Nick Jones

Startups and Crypto sound like a marriage made in heaven - low-cost transactions, new markets, lower-risk payments. But how do Founders get started? Read this piece in Startups Magazine to determine if crypto is right for your business.

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techUK recently asked me to share views on #scaleup #investment challenges, which are condensed into a 3 minute blog post below. Hopefully an interesting read for UK tech entrepreneurs, VCs and policy makers... The opportunity to improve the landscape is clear. 🇬🇧

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I'm excited to let you all know about an upcoming webinar I am hosting with top UK VCs on the topic of giving yourself the best chance of raising a Series A 🙌 Off the back of the benchmarking report I published for Episode 1 Ventures "The Definitive Guide to Raising a Series A in the UK in 2024", I will be joined by the following to discuss some key trends and topics: Simon Murdoch - Managing Partner at Episode 1 Laura McGinnis - Principle at Balderton Capital Nelly Markova - Partner at Molten Ventures Sasha Vidiborskiy - Partner at Atomico Among other things, come find out: - What are the critical metrics you need to hit? - How fast should you be growing? - How should you think about retention? - How do funds think about product-market-fit? - How should you think about competition? - And how mature does your GTM function need to be? Raising your Series A is tough, only 1 in 5 Seed-backed companies make it. Join me on Monday 13th May at 5pm UK time to help give yourself the best chance of a successful raise. Link to sign up in the comments below along with a link to the report... Thanks to OrbitalX for managing the webinar!

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Who is responsible for reducing the UK's e-waste problem? According to our survey of consumers earlier this year, it's the government. ✅ 85% of Brits said the government doesn't do enough to encourage sustainability in electronics. ✅ 91% encouraged the government to remove the VAT on electrical spares and labour to reduce the cost of repairs. The new Labour government has a great opportunity to rethink the country's approach to sustainability and electronic circularity. Take a look at the findings below featured by CIWM. https://lnkd.in/ejhZwrfb

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After OpenAI raised $6.6bn last week, I wrote for the Financial Times Lex column about the increasingly difficult lifecycle of the unicorn. There are around 1,500 private companies worth $1bn, but few reach real scale - which Bain & Company defines as $10bn of revenue and $1bn of cash flow. The likely reason is that founders are getting easy money from pumped up VCs without having to show proper business skills. But some folks in Silicon Valley (including many founders themselves) take the opposite view: that the real unicorn-killers are management-think and corporate governance police. https://lnkd.in/eWtYnq45

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Yesterday’s report from Barclays showed that there’s a significant funding gap globally for climate tech: a massive $4.35 trillion annually if the world is to meet its climate goals by 2030. While I applaud the recommendation that the new government could look to address the financing gap, I also know that demands on the public purse are coming from every direction and Ed Miliband has a lot on his plate and finite resources. It strikes me that the report’s third recommendation – to improve organisational connection and collaboration – is where we can start to take the most immediate action. The BRC Mondra Coalition is a shining example of the private sector coming together, and working pre-competitively to fund a united solution to common problems that stop the sector as a whole from progressing. It's on us in the private sector to collaborate and fund solutions that will enable the Net Zero transition.

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As we wind down the year, let us take stock of what is happening in the UK tech investment landscape. Deal Lite just reported the weekly stats. If you have not received it in your inbox, please subscribe at https://lnkd.in/efmz5xBP UK Tech Investment News by Deal Lite - Week 337 A total of £200 Million was raised by 21 UK technology companies during the period ending 8th December 2024. Total raised this year so far is: £9.069 billion. Last year, it was £9.749 billion. 2021 was the mega year with £21.292 billion. Would 2025 be the turnaround year? With Syria falling and the conflicts accelerate, no one can predict the future. One thing is sure though. There would be more investment going into DefenceTech as alluded by Steve Blank - Steve is calling for private sector to get involved. I prefer no wars altogether but humans are complex beings who cannot live in harmony. Let's take a quick look at some of the companies who announced investment rounds last week: - Wexler raised £1.1 million Pre-Seed round led by Myriad Venture Partners. Wexler is incubated by Entrepreneur First. Gregory Mostyn is the CEO. - Jove Insurance raised £3.6 million Seed round led by Explorer. Want access to data? Subscribe https://lnkd.in/dcBH9kx Join us on 18th https://lu.ma/5se8gmqs to learn more and meet other tech founders. #DealLite #TechInvestment #funding #investment #venturecapital #seed #seriesA #preseed

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So our exciting journey at Dods Political Intelligence continues. We're launching our new integrated platform and building AI tools to get more relevant information and insights to our customers. But our strength has always been human intelligence. Now you can get access to our exceptional team of sector experts across the UK and the EU to provide you with actionable insights, including state of play reports, stakeholder mapping, policy analysis and campaign advisory. Impartial, authoritative and impactful. Based on almost 200 years experience in following policy making. Who can beat that? #politics #policymaking #publicaffairs #excellence

