Hello 2022! It’s already been an interesting start to the startup year. Elizabeth Holmes’ trial is going forward, Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith has stepped down to find a News startup and evil 2021 took Betty White away from us at the last minute. The last one isn’t that relevant but God, do I miss her. The last couple years have shown us that […]
Hello 2022! It’s already been an interesting start to the startup year. Elizabeth Holmes’ trial is going forward, Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith has stepped down to find a News startup and evil 2021 took Betty White away from us at the last minute. The last one isn’t that relevant but God, do I miss her.
The last couple years have shown us that we can never really predict what’s going to come. But I’m going to do it anyway, here are (some) of our startup insights and predictions:
Events avalanche? Now, there’s no guarantee that COVID-19 will vanish in 2022. However, we can hope that the severity, as well as restrictions, may decrease. As a result, we may see a temporary boom in startups around the entertainment industry. With ABBA’s 2022 virtual concerts going ahead, it promotes speculation of growth in this industry. This would include websites which host ticket purchases or promote the culture industry. Anticipated investment has already occurred in 2021, with Flymachine bagging $21 million in investment as a virtual concert platform.
Time to catch a break We’re crossing our fingers that it will be safer to travel this year, and that means some startups might finally catch a break along with us. In fact, apparently they’ve already caught a break – many UK travel startups received steady funding in 2021. In the coming year, we’re keeping an eye out for Staze, a London based startup with a focus on sustainable last minute bookings. Maybe this trend will continue and even multiply in 2022? Maybe I’ll be sipping Sangria in Spain too, in 2022.
Shift in social media? With the major social media outage last year, the introduction of Meta’s metaverse and Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ platform apparently still launching – is this a renaissance for social media? Big social media giants are a competitive force compared to other startup niches. Yet, what about a social network that does the opposite of encouraging us to be online? Citysocializer encourages you to socialise by meeting for events with like-minded folk rather than online. They’ve also scoped an impressive $1.9 million in funding so far.
So those are some of our projections!* Happy New Year from us at the Work In Startups team, and as always, check out some of the hottest jobs that are hiring below!
Thu Nov. 4, 2021 Finally, some of us had an excuse to justify why our social media was so dry. It was no longer that none of my friends liked me anymore – it was actually a global crisis: Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp were down. God, only if it were Teams. Oh, WhatsApp is down! […]
Finally, some of us had an excuse to justify why our social media was so dry. It was no longer that none of my friends liked me anymore – it was actually a global crisis: Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp were down. God, only if it were Teams.
Oh, WhatsApp is down! That’s why you haven’t responded to my messages for the past three months!!!
Every 20 minutes or so, I would go to Instagram anticipating something to change even though, unsurprisingly, it did not. It felt like going to the fridge every so often expecting to find food, but the only thing staring back at you is a sad-looking, shriveled up, half chopped bell pepper. Maybe I’ve been Pavlov-ed into a salivating social media dog. After 6 hours, things were back to normal.
Yet, what is most surprising about this situation is the sense of vast disconnectedness many of us felt. At this moment in time, in all worlds possible, we are the most connected we have ever been. So in preparation for a future doomsday of social media, let us explore some exciting social network startups.
Social Startup Replacements?
If you’re wondering about a world without Whatsapp, what about Wonder? The highlight of the Wonder experience is being able to move a small picture icon of yourself around the ‘room’ backdrop. I love putting myself on top of Big Ben for attention in the Wonder virtual room.
Inspired by old-school newspaper personal ads, Lex is a text-based social app for both friendship and love within the queer community. This form of innovation is vital, creating virtual queer-friendly spaces.
Bored of scrolling through Reddit or Twitter? WhoYou brings specificity to the game. They build connections based on search words and phrases within the app – making it a pull rather than push-orientated connection application.
Most social networks focus on text or image, but audio-based networks change this. Betty Labs, which created Locker Rooms (now, technically Greenroom), has been acquired by Spotify! The aim is to create conversation within the Spotify ecosystem in-app.
Last but not least, why not check out Work In Startups? Not a social media app, or remotely a replacement for Instagram, but is the go-to stop for startup jobs.
Sleep on it? The clocks turned back on Sunday, so maybe you caught some extra Zzz… (I know I did). However, many people continue to struggle with getting a healthy amount of sleep on a daily basis. Such news is concerning, considering the effects of poor sleep on your day to day living, even significantly […]
The clocks turned back on Sunday, so maybe you caught some extra Zzz… (I know I did). However, many people continue to struggle with getting a healthy amount of sleep on a daily basis. Such news is concerning, considering the effects of poor sleep on your day to day living, even significantly impacting your walking! Startups are known for helping us solve our day to day issues innovatively, and they’ve come to the rescue.
What Is SleepTech?
There is actually a term for this industry, you guessed it – sleeptech! The current ‘sleeptech’ market was projected to be $12.5 billion in 2020. Sleeptech contains wearables, SaaS/ digital tools or monitoring devices to mention a few. Although it may seem odd at first to have a dedicated industry to better sleep, considering we spend half our lives’ doing it, it may seem weirder why we aren’t investing and creating more in this space!
Who’s Making Moves In SleepTech?
