Live is designed for ambitious content creators and streamers. Especially the latter have their hands full during a live session – and are happy if they can change scenes, fade in overlays or activate chatbots instantly at the touch of a button.

With the Loupedeck CT, we offer experienced professionals a fully comprehensive tool including a large, configurable rotary wheel. The CT can be used in all conceivable creative workflows – from image editing, audio and video editing to a controller for live streaming.

How difficult was the start and which challenges you had to overcome?

The most difficult challenge so far has been the Corona pandemic. We produce our products in China, and most of the people working there came from the Wuhan region. Which means that the entire production was shut down for two months. As a Start-up with small inventories, this hit us extra hard. In some regions, we were completely sold out and could not cover the demand. When the factories were able to reopen under strict conditions, the next blow hit us with the component/raw material shortage. Relevant components had delivery times of 12 months and longer. Fortunately, the situation has eased considerably meanwhile.

Who is your target audience?

Our product portfolio addresses photographers, videographers, content creators and streamers who regularly create content – be it professionally or privately. Our goal is to offer everyone, from beginner to seasoned professional, a suitable tool to make their creative workflows faster, more precise and more productive. And productivity seekers and people who work remotely also have fun with our consoles – be it through plugins for the Spotify playlist, various Microsoft services or the calculator that can be called up at the touch of a finger.

What is the USP of your startup?

At Loupedeck, we design and distribute custom consoles that eliminate technical barriers to streamline creative processes. With Loupedeck consoles, you’re connected to your creative software seamlessly through smooth tactile controls. Simply push a button or turn the dial and you’re ready to create content, edit photos and videos.

Can you describe your typical workday?

Especially in a young growth company every day is different, but I tend to start early in the morning while it’s still quiet to do work that requires more focus.

Later in the morning or early afternoon I usually have meetings with my team, agencies, or other stakeholders from different functions of the business to discuss ongoing projects, plans, key metrics, strategy, etc.

The afternoon in general tends to be meeting heavy but I always try to keep some space in my calendar for ad-hoc or if my team needs to support with anything.

I usually leave around 16.30 to pick up my kids.

Any time zone sensitive calls or meetings often require additional working time later in the evening or very early mornings.

Where do you see yourself and your startup Loupedeck in five years?

With the Loupedeck Live S, the next product is already in the wings, with release planned for October 2022. The Live S is a scaled-down version of the Loupedeck Live and is aimed at price-conscious streaming beginners. In cooperation with Razer, we also recently presented the Razer Streaming Controller, which is based on the Loupedeck Live in terms of appearance and technology and uses the same software. This will continue to be our path in the future: licensing our software to more major providers. There’s also the Marketplace, which we are continuously filling with plugins, profiles, sounds and item packages – it’s filled with over 80 pieces of content already after a short time. This is another area where we want to and will continue to integrate partners and third-party providers.

What 3 tips would you give to founders?

Ask for advice: whether it’s from other founders or people in your network. When building a startup, you often get into supposed blind alleys, but at the end it always continues. With outside help, you can usually see the path much faster.

Take care of yourself: It takes a balance to startup, no one can power through 24/7 and perform well.

Smile: Setbacks are quite normal when founding a company. Successes that are achieved together push you even more.

More information you will find here

Thank you Felix Hartwigsen for the Interview

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

What benefits will your work bring to others

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Quepatagra

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17 August 2022

0

Incari creating a modern digital ecosystem that gives everyone control over their personal data

Please introduce yourself and your startup Incari to our readers!

My name is Osman Dumbuya and I co-founded Incari with Alexander Grasse and Abdallah Huballah in 2012 and renamed the company in 2021. Incari a German based start-up creating a modern digital ecosystem that gives everyone control over their personal data.

Unlike makers of other operating systems Incari, doesn’t want to be the ‘middle-man’ – it gives companies the platform to build software so they can retain the management and security of the data of their customers.

Our Incari OS (operating system) ultra-secure with a decentralize communication layer for data transfer. It also allows users to control exactly who sees their data and empowers them to receive micropayments from it (using Incari Marketplace).

Incari is also beneficial for automotive manufacturers because it gives them greater access over the data their customers are generating – rather than being bound by the terms of existing operating systems.

How did you get the idea of Incari?

We started with Incari Studio because we thought there had to be a better, more inclusive way of collaborating between software developers and designers working on HMI – human machine interfaces, be they in car dashboards, phones and tablets or state-of-the-art eVTOLs (electric aircraft).

