Inspiring

We are liking the look of Kniterate, a compact digital knitting machine (think 3D printing for knitting) that can create custom designed knitted garments like scarves, beanies, shoe uppers, sweaters, and dresses, and aims to bring fashion fabrication back to the masses!  Currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, it looks like the general public agree too, and with 20 or so days left (at th...
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Officially launching in May, SMARTIFY aims to be your personal digital arts curator (think Shazam for the Arts)...we took a look... Art is evocative, thought provoking, and possibly confusing. Some pieces we are happy to just enjoy, but others we want to know more about - more than the little plaque beside it can tell us. Who is/was the artist behind the name? Why did they paint this picture...
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We are loving the look of Howz - an innovative IoT connected home system that helps you stay linked with elderly relatives wherever you are. Developed by Manchester based health tech company Intelesant the Howz platform has been getting a little well deserved press recently. Not wanting to miss out, we thought it about time we also shared word on this connected home system that offers p...
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We are loving the look and sound of Museum in a Box - an edtech company from London who are aiming to increase the accessibility of museums and their objects with an innovative interactive handling box. Intrigued? Museum in a Box  - is pretty much just that. It is a box of miniature objects found in museums from around the world that you can have sent to your school, office or to home. Insid...
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We are liking the idea of RunTheCEO. Connecting startups & entrepreneurs with leading CEO's through running, RunTheCEO gives startup founders the opportunity to pitch their businesses to leading CEO’s through an exclusive running event. It’s certainly a fresh way for meeting and greeting with CEO’s that you would perhaps otherwise meet in a meeting room - all suited and boot...
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It’s kinda like a load of stuff we’ve seen before. A part digital made physical product. But Joto, we think, is looking 100% blooming brilliant. Joto is an internet connected drawing board that makes digital content into a physical thing by drawing it with a pen type device. Winner of the Design Museum ‘Design of the Year public vote’,  Joto is currently at the stage ...
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We're liking the sound of… Rebel Book Club The what? Rebel Book Club? Yep, Rebel Book Club is much like you’d expect - it’s a book club, but with an application process to be approved to then attend. London based.  So why are you writing about it on Startacus? Well the type of books they read range from books focused on creativity, motivation, business, entrepreneurshi...
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We’ve written plenty about startup pitch competitions here at Startacus. But if you want shock value, we think this one pretty much beats the rest. Think ice bucket challenge x 100, whilst also giving your startup pitch, and you’ve kinda got the concept of Polar Bear Pitching. We only heard about Polar Bear Pitching just after this years event had already taken place (14th a...
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Code4000 is a UK programme set up to help break the cycle of crime by teaching prisoners coding skills. We found out more about the initiative..  Starting with a pilot of sixteen prisoners at HMP Humber, Code4000 are aiming to build a network of coding workshops in UK prisons, with the aim of giving prisoners a second chance, turning their lives around, and training them in a skills set whic...
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Imagine it’s a week or so before Valentine's (at time of publication it is) and instead of a personalised card to your loved one, you send them a personalised original song. Step forward Songfinch who are like the moonpig.com (kinda) of the personalised song...read on to find out more. Songfinch is a US startup that aims to craft an original song from a customer's memories, experiences and ...
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Many of you will have seen the odd pop-up library or bus in your time. Great for helping communities that live in remote areas to gain access to books and learning. But what about a ‘pop-on’ shower bus that provides showers to the homeless? We looked at Lava Mae who are doing just that… The idea for Lava Mae was conceived when Founder Doniece Sandoval heard the cries of a homel...
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Founded by Saf Nazeer and Simon Hills, Helpfulpeeps is on a mission to bring back community spirit in an increasingly disconnected world. Inspired by the principles of paying it forward, Helpfulpeeps is a social network where people share their time, skills and knowledge to help each other for free. There is no transaction or exchange – just ask for help when you want and hel...
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