Identifying the Major Cities with Thriving Startup Ecosystems

To explore the thriving startup scene in major cities, we look at key factors such as access to funding, a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, availability of talent, and supportive government policies. Cities like San Francisco, New York, London, Berlin, and Bangalore top the list due to their strong startup ecosystems. These cities have a high concentration of venture capitalists and angel investors ready to back promising ideas. They also have a culture of innovation and risk-taking, and house some of the world’s top universities, providing a steady stream of talented individuals. Furthermore, the governments in these cities offer various incentives to encourage startups. By understanding these components, we can identify cities with thriving startup ecosystems.

Understanding the Key Factors that Contribute to a Successful Startup City

Understanding the key factors that contribute to a successful startup city is crucial for aspiring entrepreneurs. First, a rich talent pool is essential. The city needs to have a diverse and skilled workforce that can drive innovation. Second, access to funding is a must. Cities with a strong presence of venture capitalists and investors are likelier to foster successful startups. Third, the city should have a supportive infrastructure with affordable office spaces and a strong technological network. Lastly, a collaborative and supportive environment, where entrepreneurs can easily connect, share ideas, and collaborate, can significantly contribute to startup success. These elements combined create a robust ecosystem for startups to thrive and prosper.

Spotlight on Silicon Valley: The Birthplace of Startups

Silicon Valley, located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California, is a global hotspot for technological innovation and the birthplace of many world-renowned startups. This dynamic region is home to thousands of tech companies, from industry giants like Google and Apple to promising startups like Uber and Airbnb. The Valley’s unique fusion of talented individuals, robust venture capital, and a culture that celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship, has created an ecosystem that fosters the growth of startups. Its thriving startup scene continues to attract budding entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts from around the world, making it a must-visit destination in any exploration of global startup scenes.

Exploring the Rapid Growth of Startups in New York City

New York City, often dubbed as the city that never sleeps, is living up to its name in the world of startups. The city is witnessing an unprecedented boom in startups, with entrepreneurs setting up innovative businesses at a rapid pace. Various factors contribute to this growth, including the city’s diverse talent pool, robust infrastructure, and supportive policies. A walk down the streets of Manhattan or Brooklyn will reveal an array of coworking spaces, tech hubs, and innovation labs, reflecting the vibrant startup culture. From tech to fashion, and finance to food, these startups are not only reshaping the city’s economy but also its way of life, making New York City a global startup hotspot.

Berlin’s Rise as a European Startup Hub

Berlin is rapidly emerging as a vibrant hub for startups in Europe. The city’s affordable living costs, diverse population, and supportive government policies are attracting entrepreneurs from all over the world. It’s home to a variety of startups, spanning sectors like tech, finance, and green energy, showcasing the city’s versatile business environment. Berlin’s startup scene is also fueled by an abundance of resources such as coworking spaces, networking events, and a thriving investment landscape. The city’s dynamic and innovative atmosphere makes it a top destination for budding entrepreneurs, contributing to its rise as a leading European startup hub.

Diving into Asia’s Startup Scene: Focus on Bangalore and Beijing

Asia’s startup scene is booming, particularly in the cities of Bangalore and Beijing. Bangalore, known as the Silicon Valley of India, is a hotbed for tech startups, with a rapidly growing ecosystem that supports and nurtures entrepreneurial endeavors. On the other hand, Beijing, China’s massive capital, is home to a vibrant startup scene, boasting some of the world’s biggest tech companies. Both cities offer a wealth of opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors alike, making them ideal places to dive into the exciting world of startups.

Role of Government Policies and Infrastructure in Supporting Startups

Government policies and infrastructure play a pivotal role in fostering a thriving startup scene in major cities. Government policies, such as tax incentives, grants, and funding opportunities, directly encourage startup growth by reducing financial burdens and providing essential capital. Moreover, the government often facilitates programs that offer mentorship, training, and networking opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. On the other hand, solid infrastructure, including reliable transport, robust internet connectivity, and accessible office spaces, creates a conducive environment for startups to operate efficiently. In essence, both government support and sound infrastructure are key to nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem in big cities.

