“The only thing that matters (for a new startup) is getting to product/market fit. Product/market fit means being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market.” (Marc Andreessen, A16Z ..read more

The pitch is a story. A story is a sequence of three acts: set-up, struggle, and resolution. As an entrepreneur, the problem is the struggle other people are going through and you are trying to fix. The other people are your heroes, your customers, your investors. The resolution is your promise on how you fix your hero’s struggle. When pitching, you probably will begin by highlighting the struggle. This sets the scene and draws in your audience, specifically those experiencing the challenge. It’s crucial to be honest, as demonstrating respect for people’s struggles is essential for building tr ..read more

Crowdfunder is a leading crowdfunding platform based in the UK whose main commitment is to empower communities to enact positive change. It has now announced that they have just launched its Top 100 Crowdfunder Projects of the last year. A collection of some of the most impactful people and organisations in their fields across the UK and beyond. Excited to unveil our Top 100 Crowdfunder Projects of the last year! From thrilling prize draws to impactful fundraisers, the last 12 months were unforgettable thanks to innovative ideas and your incredible support #Crowdfunder100 Explore https://t ..read more

According to a recent report, AI adoption is particularly high among fast-growing start-ups in the technology, professional services, and manufacturing sectors. What does it make so appealing for these companies to adopt it? HubSpot, which surveyed over 1,000 start-up founders worldwide, reveals some compelling insights. When it comes to adopting AI within start-ups, marketing is at the forefront. The report highlights three key findings. 1. The most impactful tool for driving growth Firstly, two out of three marketing teams use AI tools, with 43 per cent of them indicating AI as the most impa ..read more

Daniel Kahneman has passed away. A Nobel Prize laureate, he played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between psychology and economics. His passing deeply saddens me. That is the reason for this reflection. Even though I never had the privilege of meeting him, the years I spent during my doctoral research studying his Prospect Theory will always stay with me. I vividly remember the day I first encountered the paper that ignited more than a passing interest. It was an exceedingly hot summer, and I sought solace in the countryside of southern Italy. I recall spending my afternoons beneath the sh ..read more

“At its core, marketing is all about understanding people; our customers. Being a marketer is also about understanding our colleagues and wider stakeholders. Being a marketer who is customer orientated and seeks to deliver value to both customers, an organisation and society, is therefore fundamentally about understanding people. It mirrors parenting in so many ways.” (Laura Chamberlain ..read more

“Crowdfunding accounted for 373 rounds, remaining popular. Crowdfunding has gained popularity over the past 10 years—soaring from just £18.1m in total fundraising value generated through crowdfunding in 2013 to £432m raised last year. However, as we’ve seen throughout this report, 2021 was crowdfunding’s best year, with £811m raised.” (Beauhurst, The Deal 2023 ..read more

I came across this insightful piece on Thred, a digital space dedicated to young people that are shaped by youth culture and powered by social change, discussing the current state of social media. The gist? Social media has morphed into a fierce marketing battleground, with TikTok leading the charge. No longer just a place for laughs, TikTok has become a hotspot for brands to showcase their products and grab our attention. A MENTAL TOLL WHICH ADDS UP TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL TOLL TikTok’s seamless integration of ads and influencer promos has made impulse buying almost irresistible, earnin ..read more

What does a black sock have to do with entrepreneurial marketing? It all begins with an anecdote. Called last minute for a meeting with a client, our freshly graduated business school consultant found himself at a sushi dinner in a private home with a Japanese client. This implied taking off shoes. Not only were the consultant’s two socks mismatched in colour, but one also had a hole in the big toe. An epic fail! The embarrassment experienced by our consultant, Samy Liechti, sparked the idea for an entrepreneurial project as simple as it was innovative: producing and selling black socks throug ..read more

I was working on something else when an invitation I received on LinkedIn changed my plans. So, let’s start 2024 with a post that I never thought I would write. We are almost halfway through the century, but evidently, we are still dealing with what I define as relational illiteracy. For privacy reasons, I’ll paraphrase and summarise the message I received attached to the invitation. It went something like this: “Hi, I am working on growing my professional profile. So, I wanted to add you to my connections because I wanted you to invite me as your guest lecturer in one of your classes.” Straig ..read more