Web 3.0 – How to Effectively Lead the Communication – was the first topic of our Communication Academy webinar in May. This series of events is focused on education about blockchain-based technology projects.

As part of the first online meeting, we invited a special guest – a journalist from Grit Daily News – Peter Page, who introduced some interesting insights about Web 3.0 communication from the perspective of a journalist in traditional media.

The idea to start the Communication Academy came to us instinctively. We saw the need for it in a developing market that is completely new and unknown. Since the definition of Web 3.0 is complex, we wanted to tell others that we should learn how to communicate topics related to blockchain in their businesses. We want to share our experiences as an agency and invite inspiring guests who will show us several faces of the projects they work on.

What Was Our Main Goal?

During the event, we discussed:

• How to effectively communicate difficult topics related to the Web 3.0 market;
• What is important for journalists and what kind of content they are looking for;
• How to increase the chances of articles being published;
• What materials the editors expect, and what topics they are interested in;
• The most common mistakes journalists encounter.

Who Was Our Special Guest?

We invited a person with many years of experience in journalism to this event. Peter Page is the Contributions Editor at Grit Daily. He began his journalism career as a newspaper reporter long before print journalism had even heard of the internet. He has a degree of expertise in environmental policy, the energy economy, and ecosystem dynamics.

In addition, he works in the tech portal, so we were strongly convinced that he would provide us with the most important information in a nutshell. Grit Daily News is the premier startup news hub, and is the top news source on Millennial and Gen Z startups—from fashion, tech, and influencers to entrepreneurship and funding.

So How, Why, and to Whom Should You Communicate Web 3.0 Projects?

We conducted a 30-minute interview with Peter, which revealed that journalists pay attention primarily to the personalization of emails. Peter Page emphasized that the subject of the message should immediately indicate what we want to inform our recipient about. His experience shows that it is also worth proving to a journalist that we read their website or magazine on a daily basis. Additionally, journalists often need interesting images, but not a company logo for publication, because they don’t want it to look like an advertisement.

However, it is important to check beforehand what picture sizes they publish, just to make it easier to publish for the editorial staff. He also hinted that the most important thing is that our message should be properly selected for the target group. In his opinion, it is better to send the text to a narrow group of recipients—10 seriously tech-driven people—instead of to 100 people who are not interested in the topic.

More examples of communication channels with journalists are Twitter and LinkedIn. Editors are often very active on these platforms, so you can usually reach them this way. According to Peter, this is not inappropriate; on the contrary—it is a business communication channel.

These are some of the insights from our last webinar. Of course, we agree with everything that he said about leading communication about Web 3.0 businesses, and we hope that thanks to these insights, you will communicate your projects more effectively.

How to Start Communication of Innovation

In the second part of the webinar, the CEO of our agency, Anita Kijanka, raised the topic of communication of innovation and its stages depending on the diffusion of innovation theory. Anita brings up this topic in her e-book How to Start Communication of Innovation. This e-book is addressed especially to people who would like to know what the communication of innovation is and the benefits it brings.

“Diffusion” is the stage in which information is passed on that initiates the learning process. This process involves both the developers of a given solution—who, through their activity, improve their technology—and potential customers, who check the solutions in practice and decide whether they want to use them in the future.

So, who are the recipients at each stage of innovation development, and what kind of communication do they need? E.M. Rogers categorized people based on their readiness and their openness to the implementation of innovation. The groups separated in this way are Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards.

Summary

If you want more education and insights about blockchain-based technology projects, follow us on LinkedIn and join our Communication Academy. Every month we talk about something else. In June we will look closer at building community, including the use of platforms such as Discord. In the future, we will also discuss privacy, security, DAO, and NFT.

The post Web 3.0: How to Effectively Lead the Communication appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Grit Daily was on the scene at Collision Conference in Toronto. At the event, LG Nova revealed the future of LG. The former is the division tasked with spurring the parent company’s efforts in open innovation. On June 20, 2022, the company announced the Select 20 winners of their global challenge. Dr. Sokwoo Rhee, LG Electronics senior vice president for innovation and head of LG NOVA, is the head of the program. Rhee reports to LG’s CEO, William Cho. This organizational hierarchy underscores the significance of his role. Without executive level support, most innovation programs collapse before they even get off the ground.