SleepCogni has recently made headlines by raising a whooping £1.4 million, and is looking to break into the US market. Their website states that instead of medication or sleep monitoring, SleepCogni uses a device and SaaS to help users.
Your snore won’t be a bore with Smart Nora’s anti-snore pillow – which they state has been scientifically validated. This Toronto based startup has even been mentioned in a Forbes article!
This is what dreams are made of (well, technically on): Moona provides pillows with cooling technology. So no more mid-sleep, pillow-flipping nuisance-causing again! This French startup is close to getting a total of $1 million in funding too.
Lastly, we’ve got Lumos for all the jet setters or troubled sleepers. This startup creates an eye mask which uses biosensors, and transmits undetectable pulses of light which makes waking up easier. No more profanities directed at your alarm clock now.
Concluding Thoughts
Innovation in this sector is paramount. We invest so much in our food, clothing and lifestyles – maybe it’s time to invest in what we do the most. Or, at least, what we wished we did the most.
The job market is a bit odd at the moment. There’s a bit of a scramble: job vacancies are at an all time high, yet employers don’t seem to be employing (as much). To top it all off, we’re undergoing a ‘Great Resignation’. Yet, what we can extract from this is that many people will […]
Yet, what we can extract from this is that many people will be on the hunt for a job. From those who want a more fulfilling job at part of the Great Resignation to those who need sustainable employment after the ending of the furlough scheme. But searching for a job, especially in this confusing climate, is stressful.
Stressful to the extent that there’s a term for it – job search fatigue. ‘Job search fatigue’ refers to both the physical and mental exhaustion one may face when looking for a job. It’s often a process that does not get discussed much, and can further exacerbate feelings of isolation.
There are some methods to curbing potential job search fatigue, and the mental strain it can cause. In this article, we’ll share some of these said strategies.
However, it should be noted: long term unemployment is often to do with large socio-economic factors – structural unemployment. There is also cyclical unemployment which is the product of the economic downturn. Sometimes it’s better to seek professional help if your mental health is declining significantly.
People Need People
What often contributes to negative emotions is the sense of isolation the job search can bring. This is amplified by the fact that many choose to only share successful outcomes rather than their own failures when securing their own jobs.
In order to prevent the physical exhaustion caused by job search fatigue – it’s good to start with the mental aspect. One way in which you can achieve this is by remembering that others are in a similar situation. Starting this dialogue to someone you trust around you is also a good start. Exchanging and expressing experiences can allow you to feel that you are not alone, and the rejections/failures will eventually pass. This can contribute to a lesser sense of isolation and selflessness, learning to accept that initial rejections from the job search are not a reflection of you but a normal part of the process.
However, not everyone has the privileged to talk to people around them. Fortunately, there are alternatives. For instance, engaging with online communities/threads/posts. It allows anonymity, and doesn’t have the pressure of opening up on your side as with a one on one conversation.
You can find such communities on Reddit, which provide a bit more anonymity. There are also Facebook groups, and Twitter/Instagram pages that engage with this content. Some good links to check out are:
At work or school, you would most likely have a routine. This routine keeps you in check, and allows you to enjoy other activities whilst balancing commitments. The job search is the same. Letting it take over your life, or vice versa, remaining inconsistent in your search, disrupts other aspects of individuality. This does not necessarily have to mean you have to set up a 9-5 regiment. Overworking may become redundant if it leads to burn out and fatigue. Likewise, pacing out your job search actually opens up more opportunities for you. Every day, a new vacancy opens, and that could be the one for you! Of course, if you are already struggling, it might be hard to have an organised routine. However, boundaries can be vague. You might decide that you *only* fill out job applications in the morning. Therefore, you would not dedicate time during your afternoon and evening.
Make It… Fun?
A fun job search sounds like an oxymoron. But what if searching for a job was fun? Here’s where gamification can come into play. Gamification is the process of adding gaming strategy to non-game scenarios. It has been known to have many benefits in the realm of engagement. Searching for a job is stressful and boring, end of. Implementing some reward and structure systems, however, can hopefully make it more manageable. Why not get started on the fun by checking out 50 Ways to Get a Job? It’s free to use, and an excellent tool for helping you out on any stage of the job search.
[Setting manageable targets and implementing rewards are the easiest way to gamify your job search. Above are some more techniques to tweak the process]
Getting a Recruiter
If the job search is truly draining, it may be a good time to reach out to a recruiter or recruiting agency. These services should be free to you as a job seeker, as recruiters take fees from the employer not you. Working with a recruiting agency will decrease the effort in terms of searching for vacancies yourself, networking and so forth. Many offer additional career advise that can boost your prospects too. Nonetheless, it is important to research beforehand depending on the industry you wish to go in. Recruiting agencies might be more saturated in one industry compared to others.
Fighting Fatigue
Take a breather, remember it’s okay to take breaks and use all possible resources for you. Reaching out helps combat creeping low self-esteem, setting boundaries prevents potential burn out, gamification makes the process *slightly* more enjoyable and external agencies have lessen your work load. Finding a job is no easy feat, but you’re bound to find the perfect opportunity soon, making job search fatigue a low forgotten issue.