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US grads launch a startup at 5x the rate of British grads..read that stat again. Provocative and important blog from Monzo Bank & GoCardless founder Tom Blomfield on the problem with the startup scene in UK. Raising money is now getting easier in the UK, even if a lot of is still international 💰 however the attitude towards risk and the societal baggage British society, higher education and parents have around young people being entrepreneurs versus going in to banking, law or management consulting is holding us back… What else do you think the problem is here?! How do we change things so the UK doesn’t end up missing the boat (again) with the AI eruption that will drive tech & economic growth in the next decade? Thanks for shining a light on this important piece Jenk Oz, FRSA BCyA and congrats on being one of the great role models for entrepreneurship.. https://lnkd.in/eFzPrqWH

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SwimAbility.co.uk is now available for sale through Sedo.com. This is a premium domain name that encapsulates the essence of #swimming and aquatic activities. This domain is not just a web address; it’s a brandable asset that can elevate your business in the swimming industry. Why Choose SwimAbility.co.uk? Memorable and Brandable: The name “SwimAbility” is catchy, easy to remember, and directly relates to swimming and #wateractivities. It evokes a sense of skill and capability in swimming, making it perfect for businesses focused on #swim lessons, #aquaticfitness, or #watersports. Targeted Audience: With an increasing number of individuals seeking swimming lessons and aquatic #fitness programs, this domain positions you perfectly to attract parents looking for swim classes for their children or adults interested in improving their swimming skills. SEO-Friendly: The inclusion of “swim” in the domain name enhances its search engine optimization (SEO) potential. This means that your website will have a better chance of ranking higher in search results related to swimming, thereby driving more traffic to your site. Versatile Applications: Whether you are starting a #swimschool, launching an online store selling swim gear, or creating content around aquatic fitness, SwimAbility.co.uk provides the flexibility needed for various business models within the swimming niche. Professional Image: Owning a .co.uk domain adds credibility to your business. It signals professionalism and trustworthiness to potential customers who are searching for reliable services or products related to swimming. This domain not only represents your passion for swimming but also serves as a powerful tool for building your brand in the aquatic industry. Don’t let this chance slip away. #swimability #domains

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My latest new release which gives you 3 x passive earnings opportunities..... #makemoneyonline

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SDRs, AEs. I've got a win-win deal for you. I'll take a demo from you by EOQ, if you put £29 into our Crowdcube campaign. https://bit.ly/3MKG0PE Soooo? Wanna put money where your mouth is? 😏 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

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❓ Is the UK Primed to Birth the Next Generation of Tech Decacorns, and if Yes, What's the Blueprint? Jody Ford, CEO of Trainline, drew attention to the UK's illustrious past in industries such as steel, oil, and banking, followed by successes in pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. However, he pointed out a glaring gap: the tech sector's underperformance compared to the US counterparts. Ford stressed the urgent need for the UK to foster an environment where tech companies get easy access to capital, a fair regulatory framework that companies can flourish, expand, and compete worldwide. But here's the exciting part: We have the potential to birth tech giants not only in traditional sectors but also in innovative areas like oral health. Take Presto Dental, for instance—a pioneering startup poised to revolutionize oral healthcare globally. Let's seize this opportunity to propel the UK's tech scene to new heights. Time to make it happen! #techEntrepreneurs #companybuilders #UKTechRevolution #Innovation #PrestoDental #Oralhealth #Dentaltech #preseed #funding

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Are you into high multipliers? Our campaign is still trending on Crowdcube. I'm receiving raving feedback from the community ❤️. We've gone past the objective. Allocations are now on a first come, first served basis until the over subscription quota expires. 👀👀 https://lnkd.in/eQTnKAqE 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

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After reaching a huge milestone, 200% overfunding, we will be closing our Crowdcube round early tomorrow. Thanks to all the new investors who have joined our journey - it's fantastic to have you onboard. If you had forgotten, and want to jump in before it closes, then you can still do so until 23:59 tomorrow: https://lnkd.in/ecqDfu65 Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more: https://lnkd.in/evf943Fk

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The HR tech sector is booming, and the deals and investment rounds just keep coming! We love to see it. The latest news comes from CoachHub - The digital coaching platform, which secured 40 million euros of growth financing from HSBC Innovation Banking - congrats to Matti Niebelschütz and the entire team! I got the scoop from Matti, as well as HSBC's Jean-Laurent Pelissier - read on to get the full story! #HRtechnologynews #futureofcoaching #learninganddevelopment

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🎉 Exciting News! ThirdRetail has secured SEIS advance assurance within 24 hours of self-application! 🚀 🔍 What is SEIS? The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is a UK government initiative designed to encourage investment in early-stage startups. It offers tax reliefs to investors, making it easier for young companies like ours to raise capital. 👋 Who are we? ThirdRetail is revolutionizing offline distribution for D2C brands! 🏪 We're the Airbnb of retail shelves, making it affordable and accessible for direct-to-consumer brands to scale their physical presence. Our AI-powered platform removes cross-channel blindspots, providing seamless integration between online and offline retail. 💡 Our mission: - Empower D2C brands to expand offline - Optimize retail space utilization - Bridge the gap between digital and physical retail 🤝 Calling SEIS Funds! Are you interested in being part of the third channel of retail sales? We're currently raising our pre-seed round and would love to chat with SEIS funds looking for exciting investment opportunities. Let's connect and explore how we can shape the future of retail together! 📈 Anil Junagal #RetailTech #SEIS #SEISFUNDS #Startup #D2C #Retail #Marketplace #B2B #SaaS

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