Every startup founder that’s not living under a rock should know, by now, that they’re supposed to “validate their market”, though probably many aren’t entirely clear what it means. This…
Category: Articles
Full-length articles written by me.
How to help Deliveroo solve the plastics problem
It should be no secret by now that plastics, in particular single use plastics, are a problem. The EU has even banned them, though only starting in 2021. We don’t…
The zero-cost entrepreneur
This article was originally posted on swombat.com in December 2011. If you try to sell things to businesses (as I do in the context of GrantTree), you’ll notice a split in…
A startup escape path
This article was originally published on swombat.com in December 2011. Today, right now, what is the best path out of the corporate world and into startups? What would I advise…
Productised Services
This article was originally published in 3 parts on swombat.com in December 2011. One of the most fundamental decisions when deciding to start a company is whether you will sell…
Investment as a cushion or a springboard
This article was originally published on swombat.com in December 2011. I believe new entrepreneurs should not take investment. Here’s why. There are two primary types of investment that I’ve observed…
Taking Responsibility
This article was originally published on swombat.com in December 2011. Some time ago, I read an excellent historical novel about a character called Sinuhe. Set in ancient Egypt, it charted the…
An injured man on a bike
First, I felt some shame that I’d been fooled so easily. The man on a bike had approached me from the street while I was on the pavement. He was…
Startup gung-ho
This article was original published on swombat.com in November 2011. Businesses, investors and consumers alike are gregarious. They want to go where everyone else is going. They want to buy…
Driving, and the art of running a business
Learning to drive and learning to run a business are surprisingly similar endeavours. When you learn to drive, you don’t know what you need to pay attention to. There are,…