The Impact of the Startup Scene on the Local Economy and Job Market

The startup scene significantly boosts the local economy and job market in major cities. New companies create fresh job opportunities, reducing unemployment rates and fostering economic growth. They stimulate competition and innovation, driving existing businesses to improve their offerings. Startups often attract investors and venture capitalists to the cities, bringing in additional financial resources. Moreover, the need for various supporting services like legal, accounting, and marketing further expands job creation. Thus, the thriving startup scene plays a crucial role in shaping a vibrant, resilient, and diverse local economy.

Future Trends and Predictions for the Global Startup Scene.

Looking ahead, the global startup scene is set to continue its rapid growth, driven by technological innovation and increased accessibility to funding. Major cities worldwide are predicted to expand their startup ecosystems, with emerging markets like Asia and Africa expected to rise significantly. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Blockchain are expected to remain hot trends, spearheading the tech startup scene. The growing focus on sustainability will likely spur a surge in green and social entrepreneurship. Remote work’s normalization may also decentralize startup hubs, allowing entrepreneurs to thrive outside traditional hotspots like Silicon Valley. Despite potential challenges, the future of the global startup scene looks promising, marked by diversity, innovation, and global collaboration.

Are you grappling with the fierce challenge of standing out amidst competitors and gaining the media attention your startup deserves? Schedule a free call here to see how we can help!

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Sandra Manay is an artist and entrepreneur. Some might think that these two things are polar opposites, but starting a business is an art form in itself.

Sandra was born in the coastal area of Peru in 1992 and at a young age was influenced by local traditional art and natural beauty. That led her to find love for fashion and design. At the age of 15, she moved to the U.S. with her family, and later she graduated from one of the best design colleges in the world—Parsons in New York City.

Since she was 12-years-old, she had a dream to open an e-commerce clothing store, so right after graduating from Parsons she started working toward her dream. She failed. Nonetheless, Sandra picked herself up and successfully created an aromatherapy company Luna Sundara.

Her advice for young entrepreneurs? “Let yourself fail at a young age, but don’t be too hard on yourself,” she said.

How did you decide to create an aromatherapy company? Are you now working full-time on it?

Actually, I’ve always wanted to create an e-commerce clothing store—that has been my dream since I was 12-years-old—so when I finished college I felt I was ready to do it.

I created a clothing line called “Bohemian Affair,” which consisted of high-end bohemian fashion (I still have the pieces; they are beautiful I wish I could produce more of them). I did everything needed to create a clothing line, but I never launched it. There were many reasons behind it—the most important one being lack of experience. There was so much I needed to learn and after I talked to some mentors, I realized that there were many aspects that I was still missing. I learned my lesson, it was hurtful, but hey, you move on! Still, there’s something about e-commerce that gives me great pleasure: creating new products, seeing people using them.

During the spring of 2014, I started attending spiritual events, full moon parties, summer equinox among others, and I saw a lot of people using aromatherapy. There were certain aromas that I couldn’t find in the U.S that are popular in Peru. One day I was chatting with my boyfriend Tom, and we said let’s create an aromatherapy store and see what happens. We thought it would be awesome to have an unlimited supply of our favorite products. I work full time on it.

 Who are your customers?

Our customers consist of 68 percent women and 32 percent men. Our buyers range from different ages; however, the most popular group are those that are 25-34 years old.

How is the company different from all the others in the U.S.? What’s unique about it?

We focus on Peruvian products since we have enough resources that allow us to be familiar with them. Selling products from markets we don’t personally know won’t allow us to have the connection we have with suppliers, farmers, biologists (for the oils) and artisans. For aromatherapy, we focus on wild crafted botanicals and for the ceramics, we focus on traditional Peruvian ceramics.