What is the vision behind Incari?

We are creating a world-leading digital infrastructure that gives everyone sovereignty over their personal data. One that conserves natural resources and makes the development and use of technology as easy and fair as possible.

How difficult was the start and which challenges you had to overcome?

We had the unique opportunity to start with a fresh sheet of paper and design from the ground up how software engineers and designers would collaborate to develop new and innovative technologies for vehicles that haven’t’ even been invented yet. We recruited innovators and free thinkers, leaders in their field to help us rewire the rule book and help consumers gain control of their personal data.

Who is your target audience?

Our target audience is anyone designing Software and innovative HMIs for industrial equipment, vehicles, home energy systems, etc. Literally anyone who is designing the interface for a human and machine interaction. Our unique software can make the process simpler, quicker and unlock next generation technologies, such as in air haptics – ultrasonic buttons you can press in mid-air!

What is the USP of your startup?

We simplify technology and make it accessible to designers, so they have the building blocks to create the next generation of Software and HMIs. We enable software developers to give sovereignty of people’s personal data back to them.

Can you describe your typical workday ?

My workday starts quite early. I usually start with read all sorts of news, to see where new innovations are popping up or where I can understand better which issues people are running into. Sometimes I recognise that people or industries are fighting with issues, where we might have a solution for. However, reading the news and understanding what is going on in the world, is to me a source of inspiration. I believe that the purpose of becoming an entrepreneur is to find solutions to problems, that other people might have.

When I am at work, I usually have many meetings about where we are in terms of development, which next steps need to be taken and where we might have difficulties which need to be addressed. In the evening hours after work, there are often additional meeting or dinners with other company owners, managers, or Investors. So having a twelve-to-fourteen-hour workday is not that unusual. Therefore, it is important to me, to spend the weekends mostly with my family. But to be honest, having few meetings on the weekend is not unusual.

Where do you see yourself and your startup Incari in five years?

We are of course very ambitious with our company goals. We want to become a noticeable tech provider in the IT-Business within the next few years. We want to enable people to establish a new kind of data economy, where private data becomes private again, and every single person can decide easily under which terms, condition, and costs he or she is willing to share their data with third parties. We will provide our users technologies, that allow them easily to create complex software with next generation interaction paradigms that will give users completely new experiences working with computers and machines. We want to support the integration of digital infrastructure and access to secure data-transfer into our everyday life in a seamless and almost invisible way.

What 3 tips would you give to founders?

I believe that one of the key factors to success is not to be driven by money, but by your mission. What benefits will your work bring to others. This is what defines your works value. The bigger the benefit is for others, the more your product will pay off for yourself.

Do not be afraid of potential existing competitors. Everybody is mostly working with the same set of tools. In Germany we say, everybody is cooking with water. So, others will have to face the same struggles as you do to achieve your goals. But if you are willing, to put more effort into your work than others are, you will always have the chance to come out on top. Keep in mind, that big enterprises usually need much more time to change their course or make use of new technologies or approaches. These are the opportunities where an entrepreneur can have a head start compared to others. Keep in mind, every existing company started ones small.

Building a company is not a hundred-meter sprint, but much more a marathon. But this marathon is not going to end. So always have an eye on your recourses and stay patient. You might have the right idea, and might have built the right product, but sometimes you are just a bit ahead of the market. So, staying in the game is a key factor for success. Stay in the game, until your time is ready.

More information you will find here

Thank you Osman Dumbuya for the Interview

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

Complete Guide Of Web Design Process For A Startup

By

Quepatagra

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13 August 2022

0

So, do we get it right? There was a thought that popped into your brain, and you decided to try your hand at a startup? In this case, you need a distinctive web design because it is impossible to ignore its importance in today’s environment. What about riding on the wave of achievement with your brand-new website?

Determine your objectives.

Before developing a site, it is critical to define the primary objectives. It will help you select web design, understand associated risks, and define roles and responsibilities.

Generally speaking, a more interactive website will have more tasks. Some websites may have a minimalist-looking web design. It is possible when they only convey information about the product line and services, opening times, and address. Others may connect their consumers through events, promotions, online forums, and other means.

As a result, your site’s approach should always be determined by multiple aspects. These also include your promotional strategies, responsibilities of the company, and possible dangers.

Select a domain name.

