Inspiring

Just last week we gave you the lowdown on Shopify's fantastic competition for budding online retailers and so to continue that thread, we searched high and low for a business which would demonstrate how a simple idea can grow into a highly successful online business. That’s how we stumbled across Laura Zander from California who over the past decade has knitted her way to international succe...
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We like cakes. We also like pop up shops. We also love innovative ideas that address social issues. So when we heard about the The Depressed Cake Shop we were hungry to find out more (sorry). Admittedly this story has gathered a lot of press over the last couple of months, so we are not claiming any exclusives here, but the reality is that the more people that hear about it and help spread the wo...
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GrowUp! Urban Farming... Last week we featured the innovative and inspiring 'Manchester Veg People' and we were really impressed with their local approach to fresh veg and their determination to give people the opportunity to know where their food has come from. So inspired were we in fact, that we decided to dig a little further into the public’s growing obsession with their food’s ...
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So many of us are particular about the food we prepare at home - for some, organic is the order of the day and for others, only high quality locally sourced produce is fit to grace the table. But surely it’s not possible to exercise the same selectivity when it comes to eating out? One valiant start-up in Manchester thinks it should be - in fact Manchester Veg People have set themselves the ...
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At Startacus we try not to complain too much - it generally doesn't do any good...but if there’s one thing that we simply can’t abide, it’s sitting in seemingly endless queues of traffic on our way to or from work -  it just makes our blood boil! If you listen to the hype you would believe that cycling is the magical answer to all such traffic-related misery, but sadly no - ...
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One of the realities of working in a co-working space where the majority of the other workers or startups are tech or comic or sci-fi fanatics is that it does rekindle your interest and passion for the whimsical - the adolescent passions, and the geek-esque interests of yesteryear. But apart from debating whether Quantum Leap is one of the best Sci-Fi shows of the 1990’s (Danny @UproarC...
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Avaaz.org- From Technology, new nimbleness and flexibility! It seems like everywhere you turn nowadays someone is complaining about the internet - the danger which it poses, the opportunities it affords to criminals, the security it lacks and the privacy which it takes from us. However it is wise to remember that although the rapid growth of the internet and social media may carry certain risks, ...
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As the UK enjoys the much anticipated return of the sun this week, ice-cream vans up and down the country are putting the pedal to the metal to make the most of the remaining days of Summer. However one such van promises to be a an unexpected treat for style-conscious sun-seekers and a bitter disappointment for children seeking sweet refreshment - here's the scoop... (sorry I couldn't resist&helli...
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“Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours....” Quite often or not good news stories are quickly washed over and eaten up by all the bad news we regularly get to hear about. However, here’s a good news story we reckon will get you chomping at the bit...Hungry for more? So the basic premise behind Casserole is simple. Casserole links people who love to cook with people who liv...
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Developer Town Sometimes at Startacus we like featuring some stuff that just stands out. From the best 404 page, the Pop-up Shop turned Stop-up Shop, the suitcase startup, The Obermutten Village and other such wonders - we like to think find some good ol' crackers to spread with you all. In a world of desks, computers and beige walls it’s nice to sometimes just feature th...
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From Graduate Job to starting her own business - Charlotte Nash of early stage startup Kick Campus tells us her tale...As if by accident, I've started a business. I never thought I would be going down this route - to be honest, until about a year ago I didn't even know what a startup was. I graduated from uni this time last year and traditional careers advice never seems to include "why don't you ...
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If you are a fan of Kirstie Allsopp and her various upcycling, home making and handcrafting programmes, you will dig  "My Make Do and Mend Year" Jen Gale's guest article on Startacus highlighting her quest to make, made do and mend, and buy nothing new for a whole year. Started back in September 2012, we asked Jen to write a post on her self starter journey to date. Over to Jen to explai...
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