You said since last year sales on your site tripled, and increased by 890 percent on Amazon, and now you’re profitable. What was the driving the factor behind the success?

I believe right timing and customer satisfaction are the main factors behind our success. When we started, there were companies selling aromatherapy products, but our goal was to present it better. We haven’t seen many companies selling the kind of oils we sell because people are unfamiliar with them. We want to create a better shopping experience. If customers are not satisfied with their purchase, we make sure we do everything in our power to make them happy. Also, we believe success can be temporary, so we are working on expanding to new products, especially those that aren’t in the market yet.

How do you define “success”?

Success to me is simply having a peace of mind, but money comes with it. If used properly, money can ease things and minimize problems. It also allows us to do good for others, and that’s the biggest gratification an entrepreneur can have.

What is it like when Thomas Konik is not only your business partner, but also your boyfriend? What are the pros and cons?

Working with my boyfriend is great, however, I would be lying if I told you that it has always been like that. For starters, he has another job—he is an audio visual consultant for a hospital—so his full time job is completely different from what he does at Luna Sundara. The pros of working with him is that we are more connected, we share ideas every day, and we celebrate every milestone. It creates a different connection and it’s very special. We grow together professionally and we learn from each other.

There are also cons of working with him and I’ve been affected by them more than him, probably. Criticism is a big issue when it comes to working with your partner. I appreciate constructive criticism when it comes from other people and I’m grateful for their time to help me. But when it comes to receiving criticism from your partner, it gets complicated. I’ve had a hard time detaching myself emotionally… however, I’m growing professionally and learning how to find balance.

What is your dream job?

I would love to have a lifestyle e-commerce store that includes aromatherapy, beauty, wellness, home décor, and fashion. I love aromatherapy, but I’m also passionate about art.

Also, creating an organization that can change lives of children through education has been a dream I’ve had for many years. There are children with bright minds, but lack of resources that are living in underdeveloped nations.

We’ve been talking about creating an NGO to help with education in Peru, but it’s a long term project. We are planning to put together a team of economists, managers and marketing consultants. We already have a team in mind and we’ve been discussing ideas for the past few months. We don’t want to be yet another company donating money and delivering no long term results—we want to do it right, and that takes time, but with patience it will be successful.

How is the company going to grow?

In the future, we want to expand into different categories such as teas, natural supplements, more artisanal products, fashion, home décor, and beauty products. I understand that now it will be hard to picture it since we only sell aromatherapy, but we have a future plan for Luna and we are positive it will come together just fine.

We also want to expand our blog and educate people more on different topics that are unfamiliar. Bringing new products will be a bit challenging since there are products that are not well established. For example, the palo santo was popular already, but people were not familiar with oils like muña or palo de rosa. Our job is to educate people more on the topic so they can understand the value of the product they are purchasing.

How frequently do you travel to Peru or Ecuador for business? You said you work with a biologist in Peru, who harvests the botanicals and produces the oils, and with suppliers in the most remote areas. Can you tell us about the relationship with those people and their way of life?

 I usually travel two to three times a year. I work with a biologist in Peru that distills our wild crafted oils. She is very passionate about the environment and takes her time to help us with everything we need. We get lots of emails from wholesalers offering us oils, but they have no idea what they are selling. Our supplier is very professional, we’ve created a great relationship, and we wouldn’t change that for anything.

Our ceramists are in a small town in Northern Peru. It usually takes us a few hours to get to their homes, but it’s the best place to create a closer relationship with them. The ceramists live in a small village and usually when we place a big order they get the whole town to work, they help each other, and that brings a great pleasure to us because everyone is happy in the end.

I want to explain something that has been on my mind since we started. A lot of people reached out to us asking about our business model and also asking if we are a social entrepreneurship company.

We don’t call our company “social entrepreneurship” because we are not there yet. However, other companies of our kind do because they simply purchase products from artisans or small artists. To me, that’s a marketing strategy more than an honest explanation of their business model. Social entrepreneurship is the use of the techniques by start-up companies and entrepreneurs to develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues.