You are mistaken if you believe that having an excellent website grants all the perks at once. Individuals will not come to the online project regardless of the domain name. That is not how it works.

The domain name is the most essential part of your website. It makes or ruins it. It adds value to your site by making it easier for customers to locate and identify you.

What are some pointers for selecting a domain name?

Choose a name that is both straightforward and unforgettable.
Choose the .com extension.
It must be simple to write, speak, and spell.
Use hyphens and digits carefully.
Choose a name that does not violate any intellectual property rights.
Shorter is usually preferable.
Check that the name will be available on social networking networks.

3. Opt for a reliable web hosting provider.

Before developing a startup web design, it must have a location to be viewed on the Internet. You can link your site to the Internet only through web hosting.

How may a bad hosting company harm your website?

Revenue decline.

Your online project may be regularly unavailable. It will stop prospective customers from learning about your company.

SEO suffers too.

Poor downtime will have an impact on website rating. Sluggish websites are always ready to harm your search engine ranking.

Security breaches.

There is no ideal way for maintaining a safe website. However, only a reliable web hosting will protect your info and assist you in recovering it in case of an attack.

Begin to set up a web design layout.

At this point, you have several variants to go with. It is possible to employ a professional digital company or choose web design tools. These can be website templates, visual builders, and others.

First of all, you need to choose a content management system. This platform will help you change material on the site. You will be ready to upload photos, develop new pages, and publish posts.

Essentially, when people start wondering how to start a business online, they turn to WordPress. It is one of the greatest CMS, and an overwhelming number of websites utilize it. The platform provides features and plugins for new players, as well as options for advanced users who need more. It also works on mobile devices, which is valuable for SEO.

Take into account that custom designs are not inexpensive. In addition to this, it will take longer to get your website published. In general, basic websites will cost you at least a couple of thousand dollars. Sophisticated sites and online shops have much greater pricing.

As a result, it may be smarter to work with WordPress themes for startups. You are free to find a wide range of ready-made solutions on different marketplaces, including TemplateMonster.

Define your content.

Once you have decided on a platform, it is time to think about what your startup web design needs to convey. Make sure to keep it basic, use minimum text, and have intuitive navigation on each page. It is also essential to add a registration form, a newsletter subscription, and a “Contact Us” button.

Adding social proof or content that strengthens trust is also crucial. If your startup site sells a product or service, utilize client testimonials to generate trust-building material.

Most users will not take action until you ask them to. For this reason, calls to action are critical components of your selling process. They will assist visitors in growing into prospects, prospects will turn out to be buyers, and buyers will become regular clients.

Focus on the overall web design.

When you have everything you need to build a website, it is the moment to bring it all together. It takes less than three seconds for a person to determine whether to stay or exit a website. As a result, making a strong initial impression is critical.

Here are a few suggestions to make your startup web design engaging to visitors.

Easy to follow navigation.

A person must be ready to gain knowledge about your business, get prices, and contact you effortlessly. Users will abandon your website if it is complicated to navigate.

Short website loading speed.

People become angry and frustrated if a site takes too long to display. We are pretty sure that they will go elsewhere if they are not satisfied. To ensure that your website loads quickly, do not forget to check your web host provider and extra web design tools.

Publish and review your site.

Before launching your site, ensure that it functions properly. It must be compatible with all modern devices and browsers. Examine each page and functionality to confirm that graphics and links are working correctly.

Analytics is another fundamental factor to link to your website. They allow tracking the site productivity and the number of visitors to discover whether the page is effective or not.

A Few Words in Conclusion

Fortunately, the powers of the digital era make it all achievable. Together with ready-made solutions by TemplateMonster, the question about how to start a business online will be easy to answer. A user-friendly and eye-catching site that distinguishes you from others provides a startup with a significant boost. Thanks for reading!

Photo by pixabay

Autor: Frank Hamilton

More articles from Frank Hamilton you can find here

Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English.

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

How to set up a productive working space at home

By

Quepatagra

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12 August 2022

0

Working from home full-time is an increasingly common choice amongst employees. As a startup business, this is a positive trend allowing you to invest a considerable amount of money into growth as opposed to rent and maintenance of an office space. However, even when working from home, it’s of paramount importance that you and your staff have a productive set-up and not just work from your sofa or a kitchen table. So, get your best tool hire ready, as these tips will tell you how to build the perfect home office in any space.

