Analysis : Industry Insight
Managing mobile workers
17 June 2008
Easy-to-afford technology helps you keep your mobile workers connected – but managing the people issues can be much tougher
King cash
23 May 2008
Improving cash flow can have a big impact on your viability – so what steps can you take to improve your credit position?
Bangalore calling
28 March 2008
Small companies can benefit from offshoring as much as anyone else – but they need to get the basic project management right
The gathering storm
11 March 2008
As the economy heads towards recession, smaller businesses need strong leaders to turn tough times to their advantage
Greening London
17 February 2008
Going green isn’t just an ethical choice - it also makes good business sense. But how do you get started?
What am I bid?
4 February 2008
If an investor’s valuation of your company doesn’t match your own, what can you do to boost your worth in their eyes?
All aboard the social bus
30 November 2007
Phil Hope, the Minister for the Third Sector, was on a bus tour recently trumpeting the benefits of social enterprise for the public good. But who's funding these organisations - and why?
Consolidation 2.0?
22 November 2007
Web 2.0 start-ups continue to catch the eye of investors, and the big software vendors are starting to pay attention. Is their new interest a threat to software entrepreneurs - or an opportunity?
Taxing times for entrepreneurs
11 November 2007
Changes to capital gains tax proposed by the Chancellor last month could have a huge impact on small business owners, potentially affecting everything from hiring good people to attracting investors
Tales of the unexpected
14 September 2007
Everyone works hard to ensure that investment deals get completed once they're agreed in principle - but a surprising number don't. What are the most common problems, and how can you head them off?
Strength in numbers
24 August 2007
Entrepreneurship is often seen as a solitary activity, but new research argues that investors prefer to back ventures run by strong teams. The question is - how do you get the right group together?
Tapping into academia
17 August 2007
Accessing research skills is easier than you might think through business-university collaboration schemes. But beware - it's not 'free' R&D, and you need to be crystal clear about your objectives
Lean and mean
26 July 2007
How many employees do you need to run a technology company? Surprisingly few, in fact, as long as you outsource creatively, find good contractors and put the right kind of IT infrastructure in place
University challenge
3 July 2007
Mentoring can make all the difference to a university spinout. But talking to a business mentor may make you face up to some tough decisions, such as whether you're the best person to run your company
Someone to watch over you
15 June 2007
You've got a great idea, a good team and you're on course for securing investment. But what about independent, practical advice about growing your business? Should you be seeking out a mentor?
Looking for an exit
25 May 2007
If you're in the early stages of building your company, an exit is probably the last thing on your mind - at least beyond idle day-dreams. But some investors want you to be prepared for everything
Software snags
8 May 2007
New ways of delivering software as a 'service' are transforming the industry and present great opportunities for start-ups. But investors fear many entrepreneurs aren't aware of all the pitfalls
Marketing muscle
4 May 2007
Are you making the most of the web to build your business? With the right combination of classic marketing principles and clever techniques, even the smallest companies can reach a big audience
Centre of attention
27 April 2007
London has world-class research institutions - but unlike New York or Singapore, there's no dedicated science and technology centre. Should the regenerated Kings Cross/Euston area play host to one?
Due process
23 March 2007
Due diligence is the final stage in a long investment process, so it's unlikely much can go wrong at this point, right? Wrong - but there are steps you can take to tip the balance in your favour
Minding the gap?
7 March 2007
Government funding initiatives such as Enterprise Capital Funds are designed to plug the equity gap for growing businesses. But do they go far enough?
Park life
2 March 2007
The first phase of the London Science Park opens in Dartford this month. But what are the real benefits to technology entrepreneurs of setting up their businesses in a dedicated centre?
Eastern promise
7 February 2007
As rapid economic growth enables China and India to increase their investment in science and technology, UK entrepreneurs are being urged to collaborate on an international scale
The not-so magic numbers
11 January 2007
Biotech businesses have made an aggregate loss over the past three decades, according to Harvard Professor Gary Pisano. He thinks it's time to try radically news ways of building businesses
Home shopping
19 December 2006
World-class technology and research is helping British biotechs compete on a global stage. But experts warn that without better support from UK investors, a US buy-out may be their only exit option
Competitive spirit
13 December 2006
Winning funds through competitions and applying for government-backed grants are both good options for start-ups - but they take different kinds of skills and present very different challenges
Girls allowed
24 November 2006
Female-led businesses are on the increase in London, but better access to financial networks and enterprise training are key to catching up with their male counterparts
Testing times
17 November 2006
As the momentum behind sustainable energy ramps up around the world, one small Canadian province is marketing itself as a live test bed for international clean tech companies
Innovation nation
10 November 2006
With R&D spend sliding dangerously, the government is pouring money into research projects through its Technology Programme and it's now easier than ever for entrepreneurs to access these funds
Candidate or customer?