There are many companies that are very transparent about their business model implementing social entrepreneurship. I admire the ones that are currently doing this kind of hard and thoughtful work. However, since being a social entrepreneurship company attracts a different market, many companies use this term to their advantage even though they are not fully operating as a social entrepreneurship company would. Buying products from artisans, villagers or small artists doesn’t automatically give you the title of social entrepreneurship.

You may be asking yourself, so why do you criticize these companies and you are not doing it? The answer is simple—it takes time. Most importantly, we want to show results to our consumers. We don’t want to do things and not be able to show the difference our company is making, we want to show it with results and statistics.

We buy products from artisans, but also allow them to sell to other people, and we are currently working on ways to work with their local governments to create a program to teach them how to create products with an export quality. We wouldn’t want the artisans to depend solely on us because they can lose everything if we ever stop purchasing products from them. We want to train them to improve their products, improve their quality of life, and prepare them to become better entrepreneurs. We want to make things right, but we are also very cautious of how we portray ourselves. We want to be as transparent as possible with our business practices.

You graduated from Parsons, are you thinking about someday going back to work in the fashion industry? 

My goal would be, as I mentioned before, to create a lifestyle company where I can create a platform for different products, including fashion. Entering the fashion industry is not easy and it requires experience. Every day I see companies opening and closing. I would be happy having a store where I can have different categories such as aromatherapy, home décor, furniture, wellness but all with the same free spirited style.

Any advice for young entrepreneurs? 

Let yourself fail at a young age, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Right out of college, I started working towards “Bohemian Affair” and worked for a long time to create a company that I’ve been dreaming for many years only to realize I was unaware of many factors. I remember thinking how ignorant I was all these years and how risky I was to do it right out of college without working for someone first. It was hurtful, I was angry, sad, and disappointed in myself. I’ve come to a point where failure is not scary anymore, I’m willing to accept it and if I fail again at another project, I’ll know it’s a lesson no one will be able to take away from me. I’ll pick myself up and start over.

Anything else?

Be kind to people, always. Being an entrepreneur will take you on many roads—one day you could be on top and the next you’ll be asking someone for work. Life is very unexpected, but people will remember you for the good you did and the impact you had on their life.

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Pick up the nearest object to you. Chances are, what you are holding is a jigsaw puzzle of pieces made all around the world. Take an iPhone: software – North Carolina; radio frequency – Oregon; audio chip – Texas; gorilla glass – California; minerals required to create colour screens, vibration units, circuitry, chipsets and batteries – Mongolia; dram & flash memory – Korea and Taiwan; gyroscope – France and Italy; assembly – China…

Overseas production is great when you want a mass produced product (and you don’t care about the environmental cost), but what happens when you only want ten? Local production is dead. In its place are multi-national chains that are a costly barrier to makers who are just starting out. Herein lies the problem which Mayku co-founders Alex Smilanksy and Benjamin Redford are on a mission to solve.

“Mayku” is part “maker” and part homage to a love for sleek Japanese design. The hardware startup is determined to put the power of making back into the hands of the little guys with a curious little device called a Formbox. The world’s first desktop factory, able to be powered by any household vacuum cleaner, uses plastic sheets to create a mould of, say, a banana, that can then be used to rapidly create a small yellow army, which can, in turn, be combined to create a state-of-the-art banana chandelier. Any material – chocolate, wax, silicone, plaster, water – can be used to create a collection using the FormBox.

Mayku is leveling the playing field. By providing easier access to manufacturing (and with plans for an online how-to library of products), they say “physically making things will be as simple as making toast.”

Products will be able to be made and re-made at minimal environmental cost and production time (typically drawn out due to shipping) will be significantly reduced. Mayku is already one step ahead as the Formbox, itself, has a smaller carbon footprint than the average laptop. Now the focus is on creating a machine that recycles the plastic sheets to keep the environmental impact low. In the interim, Mayku is working towards using biodegradable plastics and educating landfills on how to most effectively recycle the sheets.