QR-ious about the rise of QR (Quick Response) codes? These little boxes of matrix barcodes have been around for 20 years but haven’t really taken off until the pandemic struck us. They’ve been incredibly useful in preventing virus contraction and obviously, made it super convenient to order pints at the pub. In fact, QR code […]
QR-ious about the rise of QR (Quick Response) codes? These little boxes of matrix barcodes have been around for 20 years but haven’t really taken off until the pandemic struck us.
They’ve been incredibly useful in preventing virus contraction and obviously, made it super convenient to order pints at the pub. In fact, QR code downloads have soared 750% over the last 18 months, according to Bitly.
The pandemic widened the gap in the market and we’ve seen many QR startups be born out of the pandemic. According to Traxcn, there are over 100 QR code companies now.
Flowcode (who have recently worked with JLo) has been revolutionising the consumer marketing industry by building a connection between online and offline. Imagine seeing an advert for a brand you like on the Central line. A QR code could allow you to scan the barcode and be taken straight to the product, genius! While that sounds pretty cool, they don’t appear to have reached the London Underground yet (prioritise some air conditioning on the Central first please).
QR code startups don’t yo-yo around either, except Yoyo Wallet that is. A London based start-up, Yoyo Wallet concerns itself with payment and customer rewards. This start-up gives us the taste for the future of hybrid physical-digital shopping interactions.
Yet, with great QR codes comes great responsibilities. As positive as the rapid growth has been for this niche industry, potential questions might be raised on its impact on the occupation of service staff or security.
To end on a lighter note, instead of picking the red or blue pill, pick a QR code! Have a scan of the QR codes below.
With the growing concerns for environmental changes and new regulations being put in place, the demand for Electric vehicles (Ev) has gained momentum globally, increasing the value of the transportation industry by 36.3% in terms of value from 2020 to 2028. To keep up with demand and with the threat of a ban on new […]
Weekly brief: The next generation of electric cars.
With the growing concerns for environmental
changes and new regulations being put in place, the demand for Electric
vehicles (Ev) has gained momentum globally, increasing the value of the
transportation industry by 36.3% in terms of value from 2020 to 2028.
To keep up with demand and with the
threat of a ban on new cars and vans that operate on fuel from 2030, UK
startups are contributing their innovative solutions to the EV sector.
Arrival are redefining the future of public
transport by developing and manufacturing zero-emissions solutions whilst
advancing their own software and material systems. They raised an impressive
£342milion in private investment back in November.
Riversimple are a UK-based hydrogen car company
specialising in personal mobility solutions whilst boasting no environmental
impact. With the only emission being water and the refueling time lasting only
minutes, Riversimple are appealing to the environmentally conscious and savvy
city consumer.
eFOLDi are turning things around in the assisted mobility sector by creating a
foldable and compact range of mobility scooters. One of the first of its kind,
eFOLDi is building an iconic smart brand for people with reduced mobility and
with a successful first round of funding, the demand is being met.
The clear 2030
deadline is driving investment into the future of mobility so it will be
interesting to see the development for the next generation of Electric
Vehicles. Maybe we will have flying cars after all!
2,500 startups and with £345million collectively raised in funding, Scotland is steadily making moves within the UK startup space. Scotland is just getting started with consistent growth being delivered every year. So who is worth keeping an eye on? With Scotland being the base for some of the UKs most successful “unicorn”companies, Sky Scanner and […]
Weekly brief: Scotland’s startup scene continues to surge!
2,500 startups and with
£345million collectively raised in funding, Scotland is steadily
making moves within the UK startup space. Scotland is just getting started with
consistent growth being delivered every year. So who is worth keeping an eye
on?
With Scotland being
the base for some of the UKs most successful “unicorn”companies, Sky Scanner and Brewdog to name a few,
it’s no surprise that a generation of fast growing tech businesses are
following suit.
Amphista Therapeutics, a
biopharmaceutical company is developing
pioneering innovations creating therapeutics that
harness the body’s natural processes to remove disease-causing proteins.
They’ve recently announced the closing of an impressive
£38 million Series B financing round.
Roslin
Technologies in Edinburgh are on a mission to make the
agriculture and animal health sectors more sustainable. A unique joint venture
between the University of Edinburgh and two investment and business development
partners with global networks aids the company’s success.
NuCana BioMed,
develops and commercialises rationally designed medicines for significant unmet
medical needs in the biopharmaceutical sector. Since launching, they have
raised a staggering £120
million with just 5 key investors.
These
3 ‘futurecorns’ are responsible for the employment of 500 people alone.
E Fundamentals,
a SaaS platform based in Edinburgh,who have recently announced plans to create
12 tech jobs to fuel its global expansion all in effort to support the city’s
mission to be a centre for tech excellence, provides businesses with brand
insights and offers advice on how to increase their revenue and traffic.
Impressive clients include a recent partnership with Pepsico
to power their eCommerce growth in Europe.
UK
start-ups raised £1.3
billion in the whole of 2010. They raised the
same amount in the first three weeks of 2021.With continued policy innovation,
research investment, and the right talent, the UK is on track to become the
heart of the European tech ecosystem.
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