What benefits will your work bring to others

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08/17/2022

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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08/13/2022

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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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08/12/2022

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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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08/08/2022

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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

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08/02/2022

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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07/29/2022

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

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07/28/2022

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.

Better Juice and GEA Establish Sugar-Reduction Innovation Center

By

Quepatagra

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07/27/2022

0

New center offers manufacturers new opportunity for testing Better Juice’s sugar-reduction technology

Israeli start-up Better Juice, and GEA Group AG, Germany, have established a new pilot facility, inviting juice manufacturers to test their sugar-reduction technology. The groundbreaking GEA Better Juice Sugar Converter Skid is included in GEA’s innovation center in Ahaus, Germany, and is completed with all the required processing equipment supplied by the global food system suppliers and incorporates Better Juice sugar reduction technology. The center will be fully operational by mid-July of this year.

Better Juice’s enzymatic process uses all-natural ingredients to convert simple sugars (fructose, glucose, and sucrose) into prebiotic dietary fibers and other non-digestible molecules, while maintaining the full flavor, body, and naturally occurring complement of vitamins and nutrients of the fruit. It can reduce up to 80% of sugars in natural fruit juices as well as in fruit-based compositions, such as purées.

“The pilot center creates a high-tech venue where we can host companies—mainly from EU, but also from all over the world—to come see, learn, plug in, and actually taste their products after they’ve been recreated with Better Juice process in a workshop environment,” explains Gali Yarom, Co- Founder and Co- CEO of Better Juice. “Here, we can now collaborate with our customers at the test center to strike the ideal balance between a sweet note and reduced sugar content.”

The center will offer lab services for testing all essential analytical parameters. A Better Juice team, together with GEA expert engineers, will be on site to accompany and guide visiting companies during their trials.

“We set up a readily accessible platform for juice and fruit processing companies seeking to actively contribute their part to the global quests for reducing sugar consumption and concurrently give their products an added wellness edge,” says Eran Blachinsky, PhD, co-founder and co-CEO of Better Juice. “It will also eliminate a significant portion of R&D costs and time.”

As one of Europe’s largest systems suppliers for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors, GEA has the infrastructure for establishing such a pilot center. The group also possesses a global network of technical teams dedicated to implementing the GEA Better Juice Sugar Converter Skid into the production lines of juice manufacturers.

“Our collaboration with Better Juice cements our foothold in the world of innovation as we work together to make true game-changer impact,” adds Sascha Wesely who leads GEA’s activities in the non-alcoholic beverage business. “In return, we bring Better Juice all the corporate and technical support it needs to propel this venture to success.”

Quelle NutriPR

Resorcix, Gat Foods Launch Natural Solution for Preventing TAB Spoilage

By

Quepatagra

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07/27/2022

0

Clean-label, botanical extract is a game-changer for beverage bottlers fighting Thermophillic Acidophilic Bacteria (TAB)

Gat Foods, part of International Beer Breweries, Ltd. (IBBL), and Israeli startup Resorcix, Ltd., introduce FLAVORWATCH^TM, a breakthrough natural, botanical ingredient with inherent ability to prevent Thermophillic Acidophilic Bacteria (TAB) spoilage in clear, fruit-based beverages.

FLAVORWATCH maintains the beverages’ organoleptic characteristics, fully retaining original flavor throughout the shelf life, and delivering a durable sensory experience in clear, high-acid still beverages. This innovative solution is poised to create a brighter—and clearer—future for soft drinks.

Gat Foods, a leading provider of fruit-based beverage solutions, partnered with Resorcix, to develop FLAVORWATCH,patent-pending,nature-derived solution to the problem of TAB spoilage. The bacteria strain, which negatively impacts the quality and organoleptic properties of most categories of still, non-alcoholic beverages, had been confounding beverage bottlers for decades.

The story of TAB

TAB refers to a group of nonpathogenic microbes belonging to the Alicyclobacillus family and is ubiquitous in still RTD non-alcoholic drinks. The existence of TAB was first documented in 1982 in Germany after a spoilage outbreak in a commercial pasteurized apple juice brand prompted a major recall. Following a comprehensive lab inquiry, a new family of bacteria was discovered, one that is able to withstand pasteurization and that can multiply rapidly in acidic environments

TAB originates from certain ingredients frequently used in beverage preparation, such as sugar, pectin, water, and fruit concentrate. GMP measures can reduce TAB but cannot eliminate it entirely. This necessitates periodic batch testing and isolation which is costly and time-consuming, and still not 100% bullet proof.

