What do scale-ups looking for investment need to know going into 2023?

This article is by John Stapleton – entrepreneur and investor. 

This is the time of year when we simultaneously look back and take stock of the year we’ve had and look forward and try to anticipate the year incoming. Mostly, a new year is met with anticipation, often optimism. It’s simply human nature.

Possibly because we’ve now had 3 consecutive years where the sentiment has been “good riddance” to the outgoing year, we’ve become jaded at the prospects of a fourth. In any event, this time, there’s more than enough pessimism to go round.

We’re likely to have a strong Christmas – British retailing is reporting an up-tick in demand (compared to November), but expectations are that this will be significantly reversed in early 2023 as rising cost of living pressures take further hold.

CBI Economist Martin Sartorius believes that any festive cheer will be short-lived. “Retailers are bracing themselves for chill winds that will blow through the sector this winter, with consumer spending set to be hit hard by high inflation.”

This sentiment is affecting the investment community also – particularly investment in early stage businesses or those which have not yet broken even (and need shareholders funds to survive/ fund growth). The pure start-up scene remains interestingly buoyant – due to certain mitigating circumstances. But is interesting to see what is happening to businesses which are still early-stage, but have moved into scale-up mode.

The D&I lessons corporate leaders can learn from female entrepreneurs

Startup mentor John Stapleton believes corporate leaders should move away from D&I literature and learn more from the “lived examples” of female entrepreneurs

Brave Hustler Series: Starting a Business During Uncertain Times: Covid19

Entrepreneurs can make the most of the new normal

How can business leaders and entrepreneurs take pole position after COVID-19? John Stapleton explains how they can thrive in uncertain times and drive competitive advantage from the emerging new normal.

The Irish Government issued its Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business over a week ago. So, Ireland has a plan. Sometimes plans raise more questions than answers – but it is a plan nonetheless and a lot more than many other European countries have in place. 

Should start-ups raise seed investment during the coronavirus crisis?

The crisis has meant that fewer seed investments are being made in start-ups. But we are still hearing about success stories.

We spoke to investors and founders who raised investment in the last few weeks about the options start-ups have.