News

Ideas + funding? What's not to love! We take a look at Host of Ideas, a platform that aims to connect these two vital elements together. Recently launched and currently in BETA, Host of Ideas aims to be the go-to place for investment both in the UK and the States. Host of Ideas also runs 3 month long competitions with ten awards celebrating brilliant startups in 10 fast-growing market sectors, w...
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On the 8th November, The Smarta 100 shortlisted finalists will discover their fate as the winner of the Smarta 100 awards is announced and awarded with their £10k prize...Startacus took some time out to review the smarta 100 field.. Announced over the weekend and shortlisted from over 1,200 entries from across the UK, the Smarta 100 identified the top 100 companies that are on track to...
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The recently launched Startup Loans initiative has been getting plenty of press, (both good and bad) on whether or not it really is a good option for a young person with an idea for a business to pursue. However, rather than getting our political hats on and giving our own tuppence worth, we thought we’d let you make your own mind up on whether or not it’s for you. Startup Loans ...
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It seems like all awards, competitions and prizes at the moment are for the greater good! Just in the last few weeks we have highlighted the Vodafone Foundation - for socially conscious App Developers, The RAPTOR SME Small Grants Programme for Apps related to the Retail, Transport or the Urban Environment, and The Young Foundation have launched a new business support programme – aimed at soc...
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Enterprise champion Doug Richard is on the hunt for 10,000 new angel investors and investment ready businesses. The School for Startups founder will lead a tour of the country to show thousands of people that they can play a part in the resurgence of British business. Doug’s quest to widen the pool of British investors will see him host nine half-day events this October and Novemb...
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If you are a business based in Ireland, either North or South, the recently launched Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards might be of interest. The main objective of the awards, which are now in their fourth year, is to recognise and promote the best innovations in businesses of all sizes across the island of Ireland.Organisations can enter in one of six distinct categories :- agri food...
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Here at Startacus, we are still learning, and in terms of self starter experience, we are still students of our art, or apprentices to our trade, as it were. In fact we are firm believers that you should never stop learning! With this in mind, we have been avidly following the updates about all that will be happening at the upcoming Youth Enterprise Live with great interest. Youth Enterprise Live...
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There seems to be a plethora of conferences and summits at the moment directly aimed at the startup sector, although some seem to far outweigh others in terms of what they offer potential attendees. One of the best aimed specifically at the “technology” startup is the upcoming Tech Entrepreneurs Week. This London based event which is being held over 4 days between 26th and 29th Novemb...
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If illustration or design is your thing, the Young Illustrators Award ought to be on your radar. This world renowned competition seeks to reward the most creative and innovative talent in the illustration and graphics fields and to help that talent get a profile in the global design world.This year's competition is seeking out new talent in 3 main categories : - Illustration including Pattern Des...
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Startacus makes no bones about it - we like free stuff! After all, who doesn’t? And free stuff is just what is up for grabs via the Technology Strategy Board’s new Innovation Vouchers scheme.The Vouchers offer support for business ideas related to the areas of agri-food, built environment and space sectors. Unfortunately on this occasion, as much as we love food, chilling outside nice ...
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Meeting, connecting and collaborating with other creative and like-minded people is part of our main focus here at Startacus and when we hear of people or places or events with a similar focus, we can’t keep them all to ourselves - we’ve gotta tell! One such event is the upcoming AOP / Mozilla Hack Day...If Web Development or Graphic Design is your thing, it could certainly be worth y...
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If you are an app developer, a competition recently launched by Vodafone ought to be of interest.Now in its’ second year, the Smart Accessibility Awards are run with the support of AGE Platform Europe and the European Disability Forum. The premise behind the awards is to discover and award new smartphone apps that are targeted toward the needs of older people and those with disabilities. Th...
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