Your weekly summary of entrepreneurship news, comment, and features. Sent by the Centre for Entrepreneurs (home of StartUp Britain). Sign up here.
The Maserati 100: Nominate someone today
Maserati and the Centre for Entrepreneurs have launched the second annual Maserati 100 index – a search to find 100 of Britain’s most successful philanthropists, investors, mentors and advisors, and ascending entrepreneurs who are supporting the next generation of founders.
“If you’re an entrepreneur who has benefited from the wisdom and encouragement of someone during your journey, I’d strongly encourage you to nominate them”. Oli Barrett, current Maserati 100 awardee.
News
Low costs make UK best place in EU for business start-ups
FT: Low start-up costs and a favourable climate for entrepreneurs have made the UK the best country in the European Union in which to start a business, according to the latest annual Prosperity Index from the Legatum Institute (founding benefactor and home of the Centre for Entrepreneurs). Read more. View the Index (interactive website).
All British businesses will have access to ‘superfast’ broadband by 2020, David Cameron confirms
CityAM: Under the government’s new broadband University Service Obligation, every home and business across the UK will be able to request an internet speed of at least 10 Megabits a second by 2020. Read more.
Virgin Media launches accelerator scheme
TechCityNews: Launched in partnership with Techstars, the Virgin Media Accelerator is on the hunt for “the most innovative and disruptive start-ups from around the world”. Virgin Media will offer 10 start-ups an initial $20,000 for 6% of their company. Read more. Apply now.
Record £1.53bn raised through EIS in 2013-14 as funding initiative hits 21
RealBusiness: Having been set up in the early 1990s, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) has now helped 22,900 individual businesses secure investment – with the amount raised totalling £12.3bn. Read more.
Santander launch distributed ledger challenge
Tech City News: Santander InnoVentures has launched a $15,000 challenge to find the best start-ups using distributed ledger technologies like blockchain in financial services. Read more.
Why is this important?
Blockchains – The great chain of being sure about things (The Economist)
The technology behind bitcoin lets people who do not know or trust each other build a dependable ledger. This is implications far beyond the cryptocurrency. Read more.
Seedrs launches US site as lawmakers finally legalise equity crowdfunding
Telegraph: After three and half years, equity crowdfunding is being introduced to the American masses. Read more.
Opinion
Why you need to pass the baton of entrepreneurship to a new generation
As established business owners, we have a duty to guide tomorrow’s budding entrepreneurs towards success, writes Martin Hamilton (founder and managing director, Mash Direct). Read more.
The gig economy is coming. Politics isn’t ready
Uber, TaskRabbit and other “online talent platforms” can make us all richer, but the state should ensure those who get work using them are treated properly, writes James Kirkup (Telegraph). Read more.
Why we are in desperate need of new laws which adapt to the sharing economy
The sharing economy has the potential to change the way our whole economy works, writes Daniel Dalton (Member of the European Parliament). Read more.
The UK is great at supporting start-ups – so why can’t we do the same with scale-ups?
We need to do more to help our start-ups become scale-ups, writes Sherry Coutu (chair, Scale-Up Institute). Read more.
Candy Crush, Minecraft and why Sweden’s gaming boom doesn’t deliver jobs
During the 20th century jobs arose with wealth – today, it is alas more complicated, writes Dr Nima Sanandaji (research fellow, CPS). Read more.
Features
Michelle Mone carries on her fight to the top as a start-up saviour and business czar
The Standard profiles Baroness Mone, the founder of Ultimo Bras who is currently leading a government review on boosting entrepreneurship in deprived areas. Read more.
Julie Deane OBE: “Self-employment changed my life”
Startups: With her survey for the UK’s self-employed closing today, the Cambridge Satchel founder talks red tape, exports and becoming her own boss. Read more. Complete the survey.
Retirement? No thanks. Meet the 60-something entrepreneurs
Guardian: From topping up pensions to fulfilling a life-long ambition to become an entrepreneur, business owners share their reasons for starting up later in life. Read more.