“As a company, we make $65 billion in revenues, but we can’t sit on that. We recognized that we needed to make a quantum leap.” ~Dr. Rhee

Innovation spans the Metaverse – Health – Energizing Mobility

Three categories were considered for investment: Connected Health, Metaverse, and Energizing Mobility. Approximately 1,400 companies applied to the solicitation posted for the Mission for the Future contest, a. Participation was global: about half the companies were from North America and the other half from Europe and Asia. Representation was reflective of the dynamic world of entrepreneurship. Although LG Nova’s challenge did not stipulate diversity as a requirement for application, the founders selected represent a broad swath across genders, age, and ethnicities.

The down-selection process was intense, highly structured, and required a large team to sift through. “Some companies fell out quickly,” said Rhee. “They were just too early in their life cycle and barely at the inception stage whereas others were clearly not interested in doing things differently.” By the time that the innovation team at LG Nova had narrowed it down to the Final 50, months had gone by. Dr. Rhee shared that each company was fully vetted through extensive conversation with his commercialization team.

The selection process

Even the losers are winners with this program. Only the Select 20 each received a cheque for $100,000, for a $2 million total investment. However, the other 30 companies remain an integral part of LG Nova’s innovation ecosystem. Dr. Rhee shared, “We’ll continue to meet with them and work together to advance new ideas; it’s an ecosystem play.” That’s a critical differentiator in their open innovation program versus others: they recognize the value of an innovation community to foster learning and growth.

Prior to launching the global challenge, Dr. Rhee traveled the globe to meet with the leaders of accelerators and some exceptional investors. As an entrepreneur himself, and an engineer, Rhee understood what founders needed and searched the world for the best ideas to bring them together into LG Nova’s open innovation program. To maximize success, Rhee assembled a corporate development team focused on M&A and Joint Ventures, a dedicated commercial team, a partnership team of success managers, and a team of engineers to work alongside the founders and their teams.

Open innovation by LG

The result is that LG Nova has created three new commercial verticals spurred by their identification and investment in the Select 20 startups. These verticals include: health, sustainable energy, and the metaverse. Rhee elaborated, “We’re building a new engineering and business development team around these external technologies.” The elite circle of winners will be mentored and sponsored by NOVA Capital Alliance. A Top 10 down-selection is on the horizon. Each winner will have the unprecedented opportunity to build their businesses together with LG. Dr. Rhee has labeled this opportunity as an “accelerated path to success.”

The Select 20 winners

Congratulations to the Selected 20 startups in LG Nova’s inaugural Mission for the Future Global Challenge. The Winners in connected health are: MayaMD, Inc., LifeNome, Mindset Medical, XRHealth, TRIPP, Inc., NeuroTrainer, and medZERO. In the metaverse category, winners include: iQ3Connect, Snickerdoodle Labs, and YBVR. Within the energizing mobility vertical, SparkCharge, Driivz , I-EMS Group, Ltd., Kardome, and Faction. Additional winners were named for their technology in smart lifestyles and innovation for impact. These include: a*kin, Digbi, and Chefling.

The post How do You Spell Innovation? Ask LG Nova appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Stopping by the Grit Daily Startup Show, Yehiav says his expertise spans mergers and acquisitions, strategic product portfolio planning, B2B enterprise software solutions, SaaS metrics, conflict management, profit and loss, and AI and IoT solutions across retail, supply chain, CPG, and complex manufacturing.

Prior to SmartSense by Digi, he served as General Manager and Vice President of Zebra Technologies’ Zebra Analytics, where he set the organic and non-organic growth, M&A, leadership strategy, and customer success for the Zebra Analytics business unit.

Prior to Zebra Analytics, he served as CEO of Profitect before it was acquired by Zebra Technologies in 2019. He also held multiple senior leadership positions at Oracle and was a founder and executive board member of Demantra, which was acquired by Oracle in 2006.

Yehiav holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and industrial management from Shenkar College of Israel and an MBA in entrepreneurship from Babson College. He is fluent in English, French, and Hebrew, which enables him to work with a diverse range of clients from Israel, Europe, APAC, and the United States while taking the needs of different cultures into account.