27 October 2006
With skills in short supply, hiring talented people is getting tougher and tougher. That's why some top companies are now approaching recruitment as a sales and marketing exercise
Early risers
18 October 2006
Raising early-stage finance is often a tortuous process - but it's getting easier. A recent g2i workshop explored some of the funding options available for start-ups
Investment Capital
26 September 2006
London may be the top European city for tech investment, but it still lags Silicon Valley. Entrepreneurs and investors gathered last week to discuss the challenges they face - and some solutions
Commercial risk
15 September 2006
Common practices among tech start-ups - like using open source software code or collaborating with universities - may be riskier than you think. Our second report on intellectual property explains why
Deep pockets
21 August 2006
Protecting your intellectual property can be expensive - particularly if you end up in court. In the first of two reports, we look at IP insurance and other practical options that may save you money
Proof of Concept
21 July 2006
Creating something that will sell is as much about understanding the competition and market as getting the product right. Market research helps - and so does deep collaboration with your customers
Performance enhancers
13 July 2006
Your shareholders know your company objectives - but what about your employees? Do they do their jobs with one eye on your strategic goals, and does their pay reflect their true performance?
Stretching the truth
23 June 2006
What do angel investors really look for in a start-up - and why won't they believe everything you tell them? Our second special report looks at factors that make or break deals
Bottom of the food chain?
1 June 2006
Big pharmas are spending huge sums on R&D to tackle conditions like Alzheimer's and depression - yet many neuroscience start-ups struggle to get funding. Is the investment model flawed?
Role models
25 May 2006
More black-owned businesses are being launched than any other, but black entrepreneurs have been held back by poor access to finance and support networks. Is that finally starting to change in London?
Risky business
19 May 2006
Angel investors are highly selective - yet most of their start-ups still fail. In the first of two exclusive reports, angels explain how the risk factors impact the entrepreneurs they work with
Asset management
8 May 2006
How much money should you throw at an employee when they threaten to quit? Should you be thinking about outsourcing jobs? Are your people an asset or a payroll overhead? Welcome to the P&L of People
Flexible Friends
4 April 2006
Do all the office-based employees in your company have their own desk? And if so - why? Flexible working and space sharing could cut one of your biggest overheads and give employees more freedom
Marriage made in Heaven?
30 March 2006
Building a third party sales channel will help extend your reach, but it's a big challenge. How do you convince sceptical resellers to sign up - and how do you make them effective?
Lateral thinking
10 March 2006
Are you relying on your R&D team to come up with all your creative ideas? Think again. Many start-ups are taking a new approach to innovation, tapping employees, customers and even family for help
Going global
28 February 2006
The international market presents huge opportunities for London tech entrepreneurs - and huge challenges too. Where do you start, what do you need - and how can you avoid going wrong?
Line of succession
27 January 2006
How much would it disrupt your business if a key employee quit? Do you have contingency plans? If you follow the lead of some of the world's largest corporations, you may be able to soften the blow.
Selling game
12 January 2006
If you've already made the move from R&D to commercialisation, you're probably generating a host of information about your customers and prospects. But how effectively are you managing it?
The Long Haul
12 December 2005
2005 was another tough year for UK biotechs, but some are staying ahead of the game. At the Genesis Conference in London, several players shared their tips on funding, partnerships - and survival
Virtual Reality
9 November 2005
Small wonder outsourcing's popular - you can rid yourself of mundane tasks like managing payroll or running your IT network and concentrate on building your core business.
Managing The Risk Factor
2 November 2005
Why would a large, well-established company gamble everything by purchasing business-critical technology from a start-up?
Property Bubble
26 October 2005
Biotech start-ups and the world of academia are looking at new ways to protect their intellectual property
The People Factor
19 October 2005
Experts argue that getting the right management team can do more for the success of a tech company than the quality of its products. The trouble is, many start-ups can't afford to hire the best talent.
Professional Opinion
12 October 2005
More and more professional advisors are offering to help entrepreneurs find start-up funding. But are they independent - and how much can they really help?
Perfect Pitch
5 October 2005
One of gateway2investment's first clients is typical of the paradox many start-ups face when they look for finance.
Customer Intelligence
28 September 2005
Struggling to manage your sales data is the kind of 'problem' most start-ups would die for - at least it means you have customers.
Executive Search
21 September 2005
Technology VCs come clean on what they look for in a senior management team - and how they'll break the news to you if you don't fit the bill
Counting Costs
14 September 2005
With the equity gap widening, start-ups are looking to find new ways to stretch their scarce resources.
The Grim Reaper Breathes New Life
1 September 2005
Marty Pichinson knows as much as anyone about why start-ups fail - after all, he's closed down 148 tech companies. Now, he wants to pass that knowledge on.