Pasteurization—one of the common methods used for microbial treatment—does not eliminate heat-resistant TAB spores. In fact, since pasteurization kills most vegetative bacteria and fungi, it actually eliminates microbial competition and stimulates the outgrowth of TAB.

Keeping TABs on Spoilage

Indications of TAB spoilage in beverages include a hazy appearance and, upon opening the bottle, discharge of a smoky, clove-like smell. It also imparts a medicinal off taste. The bacteria multiply shortly following the bottling process, especially in warm weather. Although nonpathogenic, the unpleasant results of TAB contamination typically lead to a large volume of customer complaints and can ultimately trigger a costly recall and shattered reputation.

FLAVORWATCH contains natural compounds with a proven bacteriolytic effect, disintegrating TAB cells in the germination phase. This prevents the bacteria from producing off-flavored and unpleasant smelling metabolites. “The precious rainforest is known to reveal surprising botanical treasures,” shares Yehoshua Maor, PhD, pharmacologist, toxicologist, founder and CSO of Resorcix. “Our FLAVORWATCH solution is based on a botanical oleoresin that naturally possesses anti-TAB spoilage properties.”

Maintaining Brand Reputation

“Building a CPG brand leaves zero room for failures in quality control,” says Shachar Shaine, CEO of Gat Foods. “Consumers deserve full transparency and maximum quality throughout the entire shelf life of a beverage. But while TAB-related recalls can damage a company’s image and destroy consumer trust in the brand, we can help bottlers keep their positive brand image.”

“Bacteriologists know that spores are almost impossible to eradicate”, says Lior Sinai, PhD and CTO of Resorcix. “That’s why we were extremely excited to discover natural molecules of plant origin that can eliminate these multi-resistant bacterial spores.”

FLAVORWATCH is classified as a natural flavoring by FDA, EFSA, JETRO (Japan), and Israeli Ministry of Health regulations, and appears as such on label. Its mild herbal flavor is so slight it cannot be sensed in the beverage, as only a minimal amount is necessary to maintain the product’s clear appearance and sensory attributes. It works throughout the shelf life as a clean-label ingredient.

In both pilot and industrial-scale tests supervised by microbiologist Roni Shapira, PhD, of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, a FLAVORWATCH -treated, pineapple-based, RTD beverage showed zero colonies of Alicyclobacillus over a span of six months. The same beverage continued to maintain its TAB-free status for a further eight months in an independent analysis.

FLAVORWATCH is suitable for a variety of still, clear, RTD beverages, such as fruit beverages, fruity water and iced tea. It is easy to implement and highly cost effective, readily able to be incorporated into beverage bases or syrups in the preparation phase or added directly to the beverage tank before pasteurization. It can reduce the need for added flavorings, as it allows for pasteurization at lower temperatures, making it an energy-efficient solution. This, in turn, substantially reduces the number of lab tests required, shortening time-to-market, and minimizing the risk of recalls.

“FLAVORWATCH is an innovative clean label, natural flavoring that protects the beverage’s distinct flavor qualities providing a full guarantee and peace of mind for manufacturers. “It provides consumers consistent quality, with no compromise on flavor,” notes Hila Bentman, International Marketing Manager for Gat Foods. “It allows beverage companies to ensure consumers the distinctive and continuous sensory experience during the entire shelf life of their soft drinks.”

Source NutriPR

Be conscious of your time

By

Quepatagra

-

06/21/2022

0

kodehyve, which is a technology venture that is building the digital operating system for the real estate industry

Please introduce yourself and your startup kodehyve to our readers!

My name is Felix Hemmerling, I’m an entrepreneur from Luxembourg with a focus on web2 and web3, including real estate, DeFi, and NFTs. In 2020, I co-founded kodehyve, which is a technology venture that is building the digital operating system for the real estate industry.