Find a separate space

Not many people have a spare room at home to put their office in. Nonetheless, your workspace must be separate from all your other living areas, otherwise you will find yourself distracted and unable to switch between work and leisure in your own home.

There are many creative ways to have a separate space even in the smallest of homes. Some people turn their cupboards into a tiny office, while others build multi-functioning areas, where the office can be easily shut away. Building a small shed in a garden for that purpose is also popular.

Finding and building this space can turn into a fun DIY project, however, try to avoid unnecessary purchases, as you’ll still need to invest in a good office desk and chair.. Renting or borrowing different items is a good way to do this. Use a ladder hire for a day instead of buying a new one, for example.

Ensure good lighting

Lighting may seem like a tiny detail but it’s actually one of the most important factors in a home office when it comes to productivity and your mental wellbeing. A dark space will make you feel cramped and claustrophobic, even if you’re sitting in a large space.

Having a good amount of natural daylight should be your priority, however, if that’s not possible, use optimal artificial lighting to mimic it for a similar effect. Avoid dim or overly warm-toned lights – while those do a good job in creating cosy spaces, they can also make you feel sleepy and unmotivated.

Keep it organised

A clean and organised workspace equals an organised mind too. While some people thrive in an “organised mess” type of environment, most of us tend to feel more stressed and anxious in such spaces without even realising. Therefore, make sure that your home office has a dedicated place for everything.

Again, there are so many good ways you can organise your working area. Don’t be afraid to use your vertical space with cupboards or shelves. Make use of drawers or other types of standalone organisation units.

Make it personal

Who said that your workspace cannot be fun and exciting? It should be a space that you love and enjoy spending your time in as well as reflect your personality. So, once you have figured out a comfortable and ergonomic space, don’t be afraid to get creative with it! Use different types of decorations, plants, pictures, motivational quotes, a pop of colour or whatever else makes you happy to make your space more enjoyable and inspiring to be in.

Author: David Williams

Bild pixabay

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

Use your network and ask questions

By

Quepatagra

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8 August 2022

0

IONETIC design and build electric vehicle battery pack technology

Please introduce yourself and your start-up IONETIC to our readers!

I’m James, the CEO & Founder at IONETIC, a UK based start-up that helps niche vehicle-makers and automotive OEMs overcome the challenges of transitioning to electrification. We do that by using our state-of-the-art platform and in-house production strategy to manufacture optimised, cost-effective battery pack solutions, overseeing the whole process, from initial concept to final production.

Before starting IONETIC I studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London, where I went on to become a researcher at the Electrochemical Science and Engineering Group there. I grew up in Yorkshire and love playing piano and guitar, as well as being a massive Manchester United fan – hope that doesn’t put anyone off from reading on!

After speaking to several smaller vehicle companies in the UK, I noticed that many were in critical need of support in all stages of the battery pack value chain – from having the initial vision to producing a vehicle ready, fully optimised battery.

How did you get the idea of IONETIC?

The existing solutions available to them were either substandard, too expensive, or took too long to develop. It became clear that a business like IONETIC was needed, especially for the smaller and niche manufacturers who often need something bespoke and not necessarily mass produced.

Why did you decide to start IONETIC?

While working as a researcher at Imperial College I often found myself being the expert in the room on battery packs, even though I was meeting with seasoned OEM experts with 20 years’ experience in combustion engines.

I also felt like I could genuinely make a difference. Many niche vehicle makers are the unsung heroes that keep society functioning. Trucks, construction vehicles, and service vehicles for example, all need to electrify if we are to hit net zero.

I’m personally a huge fan of many of the British iconic car brands too but the gigafactories are mainly catering for the mass produced popular everyday vehicles. It seemed there was a risk that some of these marques wouldn’t survive electrification unless someone offered a solution like IONETIC.

Lastly, and importantly for getting investment, there’s a huge financial opportunity in the electric vehicle battery space – the sector is set to grow 15-30% CAGR for the next 10 years – and so the entrepreneur in me was hugely attracted to that.

What is the vision behind IONETIC?

We’re here to develop world leading battery technology, reduce carbon emissions, and make sure we are the go-to company for battery pack design and manufacture across Europe. We’re currently focused on the niche sector but plan to expand into more every day, popular, consumer vehicles as the business scales.

How difficult was the start and which challenges have you had to overcome?