The post Guy Yehiav, President of Smart Sense: Innovation That’s Shaking Up The Tech Scene appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Via Pexels

1. The Impact On The Business World

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a sharp increase in entrepreneurship. In addition, the pandemic has forced many people to reevaluate their careers and start their own businesses.

There are several reasons for this uptick in entrepreneurship. First, the pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty in the job market. Many people have lost their jobs or are at risk of losing their jobs due to the economic downturn. This has led many people to start their own businesses so they can be in control of their own careers.

Second, the pandemic has made it difficult for people to advance in their careers. With so many businesses shutting down or reducing operations, getting promoted or moving up in a company has become harder. This has led many talented individuals to start their own businesses where they can be their own bosses and control their own success.

Third, the pandemic has forced many people to reevaluate their priorities. With so much uncertainty in the world, many people realize that they need to focus on what is truly important to them. For many people, this means starting their own businesses to have flexibility and freedom to do the things most important to them.

Fourth, the pandemic has opened the eyes of many. Business owners are no longer able to force employees to work long hours in the office. With so many people working from home, they realize they can have a successful career without sacrificing their personal lives. This is leading to a new wave of employees demanding to work from home and have a better work-life balance.

Finally, the pandemic has made it clear that the traditional business model is no longer sustainable. With so many businesses struggling to survive, it is clear that a new approach is needed. This is leading to a surge in innovation as people look for new and creative ways to do business.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the business world and has led to a sharp increase in entrepreneurship. This is a positive development as it will lead to more innovation and creativity in the business world. In addition, it will create new opportunities for talented individuals to pursue their dreams and start a business.

2. The Impact On Entrepreneurship

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on entrepreneurship. The number of new businesses has increased dramatically as people look for ways to control their careers and pursue their passions.

This is a positive development as it will lead to more innovation and creativity in the business world. It will also create more opportunities for people to achieve their goals and dreams.

The pandemic has also harmed entrepreneurship. Many businesses have been forced to close due to the economic downturn. This has created a lot of uncertainty for people who are thinking about starting their own businesses.

However, the overall effect of the pandemic on entrepreneurship is positive. The increased number of new businesses being started will offset the losses caused by the closure of some existing businesses.

The pandemic has also created a need for new products and services that did not exist before. This provides a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to start businesses that can fill this need. If you want to start your passion project, there’s no better time than now. To get started, you need to ensure that you do your research and speak to naming companies, marketers, suppliers, and other professionals you may need to make your business dreams a reality.

There are many challenges that entrepreneurs will face in the coming years, but the pandemic has created a unique opportunity for them to grow and thrive.

Via Pexels

3. The Future Of The Business World

The pandemic has forced businesses to change the way they operate. Some of these changes will be temporary, while others will likely become permanent.

One of the most significant changes in the move towards digitalization. Many businesses have been forced to digitize their operations in order to survive. This trend is likely to continue after the pandemic ends.

Another change that is likely to occur is the rise of remote work. Many people have been forced to work from home during the pandemic. This has led to an increase in the popularity of remote work. As a result, it is likely that more businesses will allow their employees to work remotely in the future.

The pandemic has also had an impact on the way businesses are funded. Before the pandemic, most businesses were funded by traditional means such as bank loans and venture capital. However, the pandemic has led to a decrease in the availability of these funds. As a result, many businesses have turned to alternative funding sources such as crowdfunding and government loans.

It is clear that the pandemic has had a profound impact on the business world. Moreover, the changes that have occurred are likely to shape the future of business.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how companies do business and employees see their careers. A work-life balance has never been more of a priority than it is now, and employers who want to succeed need to change their policies to accommodate this new reality. The rise in entrepreneurship is a positive development that will lead to more variety, larger opportunities, and creativity in the business world. However, there are many challenges that entrepreneurs will face in the coming years. The future of business is uncertain, but the pandemic has created a unique opportunity for businesses to grow and thrive.

The post How Business Is Changing Due To The Growth In Entrepreneurship: The Global Pandemic appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Figure 1 Boston has become a successful startup hub

Startups have long been a sign of a creative and innovative city. But, after the experience of the last few years, more people seem to be looking into how to set up this kind of business and take control of their own future.

Silicon Valley may get all the attention when it comes to startups, but there are other hubs all across the US. The greater Boston area is one of those and whether it is a new tech entrepreneur, a firm pre-empting sports betting in Massachusetts, or a company providing healthcare for seniors, this is the place to be. Read on to find out why this location is perfect for a startup revolution.