Kodehyve is the result of the work experience I gained in the years before: After I started my first tech company in Singapore while I was at university, I worked on digital onboarding experiences, e-signatures and KYC/AML technologies as a Fin/RegTech product manager in the financial sector. Together with my former colleague and now co-founder Julien Casse (CTO), I saw an opportunity in real estate a few years ago. It is an industry we both are passionate about, but that is still not sufficiently digitised.

This is where we come in with the technology that we are building: kodehyve is providing a complete digital infrastructure, including Fin/RegTech technologies, that covers the whole real estate development process for almost all use cases. With our solution, we improve the collaboration between all stakeholders in the real estate ecosystem, with a focus on new construction projects. We started out in our home market Luxembourg, but have international ambitions as we identified a pressing need for digital transformation in the sector across borders as well.

How did you get the idea of kodehyve?

I bought my first apartment in 2019, which was supposed to be a big and exciting step in my life. But in fact, I was utterly shocked by the lack of customer experience I got in return for the fortune I spent. I realised that it is easier to track the delivery of a product you bought on Amazon for €10 than the development of a new property project that easily costs buyers a six- or seven-figure sum.

The main problem is that in the real estate sector, a lot of redundant work is happening by all the various parties that are involved. When it comes to document and information exchanges during the whole lifecycle of a new property development project or transaction, agencies, architects, property developers, subcontractors, banks, insurances, and the end customers all need to align, sign legal paperwork, and much more. With current processes and tools, this leads to a lot of inefficiencies, a lack of transparency, and unnecessary costs.

I discussed this negative experience with my co-founder Julien back then. He is a full-stack software engineer and also has a background in the Fin/RegTech space. Together we realised that we could actually solve a vast amount of these inefficiencies by implementing and tweaking some of the FinTech and RegTech technologies we developed for the financial sector. Based on that, I started to speak to some people in the real estate sector, including real estate developers, investors and agencies. The result was that no matter the size of a property development company, its legacy or experience in the industry, the frustrating experience I had was usually the same for all clients. That’s when Julien and I decided to do something about it, and this is how kodehyve ultimately was born.

Why did you decide to start with kodehyve?

Julien and I are both ambitious problem solvers and coders at heart with a shared passion for real estate. Since the problem we discovered in this particular sector is a huge one, we felt especially drawn to it – solving the described pain points of the real estate industry with digital technology is a big business opportunity. In Europe, the industry represents on average about 10% of a country’s GDP.

But the whole market is very fragmented with lots of players that are interdependently involved in real estate development projects and transactions, which leads to a lot of smaller subproblems that all need to be tackled. Most of the time, the different types of organisations within the market work with outdated processes and use numerous different tools in their daily business. We want to change this by providing an end-to-end operating system that covers various use cases and by simultaneously offering seamless digital user experiences. By applying our former experiences in FinTech and RegTech, building modular data-driven software solutions, we can help to elevate the whole industry and make it more efficient and sustainable.

Lastly, Julien and I are very complementary as co-founders, which is why we eventually decided to start kodehyve together two years ago. Julien started to develop software at the age of 16 and has extensive experience in FinTech and RegTech. In his role as CTO, he is very focused on the user experience with the goal to build a product that our customers do not want to miss anymore. Given my background as an entrepreneur and product manager for digital customer onboarding, payments, AML/KYC processes, and e-signatures in the financial sector, we both share the same attributes and vision for where we want to go with our company.

What is the vision behind kodehyve?

Our vision is to provide the most powerful operating system to property developers and all other market participants alike, thereby adding substantial value to the entire real estate industry. Our software solutions shall increase operational efficiencies that will reduce human errors and costs, improve the quality and execution of real estate projects, and contribute to the decarbonation of the industry. By improving collaboration and the exchange of data, we want to increase the transparency within the ecosystem not only for property developers and their partners but also investors and end customers. Overall, we aim to digitally transform one of the most ‘old-school’, but at the same time most important, industries to accelerate the development of new real estate projects and create a positive impact.

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

We decided to formally quit our jobs at the beginning of 2020, just a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. This was surely a challenge, but one that we managed to overcome by simply focusing on building the first version of our product. We did so without bringing any investors on board right in the beginning. So we simply took the leap and never looked back.