Staying strategic whilst being laser-focused was something I initially found difficult and so had to work on. Coming from a highly technical and engineering background, it probably wasn’t in my nature to be out of the lab and in PowerPoint, but overseeing strategy is now my most important job. It’s easy to get distracted by something interesting going on in the lab, but you’ve got to prioritise and make sure you’re achieving the goals for the day and for the week.

For the company, the biggest challenge so far has been how often we run into chicken and egg problems. For example, it’s harder to get customers without a manufacturing facility, and you can’t get the funding for a manufacturing facility without customers. We’re planning to open our first manufacturing facility in the UK next year.

Who is your target audience?

Our main customers are currently niche vehicle makers in the UK and Europe – companies that make less than 10,000 vehicles per year. These types of companies tend to be makers of either low volume passenger cars or construction and service vehicles. Most don’t meet the minimum order quantities for many of the global battery pack suppliers and need a cheaper bespoke option.

That’s where we come in. Designed with flexibility and customisation at its heart, our platform enables each battery pack concept to be adjusted cell by cell – creating a solution that efficiently utilises the available space, increases energy density and meets customers’ specific packaging requirements.

Can you describe your typical workday?

I’m not a morning person and so I’m in the office normally around 10am. On Mondays, we have our weekly kick off where we make sure everyone’s clear on their goals, and people can identify any problems they have or dependencies. Then it’s normally meetings, emails, and creating presentations and documents.

I spend time doing engineering too, whether setting out product specification documents, or setting up tests in the lab – although this is now becoming less frequent.

I’m not sure who said it first, but it’s true that in a start-up you work until 6pm – and then the work actually starts! While we’re scaling up, anything we don’t have covered also falls to me, like reconciling our accounts, or HR.

Where do you see yourself and your start-up IONETIC in five years?

In five years, we plan to have manufactured over 10GWh of battery packs to go in vehicles all over the world. Our internal calculations estimate that means we’ll have prevented at least 100,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, and probably saved a few hundred lives through reduced urban pollution.

I hope we’ll have developed some amazing technology to help reduce the cost of electrification, and get more vehicles electrified, as well as improving user experience through better energy density and higher performance.

Personally, I still see myself leading IONETIC. The company will be vastly different by then but I’m looking forward to everything I’m going to learn along the way.

What 3 tips would you give to founders?

Be confident. Hopefully you’re an expert in what your start-up is working on, but you need to persuade everyone else you are too. Credibility is hugely important and if you’re on the younger side (like me) and haven’t made a name for yourself already, you have to make sure people know that you’re an expert in your field.

Use your network and ask questions. Your network is one of your most valuable assets. Try to ask lots of questions and get feedback otherwise you’re less likely to learn and more likely to make mistakes. Form a non-exec advisory team who have lots of experience doing something similar to you and ask them anything, pick their brains. This advisory team will probably come from your network.

You need to be a people person and a strategic business thinker. If you’re not one, then try to learn how to be one. It will get you way further if people like you off the bat and you can get them to laugh with you. If that’s just not you (which is fine – just be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses), hire a team leader who has people skills and loves your business idea. There are some great examples of this like Gwynne Shotwell at SpaceX, or Eric Schmidt at Google, neither are founders, but both have done great jobs are various points for the companies they are at.

More information you will find here

Thank you James Eaton for the Interview

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

Focus on the journey

By

Quepatagra

-

2 August 2022

0

Zette lets news readers pay for individual articles instead of digital subscriptions

Please introduce yourself and the startup Zette to our readers!

Zette is a media tech startup that lets news readers pay for individual articles instead of digital subscriptions; we share revenue with news publishers, funding great journalism and letting consumers pay less.

Users can download the Zette browser extension to open, read, and share quality journalism behind paywalls; a single $9.99 subscription unlocks 30 paywalled articles each month.

Zette was founded in 2020 by 26-year-old Yehong Zhu, a former Forbes journalist, Twitter product manager, and Harvard philosophy graduate.

Why did you decide to start a business?

My mother was a journalist, so I grew up with tremendous respect for journalism and the value of news in our society, particularly the way in which it keeps us informed and shapes our perspective on the world. As an undergraduate at Harvard, I dove into every student publication I could get my hands on and wrote for all the newsrooms on campus.

My body of work landed me a gig at Forbes Magazine in 2016, where I was the youngest contributor in the business reporting department. It was in the national newsroom that I began to see the problems of journalism as a business model, particularly the difficulty that many outlets faced in transitioning from print to digital.

