Morning Innovators ⚡ In less than 5 minutes, we’ll cover…

🥳 The best funding opportunities, events and jobs in the Start-Up world this week
📰 This week’s biggest news stories in the Start-Up world
🔐 How does this Start-Up protect even the most valuable of collections?
🦙 How you can use made up animals to get new customers
📣 A tool that enables you to get 10x better employee feedback

✨ Last weeks most clicked link was this link taking you through to SFC’s announcement of a new £25m fund for regional UK companies.

Happy hustling,

Rich

🎤 Opportunities + Events

❄️ Snowflake have opened up applications for their AI/Data/Cloud Start-Up Accelerator, with successful Start-Up applicants being able to access their pot of $200m in funding - you can apply here!

🚃 Transport for Wales have opened applications for their latest Accelerator programme for Transport and Media Companies, with successful applicants getting the chance at £50k from the Media Cymru Fund, £30k from the TfW Fund, and get TfW as a customer - you can apply here!

🎙 HubSpot for Start-Ups have launched their Pitch Perfect event, giving you the chance to pitch to a a panel of esteemed VCs and get live feedback, you can register here!

💰 Carta (Our awesome newsletter partners) are hosting their Spring Summit in London on April the 10th, talking all things Investment and Start-Ups - you can grab your ticket here!

💼 Start-Up Jobs

🩺 Healthcare Full Stack Engineer, Pharmovo AI
🎁 Sales Executive, Hello Yummy Box
⏱ Senior Product Designer, Timeleft

❓VC firm faces questions over £110m of UK public money acquired without competitive process Sifted

👀 DeepSeek claims theoretical profit margins of 545% TechCrunch

🍏 Apple might not release a truly modernised Siri until 2027 TechCrunch

🚗 Wayve drives ahead its ‘year of global expansion’ with Germany launch. UKTN

Carta is a platform that helps people manage equity, build businesses and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Our mission is to unlock the power of equity ownership for more people in more places. Carta is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 8,000 investment funds and a million employees for cap table management, venture capital solutions and more. In the UK, we support founders who are raising money through SEIS/EIS, helping with Advance Assurance, round modelling and more. To find out more, take a look at their website, or get in touch with [email protected].

This was an unconventional yet eye catching approach from WeRoad, the adventure travel company.

How often do you see a missing Alpaca, Reindeer or Monkey in London? Not very often! Which is exactly why WeRoad plastered (Unbranded) posters of these missing animals all over London, knowing people would HAVE to look at them out of surprise. However, when passers by scanned the QR code at the bottom of the poster, it took them to a discount that WeRoad were running on their bookings!

Is this genius, deceptive or both?

Each week we highlight our favourite tools - either something we’ve been using in our businesses, or tools that our innovator community have recommended.

Teamble AI helps give and get 10x better employee feedback throughout the year. Better 1 on 1's > better feedback > higher performance!

About ValArt, a Collectors Dream

ValArt is the ultimate platform designed for collectors, by collectors. Understanding the challenges of managing, valuing, and protecting treasured items, ValArt offers a comprehensive solution to simplify and enhance the collecting experience. Whether you collect art, antiques, sports memorabilia, or any other valuable items, ValArt provides the tools necessary to organise, safeguard, and track your collection efficiently.

Managing a diverse collection can be overwhelming. Market fluctuations, documentation concerns, and long-term preservation have traditionally been major pain points for collectors. ValArt addresses these challenges with innovative features that offer ease, security, and confidence.

Key Features of ValArt

• Cataloguing System – Effortlessly organise and document every item in your collection. Whether it’s a rare comic book, a vintage watch, or a signed sports jersey, ValArt provides a structured and accessible inventory system.

• Valuation Algorithm – Keep track of your collection’s worth using ValArt’s cutting-edge valuation tool. Powered by real-time market data and industry trends, this feature provides accurate value estimates.

• Document Protection – Securely store essential documents like certificates of authenticity, appraisals, and receipts. With ValArt, these vital records are protected and easily retrievable.

• End-of-Life Planning – Ensure your collection is managed according to your wishes with ValArt’s unique end-of-life tool. Plan and outline the future of your valuable assets, providing peace of mind.

The Journey of a Solo Founder

As the sole founder of ValArt, Elliot embarked on a challenging yet rewarding journey. While the idea of finding a co-founder was explored, including efforts through Y Combinator’s platform, a suitable match wasn’t found. Understanding that choosing a co-founder is akin to entering a marriage, Elliot approached the process cautiously.

Despite the challenges of solo entrepreneurship, such as workload management, strategic decision-making, and maintaining momentum, ValArt has thrived. The turning point came with the onboarding of a Chief Technology Officer willing to contribute in exchange for sweat equity. This collaboration has been instrumental in managing the technical aspects, allowing Elliot to focus on product development, business strategy, and growth.

Acquiring the First Customers

ValArt’s first users came from Elliot’s personal network of collectors. Since the platform was solving a problem Elliot himself had faced, attracting early adopters was relatively straightforward.

The initial strategy involved creating a close-knit testing community, gathering valuable feedback, and refining the platform. With the launch of Version 2 in September 2024, word-of-mouth and organic networking within the collector community helped expand the user base. Currently, Version 3 is in development, set for launch on March 8, 2025.

Scaling Beyond Early Customers

To transition from early adopters to scalable growth, ValArt has focused on strategic partnerships with organizations that cater to collectors. For example, ValArt is building a relationship with RBC Brewin Dolphin, a wealth management firm, as well as engaging with auction houses and similar businesses.

Additionally, ValArt is leveraging micro-influencers in niche markets like Transformers and trading cards. This targeted approach allows the company to reach highly engaged collectors who see value in the platform’s unique offerings.

Lessons Learned & Strategic Adjustments

Scaling a business involves extensive testing, and Elliot has learned that failure is an essential part of the process. Early setbacks were viewed as roadblocks, but over time, they became valuable learning opportunities.

If given the chance to restart, ValArt would prioritize building a pipeline of strategic partnerships before launching. Establishing these relationships earlier would have accelerated the scaling process and provided stronger growth metrics.

Funding & Financial Strategy

ValArt has been bootstrapped with personal funds and a small round from friends and family, raising approximately £40,000 to develop the platform to its current stage. The focus has been on keeping the business lean, minimizing unnecessary expenses, and prioritizing organic growth over costly marketing campaigns.

To date, ValArt has acquired its user base with no paid advertising, proving the power of community-driven growth and product-market fit. While external investment remains an option, Elliot has found that bootstrapping has instilled discipline and efficiency in the company’s operations.

Challenges & Overcoming Obstacles

The biggest challenge has been bootstrapping a technology-driven platform in a landscape where heavy funding is often considered essential. Many assume that large investments are necessary to build a successful tech product, but ValArt has demonstrated that careful planning and resourcefulness can drive meaningful progress.

Another major lesson has been the reality of fundraising. While raising investment is often portrayed as a straightforward process, Elliot found it to be time-consuming and distracting from core business growth. As a result, he chose to focus on building a strong product and acquiring customers organically instead.

Next week I’ll be highlighting another awesome Start-Up, as well as sharing all the usuals including funding opportunities, Start-Up news, plus plenty of awesome tips, tricks and tools.

P.S. Connect with me on LinkedIn…