Market saturation is an undeniable consequence of the FormBox, but Mayku has a refreshing perspective when it comes to competition.  

“The definition of creativity has changed due to the ability to re-make things,” Smilanksy told CreativeMornings/London at his talk at the Goldsmith Centre last October. From competition, comes constant improvement and unique ideas and we will see the industry continuing to evolve.

The Formbox is sold out through July 2017 but Mayku are currently accepting pre-orders for a Spring/Summer 2017 delivery ($399 + $30 shipping fee to all countries).

The post Mayku: a factory that fits on your kitchen table appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

1. Ginny and Caro

After being in great careers within large companies for over 20 years, Ginny and Caro decided to quit and start a new life where they could better spend their time serving their communities with wild food.

Inspired by “fruits, nature and culinary heritage” they built Wild at Heart Foods in 2011, a start-up that manufactures and sells traditional homemade accompaniments for meats and cheeses.

“We realized wild things had became very trendy but people were scared to pick things for themselves, and we wanted to help people eat wild things,” says Ginny while she kindly offering me a cracker dipped in their new wild garlic mayonnaise.

Their range of products includes natural and wholesome chutneys, wild garlic pesto, mayonnaise, relishes, preserves, jellies and fruit cheeses. You can buy their products at Lakeland, Selfridges or online.

2. Froosh

Inspired by everything fruit; Froosh specialize in 100% fruit bottling and nothing else. All natural fruit smoothies with no additives, no sugar and not from concentrate.

Froosh Smoothies is an independent Swedish company with more than 60 percent market share in Scandinavia. According to their website, Froosh Smoothies “give consumers a convenient, delicious and healthy way to get more fruit into their diet and make it a little easier to live a healthy life.”

After being offered a sample of the Starfruit &Yuzu, I could taste the ripeness of a mix of tropical fruits as if just freshly squeezed off the trees. A must have for healthy eaters and drinkers who want to save time and effort with an instant smoothie.

Among their combinations are mango and orange, pineapple, banana and coconut, blueberry and raspberry, and orange, carrot and ginger. Plus there are fruits you’ve never heard of, like Yoozo – a citrus fruit from Japan. The complete range can be found here.

Find Froosh in specialty retail stores like whole foods and Harvey Nichols or contact them directly at info@froosh.com

Froosh not only specialize in award-winning smoothies but also in helping developing nations. They base their business on the trade not aid concept. “We want to purchase products which come from the developing countries and bring them out of poverty by buying their products,” says Christian Iönne, Froosh’s Export Manager who’s bringing a new definition of healthy smoothies to the UK market.

3.  Pulsin

“We started off just making energy balls in one of our mums’ kitchens in Gloucester; replacing bad confectionary snacks with healthy foods,” Andrew Powell, Business Development Executive at Pulsin says.

Tired of looking for an all natural and all healthy snack? Be tired no more – a protein bar from Pulsin will ensure you are stocked with enough energy for a hectic day. According to their website they use the best quality, natural non GM or ingredients, shaving minutes off your next healthy snack search at the food store.

They make a wide range of plant-based protein bars that promise to “give you sustained energy release, strengthen your immune system, make you feel fuller for longer, support healthy body function, boost your brainpower and enrich your life.”

But that’s not all. The good guys at Pulsin didn’t forget about the next generation, and have created a variety of delicious, healthy bars for kids. Also if you are a busy gym goer and want a quick whey protein boost during a golden hour, Pulsin have got you covered with their muscle recovery drink

Check their website to buy directly or go to Wholefoods or Planet Organic.

4. Nomnom Chocolates

What does it take to turn an old deserted factory into a successful business? A team of youngsters all under the age of 25 have built a start-up around their passion and favorite snack: Nomnom Chocolates.

“We like our confectionary bitter and our companies sweet which is why we want our little company to be owned by the people that enjoy our chocolate,” Liam Burgess, Nomnom Founder says.