At the time, digital content was being given out for free, and the margins on programmatic advertising were razor thin. It was clear to me that a lot of companies were going to transition to subscription paywalls. But if every outlet put up a paywall, it would put consumers in a bind. It’s unrealistic to ask readers to pay for unlimited access across every news site, and it’s also expensive and inconvenient to put your credit card down for more than one or two digital publications.

To me it made a lot of sense to create a model where readers could pay directly, but just for what they wanted to read. The seeds for a “pay-as-you-go” model were planted when I was at Forbes, and started germinating after I worked in product at Twitter. When I started building features for millions of consumers worldwide, I understood the importance of accessibility, ease of use and a delightful product experience.

All of those learnings inspired me to found Zette.

What is the vision behind Zette?

We’re unlocking access to legitimate journalism at an affordable price. Access to factual information is critical in a democracy, both for elections and for civic engagement. Particularly during times of great crisis or economic uncertainty, it’s important for everyone to have access to the right information in order to make the best informed decisions about their lives and livelihoods.

Misinformation has spread like wildfire over the years, and the genesis of clickbait is due to monetary incentives. Online advertising makes money based off of how many eyeballs a content provider can lure to a page, not on how objective the story is or how valuable it is to readers—and overly sensationalized reporting brings eyeballs, which bring clicks, irrespective of the damage that fake content might propagate.

That’s why at Zette, we fully believe in working with a vetted list of partners with reputations for high editorial standards of journalistic integrity. We introduce more audiences to premium sources so that they have access to a better content diet in their day to day lives.

From the idea to the start what have been the biggest challenges so far and how did you finance yourself?

Starting a company during a global pandemic was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. The pre-pandemic playbooks that were written for recruiting, fundraising, and building culture for startups were all rewritten overnight. All guardrails disappeared.

As a first time founder, I had to experiment tirelessly to figure out what strategies worked for me and the kind of company I was building.

I recruited my entire team over Zoom before I met any of them in person. That requires a high degree of trust on both sides, especially during a pandemic, but we made it work. Sometimes it felt like we had to run through walls to make progress. As just one example, we built our initial publisher relationships by reverse engineering the emails of executives at publications we wanted to talk to. If a certain publisher didn’t want to work with us at the time, we’d be so persistent that we eventually got the meeting anyway.

A lot of VCs couldn’t see the value in a tech-enabled consumer news solution because media as an industry had not seen much VC investment relative to pure-play software investments, and where money goes, money usually follows. But what we’re doing at Zette is important exactly because the media industry is in dire need of innovation—and in need of more smart people to figure out better solutions. We’re not a startup with a lot of copycats in the market; we’re one of the few actively working on an idea that is both overdue in the market and affecting billions of people worldwide.

Who is the target group of Zette?

Our target audience is Gen Z and millennial users not accustomed to reading the news—but who want to become more civically engaged and up-to-date on current events. Our easy-to-use Chrome extension is best suited for young users with familiarity around tech products. Also, Zette’s low price means we only offer a limited number of articles per month (30), so our product is best suited for casual readers.

How does Zette work? What are the advantages? What makes you different from other providers?

Users download the Zette browser extension and subscribe to Zette to receive article credits that refill every month. Each credit can unlock one paywalled article. Readers browse the news normally until a paywall pops up; a Zette notification will appear, allowing the reader to unlock the paywall with one click across all Zette partner sites.

See our demo here

Zette, where does the road go? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Zette is currently focusing on the American news market, which boasts vast potential: one in five Americans pay for at least one news subscription, and half of all Americans would consider paying for a news subscription if they could no longer get access to the articles they wanted to read.

As such, the TAM for digital news subscriptions was $11 billion and growing by double digits in 2021, and we believe this industry has the potential to crown a new category king. In the next five years, we’ll certainly be working hard to fill that position.

At the end: Which 3 tips would you give to future founders?

I think a lot of first-time entrepreneurs see starting a company the way amatuer climbers see climbing Mount Everest. They see it as a kind of grand accomplishment, particularly when they picture themselves at the top.

The problem with that framing is this: if you pin all your hopes on reaching the top of that mountain, you’re going to disregard your journey on the way there. Also, anything other than summiting will feel like failure. Through trials and tribulations, I learned that starting a company isn’t about getting to the top of the mountain—it’s about becoming the kind of person who can climb mountains, no matter how steep.