History of Innovation

There used to be a way of thinking that you would have to look west for the innovation needed for a successful startup. But there are plenty of eastern cities that have an infrastructure already in place that is perfect for the formation of new businesses.

A diverse, metropolitan city like Boston is an ideal hub for the kind of innovation needed to produce startups. Tech businesses, universities, and medical centers are perfect for breeding the kinds of ideas that develop into success stories. The existing startup scene then attracts new innovators.

Access to Capital

Even the best startup idea is useless with some kind of access to venture capital. But, as with many of the factors listed here, success leads to greater success – and Massachusetts is now seen as somewhere that encourages new startups and supports them financially too.

With Boston now being regarded as a startup hub, there is greater access to capital and more venture firms than in even some of the biggest cities in the east. With finance available in this region, there is no need to go looking elsewhere – so that stops the drift westwards than once was the case.

Available Talent

Boston is home to more universities than any other city in the world and that provides a continual supply of talent and labor. These well-educated professionals are then able to come up with their own ideas and keep the cycle going. The number of startups is in direct relation with so many schools concentrating on tech.

There used to be a problem with graduates leaving the city after completing their studies. But that trend has been reversed and now many see Boston and nearby Cambridge as ideal locations for new startups. This diverse workforce is now transforming the look of the area.

Figure 2 There are a number of reasons why startups succeed in this region

Support Structure

Alongside finance, all startups need the support of some kind to grow and develop. This may include further investment, but the kinds of support can cover a lot of other bases. Boston and Massachusetts have an extensive range of organizations specifically designed to help startups reach their potential.

Many of these groups concentrate on specific areas of business – and that, once again, perpetuates the situation. Some may accelerate a startup’s growth, while others may take a more informally financial approach and help mentor individuals with an eye on future success.

A Look to the Future

With an excellent level of access to talent and investment, Massachusetts – and Boston in particular – has become a real success story for startups. This may be in the city’s DNA. The idea of being willing to pay it forward has long been a trait of the area.

The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is almost handed down from generation to generation. As we have mentioned, the city’s success has led to greater success and there is a feeling that helping others is intrinsically important.

That is obviously good news for anyone interested in developing a startup business. If there is a belief that it can be done, there will be innovative young people that will take that as a sign to continue with their dreams.

The post A Guide to Startups in Massachusetts appeared first on Grit Daily News.

According to a report by Credit Suisse, not only are women less likely to hold executive leadership positions but they also receive significantly less funding. Data shows that in Europe, all-male funding teams receive 93% of all capital invested, with only 2% going to all-female teams. This, when combined with the fact that the percentage of women in management positions in companies around the world is only 19.9%, shows a clear bias against feminine stereotypes.

While the entrepreneurial gender gap certainly seems to be closing thanks to the efforts of many organizations and private individuals, there is a lot of work to be done. With most efforts having focused on female representation in leadership positions until now, venture capital financing for female-led teams and the empowerment of female limited/general partners seems to be the next step.

The Bridge is looking to do just that by connecting limited partners with emerging female-led technology VC funds. Founded in 2020, the organization has been fulfilling this mission by organizing “The Bridge Conference”, an invite-only event focused on providing resources to connect both parties, presenting emerging funds, and offering high-quality content.

With more than 36 commitments having already been made through The Bridge to emerging fund female managers, the organization launched its new initiative earlier in June. Known as Bridge Funding Global, the platform relies on a selection committee formed by US top institutional and family office investors. The committee will include 20 permanent judges who will help select the top female GMs to become the first members.

Female GPs interested in becoming members will be able to apply twice a year, with the cap being reached once 100 GP members are selected. The judges, who collectively manage over 2 trillion, will take into consideration the program’s promises to the community, which include:

• Create meaningful and personalized connections
• Be data and growth centric
• Keep a focused, directed, unbiased, and curated access to the community
• Increase transparency on the LP landscape 
• Engage ecosystem partners to ensure the best solutions and support to emerging VC managers

Competition is expected to be high given the increasing interest that The Bridge Conference has received over the past years. The last edition, which took place back in May, saw the participation of 40 LPs and 40 female GPs chosen out of 197 applicants, with a total of 36 commitments taking place. With applications closing on July 1st, there is still time to apply.