Another challenge for us was that it often takes time to educate property developers and their stakeholders (i.e. employees, clients, partners) about new technologies. Having them go through a digital transformation can be a lengthy process. However, by zooming in on their pain points through countless conversations with different players within the real estate industry over time, we found a way to make the transition and adoption of our technology quite smooth by now.

Who is your target audience?

We mainly work with property developers, but our clients and use cases also include real estate funds, real estate agencies as well as real estate federations or associations like the Luxembourg Chamber of Real Estate (Chambre Immobilière). Our target clients and partners usually range from small organisations with only two people all the way up to hundreds of employees. At this stage, we are mainly focused on new residential property development projects in Western Europe.

What is the USP of your startup?

One of the main advantages of using kodehyve is that we are harmonising a tremendous amount of data from various sources that usually is not managed well due to the fragmentation of the market. Our data-driven platform visualises and reconciles the available data to help property developers make more informed, high quality decisions. We put utmost attention on data security as we are dealing with many confidential and sensitive information – which is something we learned to prioritise when working in FinTech and RegTech before. Moreover, as we are building the operating system for the entire industry, we are offering an integrated end-to-end solution that covers almost all use cases that occur within the market instead of just a few specific ones.

For example, we have recently launched an e-signature platform. At the moment, it is specifically tailored to the needs of the real estate industry in Luxembourg, providing ready-to-use legal documents and templates for the various stakeholders in the market that are officially approved by the Luxembourg Chamber of Real Estate (Chambre Immobilière). Solving the pain points around managing documentation and signing legally binding paperwork is not a standalone product, but a feature that is integrated with all the other functions that we provide, i.e. financial data analysis, KYC/AML checks, workflow management, and planning. We will roll out the feature locally adapted in other markets going forward.

Can you describe your typical workday?

When you’re a startup founder, your workday varies greatly. For me, every day is different depending on what is currently going on and which period we are generally in with the company. Overall, my main daily responsibilities are focused on product development, sales & marketing, HR, and investor relations. For example, a major task in my role as CEO is to provide the best conditions for our team so everybody has all the information they need and the right environment to excel in their respective roles.

Since our product is the heart and centre of our company, I dedicate a lot of time to talking to our customers and sales leads in order to exactly understand their needs – which I then share with our product and development team to help optimise our product roadmap. Additionally, Julien and I check in every day as well, which is crucial as co-founders to stay aligned and adapt our strategy if needed. Whenever I can take the time, a round of ‘foosball’ (table football) is definitely also part of a typical workday.

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

Our goal is to build the most powerful operating system for property developers in Europe and beyond. It is important to us to build the best available product that is specifically tailored to the needs of our specific target group – great software engineering is at the core of what we do today and aim to continue to do also in five years. As the next step for us as a company, we are preparing for strong international growth, which means that we will hire many new talented team members in the coming years to help us execute our expansion plans. Since the real estate industry is such a big market around the globe, there is lots for us to do. We will continue to diversify our product and adjust it locally where needed in the near and long-term future.

What 3 tips would you give to founders?

1.) Do not worry about being an outsider and potentially stepping on people’s feet. I think it is important that you listen to your intuition and follow your own vision and goals. You do not have to justify yourself to anyone when you want to build a disruptive business. I recommend not hesitating to speak up and to be vocal about who you are and what your thoughts are about a certain problem, industry, or service. Of course it helps to have your ideas and plans challenged by people you appreciate – but it goes a long way to stay equally sceptical and careful whose advice you take. What is actually the most important at any given point in time: Care deeply about what your users and customers think than anyone else.

2.) Be conscious of your time. As a founder, you should only spend your time on topics, activities, and people you are truly excited about and admire. You don’t have to be present at every startup event and network with everyone just for the sake of it.You won’t get your time back, so make sure you focus on the things that are truly important and essential.

3.) Work in the background. You do not need to do something special to get constantly noticed. Just like with your time, you only need the attention of the right people rather than by everyone. It is better to invest your energy in building amazing products than in catering to certain outside expectations that do not get you closer to reaching your goals. Lastly, never forget to enjoy the process of doing so.

More information you will find here

Thank you Felix Hemmerling for the Interview

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