Had I had this perspective when just starting out, I would have been a lot less discouraged by the setbacks and the obstacles that I faced. A mountain climber who goes out to climb with only the objective of reaching the top will get frustrated every time they slide backwards, by every trip and fall. A goal that ambitious will feel impossibly out of reach.

But when you focus on the journey—on the love of the sport—and keep putting one foot in front of the other, you’ll look up one day and realize that you’ve reached your destination.

More information you will find here

Thank you Yehong Zhu for the Interview

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

How to Prepare for Your Startup’s Future

By

StartupValley

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29 July 2022

0

Preparing for an IPO and Beyond

An initial public offering (IPO) is a rite of passage for many startups. The process can take several years, and it’s important to start preparing early. To help you on your path to an IPO and beyond, here are some steps you should take to ensure your company has a future as bright as its present. A successful company isn’t built overnight. Before reaching this point, founders have likely worked tirelessly to grow their business from an idea into a profitable and sustainable entity. There’s still plenty of work left to do before a company is ready for an initial public offering (IPO). An IPO is the final stage before going public, which means the organization will sell shares of stock on the market instead of privately selling shares directly to investors or partners. According to historical data, IPOs are considered by many stock analysts the best stocks to buy now.

This process involves additional regulations and requires different transparency and accounting practices measures.

Prepare for Transparency and Investor Relations

One of the most important steps in preparing for an IPO is ensuring your company is compliant with SEC standards. This means every aspect of your business will be held to a higher standard of transparency, from public financial reports to how your company communicates with investors. In addition to this, it’s also critical to have a solid relationship with investors. This includes having detailed information about shareholders and ensuring all parties involved have access to the information they need. Financials are the cornerstone of your IPO preparation. Your company will need to present audited financials to the SEC and demonstrate that your numbers are accurate, reliable, and truthful. This will likely include a balance sheet, cash flow, and an income statement. In addition to this, it’s important to have a solid cash-flow forecast, which will help demonstrate your company’s ability to sustain itself during challenging times.

Determining the Right Time for an IPO

During preparing for an IPO, you may have determined that now is the right time to take your company public. At the same time, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t rushing this process. One of the biggest mistakes companies make is rushing to go public. This can lead to poor investor relations and a lack of interest in the stock. It’s important to determine the right time for your IPO, and there are a few different factors you’ll want to consider. Timing – When is your industry’s season? When is the best time of year to go public? If you’re in a seasonal business like retail, you won’t want to go public when you’re busiest, for example, because you won’t have the ability to focus on your IPO. Market Conditions – What are the conditions of the market? Is it growing or shrinking? Is it stable or unstable? You don’t want to go public in a shrinking market, for example, because there’s a chance you’ll be unable to raise capital after the IPO. Company Financial Strength – How financially strong is your company? How healthy is your balance sheet? How much cash flow do you have?

Build a Solid Core Team

One of the first things your company will likely do as it prepares for its IPO adds a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This person will lead the company and guide its strategic goals as it matures into a publicly listed company. At the same time, you’ll also want to build a core team around this individual — a team with the experience and expertise to guide your company through the IPO process. It’s also important to select individuals who are fit for the job and align with your company’s core values. This will help create a positive and productive work culture to help your company thrive as it prepares for its IPO.

Make Sure You’re Set to Handle Management Scrutiny

As your company prepares for its IPO, it will undergo a level of scrutiny that is not present during the private stages of your business’s growth. This level of scrutiny is not only regarding the company’s product but also its management team. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that your team is ready for this level of attention. This may include hiring a PR team, holding meetings with existing investors, and meeting with potential investors. In the end, you want to be ready to defend your actions and show that you’re knowledgeable and capable when managing your company.

Get Ready to Communicate Your Company’s Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

When preparing for an IPO, you’ll likely hear the terms “unique value proposition” (UVP) and “sustainable competitive advantage” (SCA) tossed around. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are two very different things. UVP is a marketing term that refers to the value proposition of a product or service. On the other hand, SCA refers to the advantage your company has in the marketplace — something that will allow you to sustain your business over the long term. Therefore, you’ll want to ensure that you have a UVP and SCA when preparing for your IPO. This will help potential investors understand your company’s value and why it’s sustainable in the long term.

