Iceland Food rules out deal with Amazon as Food Warehouse attracts new customers June 15, 2018 Iceland's boss has ruled out a deal with Amazon, telling City A.M. that "we don't want anything to do with them". The retailer reported steady sales growth this morning, as it eyes expansion into sites left vacant by the recent wave of store closures and grows its online business. But managing director Tarsem Dhaliwal said [...]
Fintech and funding: LendInvest’s path from adversity to opportunity June 13, 2018 Entrepreneurs often thrive in circumstances where traditional, established companies struggle – Microsoft, General Electric and Disney were all started during recessions. Nonetheless, 2008 was a precarious time to set up a mortgage business – as LendInvest co-founders Christian Faes and Ian Thomas candidly pointed out during a recent Leap 100 Breakfast. Although the online marketplace [...]
A sovereign wealth fund could diffuse the UK’s debt timebomb June 13, 2018 There’s a hint of sunshine peeping out from behind the grey clouds of austerity. After eight long years of belt-tightening, we’re living within our means at last. Our taxes cover our day-to-day spending on things like health, education, policing and defence, so we’re only having to borrow to invest in long-term infrastructure like roads and [...]
Do brands benefit by using AI Systems? June 13, 2018 Artificial intelligence is becoming one of the most popular topics among brands and marketers. This is because it is proven to make everyone’s life easier. Brands have chunks of data they need to process and make the best out of them, and AI proved to be very helpful with such tasks. Most people tend to [...]
Blue Whale – an ocean of opportunity? June 13, 2018 With pressure on charges and an increasing regulatory burden there has probably never been a more challenging time to start a new fund management business. And making in impact with an inaugural fund in the IA Global sector – up against big fish like Nick Train and Terry Smith – is no easy task. Yet [...]
Anyone for England? The World Cup and business stardom are both games of luck June 13, 2018 The 2018 World Cup in Russia kicks off tomorrow. This time, at least, there is little feeling that our boys will emerge victorious. And yet. There is a great deal more randomness in the outcome of soccer games than is generally appreciated. Read more: Allez le Bleus! Lloyd’s of London tips France for world cup [...]
Sport streaming: Will the trickle become a flood after the Premier League’s deal with Amazon? June 12, 2018 If the sports streaming revolution has to date just been a trickle, then deals struck between rights holders and online platforms in recent days suggest signs of a flood to come. Most notable was Amazon’s capture of a package of domestic Premier League rights last week, meaning that from the 2019-20 season English football’s top [...]
Alton Towers owner and multi-millionaire Nick Leslau on the “constipated” property market and that rollercoaster tragedy June 12, 2018 Nick Leslau, one of Britain’s wealthiest property entrepreneurs, loves buildings other people would find ugly. “I have a thing for unfashionable buildings that people generally hate,” says the multi-millionaire who turned two sixties office blocks in London into the St Martins Lane and Sanderson hotels. “I like them because of the opportunity they represent and [...]
The focus on tech stocks is too narrow – it’s time to get creative June 12, 2018 Tech is a no brainer for investors. But a simple investment theme for the sector is being badly executed. Investors are too narrow in their focus, chasing Nasdaq and FANG (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google) stocks, in a similar way to how they tend to play emerging markets. That is, in a simple fashion. Investor [...]
Why the UK tech sector needs IPOs June 11, 2018 The decision for a startup to move to an initial public offering (IPO) is not an easy or quick one to make – it requires careful planning and execution. Launching on the stock market should not be over-estimated either. Anyone who has built a business capable of listing should not find the process any more [...]