These guys are so dedicated that everything is done by hand, from blending the best cacao beans in the world to even the wrapping. The bars are hand wrapped individually in a golden thin foil to seal ridiculously good chocolate.

After a taste of the orange marmalade filled chocolate; I couldn’t help but finish the whole 110-gram indulgence in under a minute.

Order today here or on Facebook, for yourself or someone you care about. The taste will take you to another level of chocolate consciousness.

5. Dark Woods Coffee

Particular about your morning coffee? Ever thought about having a relationship with coffee that isn’t via Starbuck’s or Costa? Have you wondered what separates good coffee from real good coffee? Dark Woods Coffee does exactly that.

“When we started, we wanted to go down the middle. Mid roast designed to have the freshness and fruitiness of quality coffee, which would work better with milk but not a roast so dark as to destroy the character of the coffe,” says Paul Meikle-Janney, Managing Director, who has been making coffee for 18 years. While he brewed me a long black expresso, the smell was so good that I’d picked up a bag of the Good Morning Sunshine blend before I’d even tasted it.

In London Dark Woods coffee can be found in Harrods. It’s also available in lots of farm shops and can be purchased online.

6. Olly’s olives

One of the most enthusiastic people I met at the fair was Oliver Hiscocks. He quit his full time job and founded Olly’s olives,  admitting “I am an absolute olive fanatic.”

His daily passion for olives starts at 6 a.m. in the morning  when he gets up, heads to the production unit, gathers the olives and marinates them all by himself with no additives, preservatives or chemicals. He just makes “natural olives in fresh and flavorsome marinades.”

Olly wants to revolutionize the way we incorporate olives in our daily eating. “I was bored with olives and someone needed to jazz it up, shake it up and help olives achieve 100 percent of their potential,” says the 24-year-old entrepreneur.  He offers six different flavors – Fiery Chili, Garlic & Basil, Sweet Ginger with Chili & Spring onion, Gherkins & Pesto, Silverskin Onions & Vinegar, Honey & Lemon.

“Olives have been around for centuries and those Ancient Greeks didn’t have any chemicals at hand to quicken the process. We are following in their footsteps to make sure our olives are produced in the most natural way possible. This not only looks after them but also gives you the best tasting olives,” adds Olly.

Try a box today and don’t blame me for the addiction; blame the maker.

7.  Upwards!

Upwards! provide amazingly scrumptious, all natural gluten-free calzones oozing with delicious fillings wrapped in a perfectly crispy pizza base. The innovative packaging means they can be freshly heated from frozen, becoming crisp and crunchy in just 3 minutes flat.’ So says Geoff Hunt, Upwards Founder.

There are four indulgent flavors to make your on the go snacking experience one to remember: Hunter’s Chicken packed with olives, garlic, peppers and onions.  Greens & Grains with Kale, spinach and cream cheese. Margherita plus with tomatoes, peppers, garlic and onion. Lastly, for the sweet toothed – and my personal favorite, Hazelnut & Creamy Chocolate.

The product is about to hit the market, and you can order by contacting Geoff on geoff@upwardsfoods.co.uk or visiting Upwards Foods.

8. Nina Bakery

While cruising around the many food and drinks stands, I lay my eyes on Nina Bakery, producers of authentic stone oven Pita bread from Israel since the 1930’s.

The fresh smell was present all around the stand and I couldn’t resist trying the artisan six centimeter pita filled with cream cheese and strawberries. “Our pitas are baked according to a special slow baking process in authentic stone ovens. Both this and an old, well kept family recipe provide the most delicious pita,” a young Israeli lady at the stand tells me.

After the bread is warmed it’s so easy to cut open by hand, – no need for a knife. The bread is also firm and won’t break easily, meaning you can fill it with as much as you’d like.

