For our latest Startup Spotlight Series interview, we spoke to Francesca Theakston, the founder of Bandi App. She talks to Trendscout about their clothes swapping app built with the purpose of passion for tackling the global fashion crisis. Frankie is a Mathematics graduate with a love for all things mother earth. She has worked in various departments of the tech world and is passionate about mitigating waste in the fashion industry and creating a sustainable business with Bandi. Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you better. So, can you tell us a bit of your “backstory ..read more

For our latest Startup Spotlight Series interview, we spoke to Alex Ramsden, the founder of Collabed. He talks to Trendscout about their mission to bridge the gap between University and the Workplace and help solve the skill shortage within the Construction Industry. Alex Ramsden is an Architectural Technologist graduate who founded Collabed in November 2020. He has worked in the construction industry for 8 years and has experienced the industry's issues first-hand. He is hardworking and focused on helping solve the skill shortage within the construction industry. Before we dive in, our reade ..read more

The recession alarms have been sounding lately due to a substantial rise in inflation and a similarly sharp downturn in the stock market.  And investing during a recession can be frightening if you don't know what you're looking for. This article explains five things to invest in when a recession hits. What is a recession? A recession is a significant decrease in economic activity that lasts for months or even years. Experts proclaim a recession when a nation's economy sees negative gross domestic product (GDP), increasing levels of unemployment, declining retail sales, and contracting me ..read more

The markets are experiencing turmoil due to inflation, which drives prices from hotels to groceries and gas. However, this doesn't indicate that you should stop investing and saving because the near-term economic outlook is unfavourable. To ensure you're positioned as recession-proof as possible, you might want to take a second look at your portfolio. Here are the eleven best investments to recession-proof your investment portfolio. What is a recession? A recession is a significant decrease in economic activity that lasts for months or even years. Experts proclaim a recession when a nation's e ..read more

A financial downturn will generally lead to lower profits for many leading companies. For this reason, it only takes the expectation of a recession for a stock market crash or correction to occur.  But, investing during a recession also has a positive side to it. However, investors fear these economic downturns can create some of the best buying opportunities. This article gives six investment options to profit from even during a recession. Recession A nation's gross domestic product (GDP), which measures the value of its products and services, rises when things go smoothly. However, this ..read more

For our latest Startup Spotlight Series interview, we spoke to Achala de Mel, the founder of NuTissu Ltd. She talks to Trendscout about his mission to provide personalised solutions to address diseased or damaged tissue and help improve efficient wound healing. Achala de Mel is an innovator with a BSc in Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry, Masters in Vascular Disease and a PhD in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Following her PhD, in the last 10+ years, she has successfully executed projects related to Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. When she is not innovating, s ..read more

For our latest Startup Spotlight Series interview, we speak to Ronan Finnegan, the co-founder of Spacebands. He talks to Trendscout about their mission to help businesses across the world operate seamlessly by reducing the risk of health & safety hazards by using their device. Entrepreneur with a varied business background. I have a strong belief that anything is possible with enough time, dedication, persistence and optimism. I have built one of the UK’s fastest-growing wearables companies (SpaceBands - with Harry Kimberley-Bowen). Completed a $100k crowdfunding, Kickstarter and Indiegog ..read more

For our latest Startup Spotlight Series interview, we speak to Shambhunath Chatterji, the founder of Reborn Healthy. He talks to Trendscout about his mission to create healthy, natural and tasty beverages & food Products in line with emerging consumer needs. Shambhunath is a Marketer with in-depth knowledge of Consumer Behavior, Branding and Marketing, Business Strategy and Product Design based on Consumer needs which helps fill in gaps in the market.  He has Exposure to three different industries - Durables, FMCG & Media, which has moulded Shambhunath into an astute business str ..read more

Originally published April 26, 2021, 08:08: AM updated April 11, 2022 While both the SEIS and EIS schemes have the same core purpose, many distinguishing factors exist between these two that founders and investors need to know. So if you're a founder looking to raise money for your company, you may be able to make the deal more attractive by offering the benefit of EIS or SEIS relief. And as an investor, it is worth getting to know these two reliefs in detail. This article will explain the difference between SEIS and EIS and their advantages and disadvantages for both investors and founders. E ..read more

Originally published April 12, 2021, 08:08: AM, updated March 28, 2022   Investing in small or new businesses is a risky venture. Companies not listed on a stock exchange hold an exceptionally high risk of losing capital and small companies also take a long time to recoup investment or generate profit. Fortunately, EIS provides investors with attractive benefits to counterbalance the risks of supporting fledgeling businesses. EIS provides various advantages, such as incentivising investors to invest in early-stage companies by offering them significant tax advantages.  A 30% tax reli ..read more