The post The Bridge Launches New Initiative to Fight Entrepreneurial Gender Gap appeared first on Grit Daily News.

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, your mental strength has to be in a good spot. It’s a pretty unforgiving world, and you’ll have to deal with all kinds of setbacks. It comes with experience a lot of the time, but you’ll have to make sure you can handle what is being thrown at you. It would be nice if you could just work at something and reap the rewards, but that’s not how it works. You’re going to run into all kinds of struggles – here are a few ways you can build up your mental fortitude and handle things. 

Work With The Right People 

Who you spend your time with in business matters so much. You have to make sure you have the right people on your side, and you have to possess the right role models. You need to be able to trust these people, too. The wrong individuals can lead you into an awful place in this selfish world. 

Be Okay With Mistakes and Failures

You’re going to mess up. You’re going to do and say embarrassing things in this life – and most likely in business. Dealing with failure is a huge part of being a success. Every single success story comes with mistakes and adversity. They are the best because they learned over and over again. 

Work Hard On Whatever You Do

This goes without saying, but it’s something that not a lot of people appreciate. The idea of working hard some days can be quite a struggle. You end up feeling a lot better when you know you’ve worked hard. It’s an addictive thing because you’ll want to emulate that feeling. Whether you’re working in a paper merchant or you have a more physical job, you’ll get into the right habits and build mental fortitude. You’ll know what it’s like to work hard and you’ll know what it takes to be the best. 

Stick To A Solid Plan And Be Disciplined 

If you are able to be strict with yourself and you’re able to stick to a way of working, you’ll get into all the right habits that are needed for success. It’s so easy to put things to the side and to ignore them. The right thing to do is to make sure that you can stick to the right way of behaving. You’ll then be naturally inclined to focus more and to get things done that are necessary.

Always Consider The Long Term And Cut Out Impulsive Behavior 

It’s so easy to think about the immediacy of the next few days or weeks. Immaturity and naivety will make you do that kind of thing, too. There will be things that you’ll focus on that need to be done, but you have to look at the bigger picture if you want success in this life. If you keep your calm and allow yourself to think about how things are going to be years from now, you’re going to be in a much better place going forward in business. 

The post Strengthening Your Mental Fortitude In Business appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Most of the successful entrepreneurs across the world are introverts. That’s right. You might not notice them, though, because they are not necessarily performing in the media or making public appearances and talks.

Actually, you might have never noticed them. In school, they were probably the quiet kids sitting in the back of the classroom, having just a few friends, and always leaving parties early. Today, they are successful entrepreneurs running their own businesses.

If you are a little bit surprised by this, you have good reason to be. Because we really don’t see or hear much of these successful, introvert entrepreneurs. With good reason though – they are introverts. That does not mean that they are not out there. They are here, and they are killing it as entrepreneurs.

The media is loud about a few of them. Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg for instance. These are examples of successful entrepreneurs who are all self-proclaimed introverts.

And then there are all the great successes, that most people don’t hear much about. Like Marissa Mayer, the co-founder of Sunshine Contacts and former president and CEO of Yahoo!, or Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple Inc.

On the Scandinavian scene, where I live, we have entrepreneurs like Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, theowner and chairman at LEGO, Anne Skare Nielsen, the founder of Universal Futurist, Manu Sareen, who is an author, coach and politician, and Trine Ravnkilde, the founder of goforitcommunity.com. All of them are self-proclaimed introverts. I could include myself by the way. I’m a Danish serial entrepreneur and founder of JumpStory. I also know the feeling of preferring to spend time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.

Not only are there lots of successful introvert entrepreneurs out there, but it also seems that introverts are starting to be seen and recognized as the powerful businesspeople they are – especially after the covid-19 lock down, where so many of us were forced to stay at home and behave as introverts.

Some loved it, some hated it, and some may have discovered that being an introvert is not an obstacle to success. At all. As a matter of fact, introversion might even be an advantage for entrepreneurs.

So, what is it about introverts that makes such great entrepreneurs when they obviously lack skills within social interaction and networking – skills that seems crucial in the world of entrepreneurship?

The introvert success derives from the fact that introverts are typically creative thinkers, they do not focus on personal power, or on putting themselves in the center of attention. They focus on their passion.