The bread comes in many different shapes and sizes. “If you would like to provide your customers with an artisanal product, slow baked in a stone oven, with the best quality entirely natural ingredients, for almost 80 years according to a family recipe, you should have them experience the Nina pita” says Marlies Wolters of Nina Bakery Europe. For more details visit www.ninabakery.eu

9.  Poptang

Staying in on the weekend and watching the latest hit on Netflix? Grab some of the new – and only, tangy popcorn on the market. Poptang, a tangy, fruity flavored and yummy popcorn.

Currently Poptang comes in two delicious flavors – orange and apple, both in 20g and 70g packs. You can find them in major supermarkets but be warned, they’re surprisingly addictive!

10. Tyga

Fan of Indian food? Want to create authentic dishes yourself? Then order the new meal kits by Tyga: Beautiful spice and paste blends posted to your home so you can cook up delicious curry recipes with half the faff. Just add a few fresh items.

The recipes change every month and are created, inspired and infused by Matt Griffiths and his wife, who love everything Indian.

Matt likes to keep things simple. By following the 3 steps below, he promises to up-skill your cooking experience.

The idea is:

• Tyga chefs create mouthwatering recipes using authentic ingredients
• The ingredients are smartly packed in Tyga spice boxes and delivered to your door
• Then they’re prepared by you. Just add a few fresh items and follow the chefs at Tyga.tv

Follow their latest recipes and watch training videos on their Facebook page.

Edited by Sarah Huntington

The post 10 of London’s Most Creative Entrepreneurs Share Their Stories of Success appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Nikolaus Häring (25) and Muezz Vestin (27) are the founders of the recenly launched sportswear & fitness brand SOLID GRIT. Their current Kickstarter campaign was funded in less than 15 days and their apparel is widely sought after on social media.

The Urban Watch Magazine talks to two young and zealous men about how their entrepreneurial journey started, trying to get a grasp of what it takes to start a new brand and propose an empowering message to the customers.

What is the goal of SOLID GRIT and why did you begin this entrepreneurial journey in the first place?

Nikolaus: We’ve both been into healthy lifestyle & sports for more than 10 years and that mutual passion made us think of sharing it with a bigger audience. At first, we thought only about the message – we did not really think about the product or sales. It was all about the idea of helping people feel strong: both physically and emotionally. SOLID GRIT is an original brand for fitness with a sleek and personal touch, but there’s definitely more to it.

Muezz: The fact that our brand is perceived in many ways gives us the fuel to continue: amongst our customers are the professional fighters and sportspeople, yet at the same time we have bloggers and ordinary people into healthy lifestyle buying into our brand.

How do you think you are different that other brands trying to find their gap in the market?

Muezz: We are firm believers in quality and product arributes and we take those things seriously. We produce all of our merchandise in continental Europe and we make sure that the customer feels good while pursuing the active lifestyle.

Nikolaus: Our product functionality beats the biggest retailers in many regards: we make our products extremely durable, use rugged and sleek materials and ensure that compression and durability standards exceed the limits. Besides, the exceptional design does catch the eye.

What makes your Kickstarter campaign successful? What advice can you give to those who are planning to spread the message on platforms like Indiegogo or Kickstarter?

Nikolaus: Make sure your brand tells a story, be ready to prove that your product is functional, trustworthy and, most importantly, keep your promises to the customers.

Muezz: I think it’s also essential to give people access to founders of the brand. People want to support brands, but they want to know about people behind them and whether the unique concept truly comes from their hearts.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs starting out?

Nikolaus: Be brave and bold, but wisely evaluate the risks and challenges. It always looks easier when you are planning things out, yet in reality there’s competition and the markets that always show the real value of your brand and startup.

Muezz: I would say that you have to always think from the customer point of view and solve his pains and needs. Otherwise, it becomes personal where it has to be global.

What are the next steps for SOLID GRIT?

SOLID GRIT will expand to physical stores in London, Berlin and Barcelona as well as digital spaces and we will be working on #CharacterOfStrength campaign. We want to spread the coherent message and successfully collaborate with sports activities representatives.

