Start Ups

After two years of pandemic-fuelled disruption and uncertainty, entrepreneurs are pondering their business prospects for the year ahead and anticipating the trends that could impact their plans.

Advances in digital technology are a given, particularly around the automation of repetitive processes and workflows to boost productivity and support hybrid working models. With the advent of low code and no code automation this technology is well within the reach of small businesses.

In a survey of startups in the U.K. and U.S. by the Angel Investment Network (AIN) about their prospects for 2022, three quarters felt confident about the next 12 months; a dramatic turnaround from the picture a year ago, especially as almost 60% had reported growth impacted during the pandemic. Although raising investment remains the biggest challenge going forward, for many startups surveyed. This may give rise in the number of startups going down the IPO route.

When it comes to hiring, the focus for many businesses will be on highly skilled project-based work, as automation and technology continue to reduce the need for permanent full-time admin staff. Startups - as with many businesses - will increasingly use the growth of remote working to create hybrid teams where freelancers and employers are interchangeable.

The transition to hybrid working has presented challenges for companies of all sizes, however, startups will be quick to develop the skills needed to develop and effectively manage the work culture of hybrid teams. In fact, we predict Startups will figure out how to excel in this new way of working.

Please click here to request a call back, we would welcome an opportunity to discuss how we may be of assistance.

 

Fintechs

The FinTech growth cycle, from the development of an innovative idea until its evolution towards a big, international corporation, is filled with many challenges. Ensuring financial stability through appropriate funding per growth stage, dealing with rules and regulations or attracting capable leadership present a myriad of potential pitfalls that FinTechs need to manage in order to survive. 

  • For a Fintech to successfully move from the start-up stage to the scale-up stage, it needs to carefully navigate each stage of its growth cycle. Therefore, awareness on which stage of the growth cycle a FinTech finds itself in is key, for example in attracting the right type of funding.
  • The FinTech growth cycle is filled with challenges. Ensuring financial stability, staying true to your business model vision, attracting capable leadership and dealing with regulations and (tax) rules are all key to successfully navigating this cycle – and potentially emerging as the next unicorn.
  • Looking forward, the key for a FinTech’s success seems to be scaling both nationally and internationally. In line with payments trends, growth is expected on embedded finance and Banking as a Service offerings.

Please click here to request a call back, we would welcome an opportunity to discuss how we may be of assistance.