Inspiring

A couple of weeks ago we ran a fab competition to win a ticket to the Share Summit in London, a one day event focusing on the shared economy. In the spirit of all things sharing, winner of said comp Ben Byford was asked to share some valuable insight on his experience of all the key happenings and debate, and most importantly what he took away from the event. Over to Ben to share all... "The Sha...
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As we rush about our busy, busy lives on such a grim and ghastly winter’s day as this, we can be forgiven for forgetting to spare an extra thought for the older people living in our neighbourhood. For many reasons Christmas and winter generally can be a very difficult time for many older people. Cold weather and long dark evenings can leave them feeling particularly isolated at this time of...
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Ever come across something and it makes you feel that warm glow of philanthropy and good will inside? No? Maybe that twinge of empathy you get from a really nice idea?Well, we think you’re about to. KonneKT has a simple premise; it's a way for sick children, who have to spend their days in an isolation unit, to play with others. It’s simply a set of magnetic shapes and pieces that can...
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So, imagine you’re a fresh new startup founder, you’re working hard to try and make sure your idea gets the attention, support and input that it needs to be a success only to have investments and supporters pull out. Now imagine, everything, EVERYTHING – even your van (which you’re now forced to live and work out of), gets taken away. Sounds like the worst case scenario for...
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Self Starter drums up interest in unique 'drumkit in a box' instrument We're going all Norn Iron on ya today. First up, we highlighted news that the NI based Propel programme was open for innovative startups and now here's another NI startup story for your reading pleasure... A young self starter, Startacus member, inventor and musician from NI, Stephen Henderson is currently raising capital via...
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From abandoned park shelter to pop up cafe - Startacus takes a look at the Kiosk Cafe...Here at Startacus we do love highlighting a nice pop-up story - adds a little inspiration to the day - don’t you agree? So this week we thought it would be nice to highlight the development of an abandoned park shelter in Bethnal Green, London that has become known as The Kiosk Cafe. Of course, as with ...
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Do you ever come across an idea that is simply so brilliant that you wish you had (and can't believe that you didn’t) come up with it first? This is precisely how we feel about TheTake.com and we reckon that you will too. TheTake.com has a very straightfoward premise - it lets you ‘discover products and places from your favouite movies’. To illustrate, let’s imagine you...
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To state the obvious, here at Startacus we love innovation...you don't have to be a mind reader to see that and if there's one particular area of advancement we like to keep a particularly eagle-like glare on, it's that of mobile technology. We don't pretend to be experts - in fact the ins and outs of such things often goes right over our heads, however you have to admit, this particular innovatio...
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Its hard to believe that we are over halfway through our Startup Bristol month, but its true! Incase you're wondering what the tommyrot we are talking about, Bristol startup month is a month-long feature in which we are showcasing the startups, exciting events, creative stirrings and general quirky goings on of the capital of the south west. You might remember that just last week we announced tha...
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Heard of the Hoxton Street Monster Supplies? One of our favourite TV scientists once wisely observed - ‘what’s life without whimsy’? (It was Sheldon Cooper for those of you less geekified than ourselves). His mantra is one that we prescribe to wholeheartedly...sometimes ‘for fun’ is the best reason to do anything!   Hoxton Street Monster Supplies in London is a...
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A you have probably noticed every now and then we like to go a little off point here at Startacus…as the old saying goes - variety is the spice of life. We also like to give an inordinate amount of space over to all demonstrations and manifestations of the popup phenomenon. We love it all - from popup shops to popup villages, once we pop we just can't stop (no copyright infringement intende...
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Join Startacus member Jay Boolkin in his promise to turn off his phone for just one day during May and experience what it’s like to have a real break. Check out the May Day Challenge...Here's Jay's call to action! "Some of us have become so used to using technology that we have forgotten how to act in a world void of it. I’m sure one of the most common phrases heard at family dinn...
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