Find out more about the two young entrepreneurs and support them throughout their last minutes of Kickstarter campaign by clicking here.

The post Nikolaus Häring and Muezz Vestin: On a Mission to Empower and Launching a Sports Startup appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Like so many young people in New York City, Patrick Alicki and Evan Solomon hustle every day– they’re full time students at Fordham University, they work, they intern, and they run their own business. How do they have time to do everything?

Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook in his dorm room at Harvard and then dropped out to focus on the site. Steve Jobs started Apple from his basement with $1,250. Solomon and Alicki created their brand JackRabbit when they were sophomores in high school in Connecticut.

Now they are not only best friends, business partners, but also roommates. How don’t they get tired of each other?

Where did the inspiration for JACKRABBIT come from?

We were interested in streetwear and started making t-shirts for ourselves using iron-on designs when we were sophomores in high school. This process progressed into us making our own clothing brand, along with being inspired by other young brands starting up at the time. JackRabbit released its first pieces in the fall of 2012.

If you had to describe yourself (and the brand) in three words it would be…

Pat: Dr. Pepper enthusiast

Evan: sports, politics, rap

JackRabbit: the next thing

What’s the meaning behind the brand’s name?

The name did not initially have as much meaning as it does now. We picked JackRabbit because it represented an animal and allowed us to add in elements of nature into the brand. The rabbit is one of our most used design elements. As the brand has grown JackRabbit has encapsulated a lot more themes and ideas. The name means something now.

What’s inspiring you at present (culturally and or aesthetically)?

Pat: I always take in inspiration for new ideas all the time. Right now I’m focused on designing next summer’s collection. I’m looking at a lot of art that’s based in color theory or contains other chromatic elements. One artists that has particularly inspired me is Carnovsky. Almost every collection has some themes tied to nature, so that’s a constant inspiration for the brand.

The company’s motto is “survive”— what does that mean?

Our tagline, ‘Survive!’, applies to everyday life and us as a brand. As a small brand in a competitive industry, we are trying to ‘survive’ by setting ourselves apart from the competition by using innovative materials with unique designs. However, our goal is not to ‘survive’ by running away from the ‘predators’/competition, but rather to run past them. We want to be at the top of the food chain, not just simply getting by.

How do you survive/balance both work and college?

Time management is really key. We make sure to plan out everything we’re involved with and stay focused. Both of us have strong organizational skills. The most helpful thing for us is living with your business partner. We’re able to get work done in our apartment while we’re just hanging out outside of class and work.

How does your brand stand out from others?

We create unique and innovative clothing. Almost every single piece we’ve ever released was hand printed in our studio in Connecticut. Many of the pieces we release are true one of ones; no two shirts are the same. This includes pieces that feature splattered ink, a staple of our brand. We also use speciality materials like thermochromic ink, which changes from one color to another as the shirt heats up or cools down. We order this ink from Colombia as there are no suppliers in the United States.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

At first the biggest challenge was learning the entire screen printing process from the ground up. We had to learn the production process and how to manage the brand at once. Now that we are comfortable with both sides of the business, there have not been any other major challenges.

What kind of advice can you give to others who want to start their own brand?

Before you start you have to fully develop your concept. Once you have an idea about your brand and its identity, fully commit yourself. Don’t halfass it.

Goals for the brand… What’s next?

We are releasing our Fall/Winter collection ‘Open Season’ at the end of October. We will be posting snippets and teasers of the collection in the near future. We are also coordinating a pop-up shop in New York City or Connecticut before the end of 2016.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Pat: Working in the clothing industry as a designer or marketer. Hopefully continuing JackRabbit.

Evan: Running multiple businesses, JackRabbit Clothing being one of them. I can’t wait to graduate and finally enter the real world.

JackRabbit: Within five years we see the brand growing and developing on many fronts, expanding into cut and sew and creating our unique niche in the streetwear market.

Photos from JackRabbit’s summer‘16 collection ‘MIGRATION’

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