Introverts are also typically great at working alone, which often is deeply required in the first years of a startup, and they remain calm during chaos.

All this is topped with their ability to listen more (than extraverts) before they speak, which according to Wharton professor Adam Grant, makes introverts better leaders to a certain group of proactive employees, a type of employees that need to shine themselves. The introvert leader does not claim the spotlight but helps creating it for these employees.

Their ability to listen also benefits introverts in recognizing customer’s needs.

But does all this really matter in a competitive world were we, after all, need to interact with each other to make partnerships, and where playing ball is in fact considered an important part of generating great ideas?

Well, first, it is important to distinguish between ‘introvert’ and ‘shy’. The first does not necessarily correspond to the other. You can be introvert without being shy or quiet. Introverts gain energy from time alone, but this does not necessarily mean that they cannot socialize, or enjoy it. After a social event, they typically do need to recharge alone, though.

There is, of course, an upper limit to everything. Introverts do struggle with networking and displaying themselves and their competences that are also of great value as an entrepreneur – and the same competences that extroverts excel in.

All in all, maybe it is time to recognize the huge power of the introverts as entrepreneurs.

And even better: Maybe it is time to recognize the superpower of introverts and extroverts when they team up.

The post Why Introverts Are Successful Entrepreneurs appeared first on Grit Daily News.

AMSTERDAM – June 09, 2022 – Backbase, creator of the category-leading Engagement Banking Platform, raised €120 million in growth equity funding from Motive Partners. Having grown organically to over €200 million in revenue, Backbase is now partnering with a Fintech specialist private equity firm, to further strengthen its claim on the Engagement Banking category.

This growth investment values Backbase at €2.5 billion. Motive Partners is a founder-friendly partner, fully supporting Backbase in remaining an independent force and driving the Engagement Banking strategy, by continuing to focus on customer-centric innovation that transforms the financial services industry’s siloed channels and legacy applications.

Most banks struggle with a patchwork of disconnected, point and channel solutions that were never designed to service the customer holistically, leaving behind a raft of broken journeys for their customers. This investment will allow Backbase to double down on its vision for Engagement Banking and accelerate its mission of re-architecting banking around the customer.

Engagement Banking is a paradigm shift. Rather than stitching these legacy applications together and trying to rework banking around outdated technology, banks and credit unions can instantly leverage the power of a cloud-based engagement banking platform to create frictionless customer journeys across all the stages of the customer lifecycle. From onboarding, to servicing, to lending, to expanding share of wallet, this investment supports the growth through product expansion and further growing our sales and marketing operations.

Jouk Pleiter, Founder and CEO of Backbase, says: “Today is a major milestone for more than 2,000 Backbasers and 150 customers around the world, to celebrate the incredible progress we made. With this partnership, we’re even better equipped to drive our Engagement Banking vision to the next level. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the positive impact we can make. To all our customers, I personally want to restate our long-term commitment to being your independent, long-term partner in innovation. For us, it is still day one.”

Rob Heyvaert, Founder and Managing Partner of Motive Partners, explains: “For more than a decade, Backbase has shown leadership and innovation in enhancing digital relationships between financial institutions and its customers. We’re excited to support Jouk and the Backbase team with this initial fundraise as they continue to expand, grow and build the leading, customer-centric, Engagement Banking Platform globally.”

Neil Cochrane, Partner at Motive Partners, commented: “Backbase continues to lead an innovative category underpinning the banking sector, and we believe that together we have a unique growth opportunity to build upon Backbase’s strong foundations. As Backbase continues it’s growth journey, we’re excited to leverage our team’s depth of expertise alongside Jouk and the team.”

“Backbase’s proven track record of entrepreneurship and organic growth will continue. Our formula is simple: focus on the needs of our customers and empower highly skilled teams to deliver. We’re changing a big industry, which is hard work. Having critical mass and market momentum allows us to stay laser-focused,” Pleiter added. “Together we’re making it happen.”

About Backbase

Backbase is a financial technology company on a mission to re-architect banking around the customer. Our whitelabel Engagement Banking platform empowers banks and credit unions to rapidly digitize their customer-facing operations and create seamless journeys that meet and exceed the expectations of today’s digital-savvy customers. With Backbase, banks and credit unions can put their customers back in the heart of their business.

