05Sep

Impressive Startups in Emerging Markets

September 5, 2014 by

Todd Crosland startup global entrepreneurshipForbes recently came out with a group of new tech startups that have the edge in their own perspective emerging markets. Seedstars World, an affiliate venture capital firm to Seedstars, created this list of emerging markets and dominating startups associated with these markets. There were 19 startup companies mentioned in the article in varying emerging markets.

The first emerging market mentioned is the fast-growing finance infrastructure market. The two startups mentioned for this industry were Accra and Remit.ug. Accra is a Ghana based startup that is developing an online payment platform based on Bitcoins. Remit.ug, based out of Uganda, is building a money transfer platform that allows people from all over the globe to transfer money to people in Africa with a simple click of a button.

The mobile is the next emerging market written about in the article. Many new startups are developing mobile at the beginning of their development stages now that mobile has fully developed as an emerging market. The startups mentioned in this emerging market were Blocks, ChannelKit, Manads, OkHi, StudyPact, and Krowdpop. Blocks is a Tehran based startup that developed their own smartwatch. ChannelKit, from Moscow, is Pinterest for links. Manads is based out of Baku, Azerbaijan and developed advertising for after call screens. OkHi, based out of Nairobi, is developing physical addresses for every cell phone. StudyPact is a Tokyo-based startup that pays students for meeting their study goals, while charging them for not reaching their study goals. Krowdpop is a crowdfunding platform for pop music in South Korea.

Another emerging market in the discussion is mobile delivering services. These services make it easier for the consumer to obtain a good or service by just using their cell phone. Washbox24 is based out of Bangkok, and they use communal locker locations as drop-off points for customer’s laundry.

Fixing world-class issues is another emerging market that multiple startup companies are focusing on. These companies are replacing old technology with new technology to fix the bigger problems facing certain environments. The startups in this category are Khusela, KinTrans, myVLE, and Green Energy. Khusela is based out of Cape Town and is developing a low-budget fire alarm system for slum environemnts. KinTrans, based out of Dubai, is working on their platform that translates sign language in real time, into voice and text. MyVLE, in Casablanca, is an online learning platform that uses SasS. Green Energy, in Nigeria, is developing the process that transforms solid waste into electrical energy and petroleum.

E-commerce is the final emerging market discussed in the article. With fast-growing economies, e-commerce is necessary for fast paced production. The startups for this category include Prisync, Triip, Scandid, Freesheh, Poeyek, and TorQue Workspace. Prisync, based out of Istanbul, is a b-to-b company that offers pricing analytics and tracking. Based out of Ho Chi Mihn, Triip is is a crowdsourcing platform for tours. Scandid, based out of Bangalore, allows its users to compare barcodes using their app. Feesheh is based out of Amman and allows its users to shop online for musical instruments. Poeyek, based out of Darkar, is developing a business management platform for small businesses. TorQue Workspace is a software company based out of Rwanda creating a platform to help wholesalers manage their distribution.

All 19 of these companies are developing their technologies in these emerging markets to hopefully obtain the global edge over their competitors.

06Aug

Crowdfunding Tips for Startup Entrepreneurs

August 6, 2014 by

Todd Crosland CrowdfundingA recent article in crowdfund insider discussed different rules for crowdfunding success. Crowdfunding is a relatively new method for startups to build capital where the general public can invest in a company and gain equity. This method of funding developed so that entrepreneurs could reach a wider audience to raise money in the early stages of development. Crowdfund insider lays out six rules that a startup entrepreneur should be aware of if they decide to use the crowdfunding method for further support.

The first rule is to engage in the investor community. Entrepreneurs need to be present and easily reachable through social media. Research shows that entrepreneurs who are socially active in the investor community are able to attract more investors.

The next rule is every entrepreneur needs to have proof of concept. Having an idea will not obtain any entrepreneurs any investment. They have to have some sort of advancement in their product to prove that the product can be turned into a business. Whether it is sales numbers, awards, or partners signed on, there needs to be something more than just an idea to add to the credibility of the product.

Rule number three is to value your company at a price that isn’t too greedy or too humble. Investors pay attention to the entrepreneur’s valuation to evaluate the kind of entrepreneur that they are. The valuation acts as a self-imposed forecast to how their business will scale.

Next on the list is passion. An entrepreneur must be passionate about the product that they are putting forth. This will show that they are willing to work hard and put the effort into making their company successful. Passion also helps build a strong employee base as passion becomes contagious.

A unique selling proposition is one of the first aspects of a company that an investor looks at. The entrepreneur needs a clear vision as to how the company will succeed and deliver that message in a clear and succinct manner.

Last but not least, if an entrepreneur want’s to gain attention in the crowdfunding community, they need to have a video to tell their company and product story. The video acts as a resume and cover letter for a job; it is the first entry point to an investor. This is where the entrepreneur can clearly display their product, lay out their business plan, and pitch their vision. This is also the platform where entrepreneurs will show their personality and passion for the company as investors watch and make a preliminary judgment.

You can read these tips in more detail from the article itself posted here.