Ensure Your Product Is Ready for the Spotlight

Your product is the foundation of your business — and it needs to be ready for the intense spotlight that accompanies an IPO. This means you should have a solid track record of success and a product that is ready to scale. It’s also essential that your product is ready to meet the standards of the SEC. This may include having a thorough supply chain and strong financials. Finally, it’s also important that you’re ready to meet the requirements of your customers and partners. This may include providing detailed documentation, guides, and FAQs.

Summing up

An initial public offering, or IPO, is the final step before a company goes public. This means the organization will sell shares of stock on the market instead of selling shares privately. When a company is ready to go public, it will likely have prepared for this for years. This includes displaying transparency, having an experienced core team, and having a product ready for the spotlight.

Photo by pixabay

Autor: Frank Hamilton

More articles from Frank Hamilton you can find here

Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English.

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.

Tips To Help You Market Your Small Business

By

Quepatagra

-

28 July 2022

0

If you are running a small business, you know that marketing is key to success. It is the key to getting your business in front of the right people, generating leads, and turning those leads into customers. It can be hard to market a small business, but that does not mean it is impossible. Discover some helpful tips to get started with marketing your small business.

If you are starting a small business or already have one but are not seeing the desired results, you may want to consider hiring a tech professional from BizOp or seeking advice from business advisors. While these methods can be effective, they are not foolproof. Let’s look at some tips for marketing your small business, including things that you can start doing tomorrow!

What Will You Do to Market Your Small Business?

People want to start a business for many reasons. The most common of them is that they wanted to be their boss. To be successful in this industry, one must be prepared to face challenges and learn to implement marketing tricks. Here is what you can do:

1. Start With a Plan

Without a plan, you will not know where to start or what to do next. Here are a few pointers to help you along:

Establish a marketing budget and timeline;
Create a marketing strategy that is tailored to your specific business objectives;
Develop targeted advertising campaigns that will attract the right customers to your business;
Use effective social media platforms to reach out to potential and current customers;
Promote your small business at trade shows and other events where potential customers may be present.

2. Research Your Target Market

If you want to market your small business effectively, you first need to understand your target market. It involves examining the demographics, lifestyle choices, and interests of your target audience. Once you have a clear idea of who they are, it is important to develop a marketing strategy that specifically targets them.

You can do this by using targeted online ads, creating interpersonal or email campaigns, or even holding social events that cater to your target group. Additionally, make sure that you are constantly keeping up with the latest trends and technologies in marketing. It will allow you to outperform your rivals.

3. Develop Unique Selling Points (USP)

Unique selling points are the reasons why your company is superior to the competition and why customers should choose you. Consider what makes your company unique and find a way to communicate that message to potential customers through catchy slogans, compelling content, and developing marketing campaigns that highlight your USP.

4. Focus on Your Website

Your website is your business’s front door. It is where potential customers first see you and learn about what you have to offer. Your website has a significant impact on how successful you will be. When designing your website, there are a few key things that you need to keep in mind:

Make it easy to navigate;
Make sure your potential leads can access all the data they need;
Use clear, concise language so that users can understand what you are saying;
Include images and videos to make your website more visually appealing;
Keep the layout professional and consistent.

5. Make Use of Social Media

Social media is one of the most effective ways to market your small business. Here is how you can benefit from it:

Connect with potential and current customers via social media platforms;
Share interesting content that showcases your business’s unique qualities;
Plan social media campaigns strategically, and make sure they are timed appropriately for peak engagement;
Keep a positive attitude, be willing to answer questions, and provide advice when needed;
Use hashtags when sharing content on social media to organically reach a wider audience through other platforms.

6. Leverage Email Marketing

Email marketing is often the best option for businesses that do not want to spend much money on advertising. Consider doing the following to take advantage of this tool:

Produce appealing content;
Send your emails during peak hours;
Use relevant and targeted subject lines that will pique interest;
Provide valuable content or discounts in exchange for subscribing to your newsletter;
Monitor your email campaigns and make any necessary changes.

7. Keep Track of Your Results

It is important not to forget about measurement and feedback mechanisms. They will allow you to track whether your marketing efforts are working.

Conclusion

A small business differs greatly from a large corporation. It is more focused on the needs of its customers and employees than its owners. This type of company is often more personal and intimate with the people who work there. It can be a great place to start your marketing efforts and sell goods and services to your clients.

Photo by pixabay

Autor: Frank Hamilton

More articles from Frank Hamilton you can find here

Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English.

Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.