Industry analysts Forrester, Gartner, Celent, Omdia and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership position. Over 150 financials around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform – including Advanzia, Banco Caja Social, Banco de la Nacion Peru, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Berenberg, BNP Paribas, Citizens Bank, ENT, Greater Bank, HDFC, Judo Bank, KeyBank, National Bank of Bahrain, Navy Federal Credit Union, Natwest, Pictet & Cie, Raiffeisen, SchoolFirst Federal Credit Union, Standard Bank, Société Générale, TPBank, Washington State Employee Credit Union and Wildfire Credit Union.

Backbase was founded in 2003 in Amsterdam (global HQ), with regional offices in Atlanta (Americas HQ), Boise, Mexico City, Toronto, London, Cardiff, Dubai, Kraków, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

About Motive Partners

Motive Partners is a specialist private equity firm with offices in New York City and London, focusing on growth equity and buyout investments in software and information services companies based in North America and Europe and serving five primary subsectors: Banking & Payments, Capital Markets, Data & Analytics, Investment Management and Insurance. Motive Partners brings differentiated expertise, connectivity and capabilities to create long-term value in financial technology companies.

More information on Motive Partners can be found at www.motivepartners.com

The original press release can be found on Backbase’s website.

The post Backbase Raises $128 Million to Improve the Engagement Between Banks and Customers appeared first on Grit Daily News.

More than 4.4 million new businesses were established in the United States in the year 2020, according to data provided by the Census Bureau. This figure is an all-time high for the number of new firms launched in the country. When compared to 2019, this is an increase of 24.3 percent, and it represents a 51.0 percent increase when compared to the average from 2010 to 2019. 

image

When everything else in the world seems to have stopped, creativity is more important than ever.

Individuals were compelled to come up with imaginative solutions to their difficulties since places of work were closed and people were unable to conduct transactions in person for a period of time. Podcasts were started by counselors, and clients were given access to virtual therapy sessions. Those parents who were unable to leave their houses started operating restaurants from within the confines of their own residences. People who had an entrepreneurial spirit looked for ways to professionally reinvent themselves so they could stay up with the times or create a side business to satisfy an unanticipated need in an industry that was stagnant.

Many people have a fantasy of operating their own business and being their own boss.

Even though having a strong love for your company’s goods or services and seeing unmet market requirements are both important sources of inspiration for entrepreneurs, being your own boss is arguably the most appealing advantage of running your own company. 

The pandemic accelerated the planning process.

Although a significant number of newly established business owners have stated that they were forced into financial hardship as a direct result of the pandemic and had to start their own companies in order to make ends meet, the vast majority of them started their companies for reasons that were unrelated to the pandemic. To be more explicit, either they had been contemplating taking the first step toward entrepreneurship prior to the COVID and had looked at the quick guide to company formation packages or they had spotted an opportunity within the unusual conditions that had enveloped the previous year. Economists have posited that the proliferation of new businesses may be related to a confluence of circumstances, such as the widespread availability of newly developed technology at no cost, the increase in the number of individuals working from home, and yes, free time.

The model that caters directly to the end-user is the most popular

The vast majority of the recently launched small businesses from the year before directly interact with their target demographic of consumers (B2C). According to the findings of several studies, over eighty percent of these businesses sell their goods or services directly to the consumers. What exactly are they attempting to get people to buy? Because of the internet, almost anything you can imagine is now a reality, due to a worldwide digital infrastructure that enables everything from selling adverts in a podcast to drop shipping things sold through a website run by Amazon or Shopify. 

Whether it was out of need in the wake of unemployment, being housebound with family to care for, or finally getting the opportunity to get started with that side hustle, a record number of Americans formed new small businesses while the COVID-19 outbreak was ongoing. If you ask any business owner, they will tell you that starting your own company is not in any way guaranteed to lead to monetary success. If you want to increase your chances of being successful financially, you should consider other options. However, there is reason for this most recent set of company owners to have a solid cause to have an optimistic perspective because more individuals are being vaccinated and the restrictions on gatherings have been loosened. As Covid becomes more relegated to the annals of history, things are beginning to look up for the owners of independent shops and boutiques all over the world.

The post How The Pandemic Launched A New Generation of Start-Ups appeared first on Grit Daily News.