Kandu, the new platform connecting entrepreneurs with trusted experts
by Startacus Admin
Kandu, a new online matching service aimed at supporting startups on their journey to success, aims to help take the headache out of finding the right help, by matching them to trusted experts who can validate their ideas, co-create strategies or simply help them get things done.
Startups can offer experts and advisors a fee, equity, flexible working or even just a cup of coffee in return for help. Experts can find more flexible contract or advisory opportunities at interesting startups that might just be the next borrowmydoggy or Babylon Health on terms that work for them.
Whilst the numbers of entrepreneurs and experts choosing to work for themselves is increasing at a rapid rate, the startup ecosystem is becoming 
increasingly fragmented.
Finding the right people to help is becoming more difficult, often limited by personal networks and geography. Kandu aims to remove these barriers, by connecting people based on startup and SME problems, skills and availability - helping them find exactly the right expertise at the right time.
Unlike existing work marketplaces such as PeopleperHour, Kandu is not focused on finding founders the cheapest, quickest tactical fix. Instead, it provides entrepreneurs with experts who can provide insight and an impactful solution to the underlying problems many founders encounter on their startup journey - from advice on running a business, digital build, marketing, raising investment and personal or business coaching.
The platform also guides entrepreneurs, to help them think about what they need now and what they may need in the coming months as they move from idea, to build, launch and growth and attracting investment.
Kandu is the brainchild of an all-female team - digital strategist and product consultant Nina Lovelace and startup mentor and marketing expert Jenni Young.
“The UK startup support ecosystem is becoming increasingly fragmented,” says Nina. “Finding the best people to help is becoming more difficult. Startups searching LinkedIn or Facebook rely on pot luck for example - will experts respond, and are they trusted? Meanwhile, 90% of startups still fail in five years. They need better support.”
“We particularly see an opportunity for experts and startups to connect across the country,” adds 
Jenni, ”We know that geography is a particular barrier to getting great work done and the focus on connecting clusters of expertise across the country and tracking engagement will be a huge benefit - not just to startups but to the organisations who support the UK economy.”
Kandu was selected for the autumn cohort at the Imperial College White City Pre-accelerator and the platform soft launched at the end of October 2017. The team are preparing to raise Seed Enterprise Investment Funding this quarter to further develop the platform. Kandu is on track to deliver a vibrant online community for the UK in 2018.
We look forward to seeing what Kandu....can do.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The inaugural LINEUP tech event, happening in Derry, NI has announced key speakers, sponsors and themes for its 5th March event.
Take advantage of today’s digitised world! Here are 4 reasons digital marketing could work for you and your business.
Research shows that the majority of staff prefer benefits to high monetary compensation. Here are some ideas on how to increase talent retention...
Innovative project launched by UK Proptech startup to reduce workers' commuting and in turn help alleviate pollution and congestion
Startup funding is never easy, however here are a few of the options that can help you fund your startup without going broke in the process
The future and success of Britain’s high streets has been long debated. So, what are the tech trends that could help impact the Highstreet in 2020?
Innovative startups are currently being sought by BMW Group Financial Services UK which has just launched the third instalment of its Innovation Lab
Starting a business can be a lot of hard work, so here's a few ways to avoid burnout and find a healthy work life balance.
The child health app on a mission to become the first nationwide digital redbook, just got a step closer to making their mission a reality...
The Cambridge-based startup that has created an empowering tool to drive the next wave of biological innovation
Published on: 7th February 2018
.png)
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Lineup 2020 announces key speakers, sponsors and themes 27th Jan 2020 The inaugural LINEUP tech event, happening in Derry, NI has announced key speakers, sponsors and themes for its 5th March event.
- Ideation NI Thon at NI Science Festival sets out to solve global issues 17th Jan 2020 At one-day event Ideation NI Thon, students will get the chance to solve global and local sustainability, environmental, city and health problems.
- NI startup ESTHER takes flight to New York 16th Jan 2020 NI startup ESTHER, a peer-2-peer giving platform allowing charitable donors to give money directly to people living in poverty, head to New York for a 4-day fact finding mission.
- 2019 stats show that the gender pay gap continues 14th Jan 2020 Recent research by Starling bank shows that in 2019, women earned up to £12,319 less per year than their male colleagues of the same age and within the same industry
