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Startups and corporates continue to collaborate with one another to identify ways that they can work together.

DPD are a great example of such work. They have teamed up with corporate innovation partners L Marks to launch DPD Discovery, a new opportunity for startups from across the globe to develop their innovation alongside DPD.

DPD are looking to engage startups that could support and improve DPD’s customer offering and operations including things like tracking, billing, routing and returns, customer management and communications, to big data insights.

This is a chance for a startup to rely wholly on the quality of their idea: if it’s right, DPD want to be the customer who can help bring it to life. It’s okay if they’re a new team based in London, or an old one on the other side of the world. Product fit is what we’re focussed on. DPD is a global operation, they understand real scalability and they’ve pioneered some real innovations.

What do startups think of partnering with DPD?

Freddie Talberg, Founder and CEO of Pie Mapping: “Working with DPD has been both an eye-opening experience for myself and a transformative opportunity for Pie Mapping.” 

How to apply for DPD discovery?

The application process is done on the DPD application form. When applying consider that DPD are not only looking to work with your company, but also potentially invest in it. You want to sell to DPD so do your research and think about how to tailor your offer when applying. Applications close 10th May 2016.

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When considering a base to launch a Tech start-up in Europe, many people would weigh up the benefits between Silicon Valley, Bangalore, London or Berlin, long considered to be the most attractive start-up hubs in the world. However, the NXT Foundation’s Dave Pearce argues that being based in Amsterdam brings a number of advantages and benefits that are all too often overlooked. The Dutch have a very long history of entrepreneurship and outward trade and this continues today with a flourishing start-up scene. Amsterdam’s success as a start-up centre is shown with the sheer volume of deals that have been recorded in recent years, through the first quarter of 2015, 33 Dutch companies had raised more than $88 million — with the median deal standing at almost $1.15 million — making it the most prolific quarter on record in terms of sheer volume, according to Start-up Juncture.

This is probably due to a number of overlapping factors: the Netherlands boasts an excellent education system that scores amongst the highest in the world for STEM subjects and a population that in general, and particualrly in Amsterdam, speaks better English than any other continental country.  Its universities, particularly Delft and Eindhoven produce a critical mass of people with the skills and ambition to create new enterprises. According to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, Eindhoven produces 22.6 patents per 100,000 residents. San Diego, the next closest, produces 8.9, making Eindhoven officially the most innovative city in the world, and a mere 100 km from Amsterdam.

There’s not only a huge wealth of technical talent to be drawn on in Amsterdam, the city’s financial centre, now based in the recently constructed Zuid-As area, is one of the most advanced in Europe, there’s a strong and receptive community willing to hear potential investment pitches.

As if the wealth of available talent and investment capital isn’t enough, the government’s commitment to encouraging entrepreneurship has created an excellent framework for technology companies to work from. Further government support is offered with its technology ecosystems that offer tax incentives to start-ups and ensures that start-up talent can focus on innovation.

This commitment from the government is possibly a factor in Netflix and Uber’s decisions to establish their European headquarters in Amsterdam, along with a wide selection of other international players: organisations like Nike, Adidas, Tesla, ABN Amro, Cisco, IKEA, and AKZo Nobel are all based in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam’s attractions don’t just lie in the regulatory framework and skills base, the city itself is one of the best in Europe for quality of living. Accommodation is affordable for young entrepreneurs put off by London rents and expensive transport system. The city has excellent conference centres, and a strong international travel infrastructure (Schipol airport is one of the best in the world and only six minutes from the business district).

On 2^nd March I will be giving a talk at on the Nieuwe Achtergracht in Amsterdam to discuss second generation Blockchain technology in a warehouse that dates from the 17th century. It’s a perfect metaphor for a commercial city that has over the centuries been at the cutting edge of commerce in Europe, and has gone in that time from  from trading physical commodities to encouraging innovation in high tech services.

Despite a difficult macro-economic environment, Amsterdam has harnessed its intellectual capital and had huge success developing successful industries of the future, at NXT we’re excited to be a part of that and see where the city will be in five years’ time.

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One of the most important things that a person will have to get as they grow older is more money to retire with. Taking the time to figure out how you can grow the money you have will be more than worth. Most people fail to realize just how many ways there are to grow the money they have. Finding the sun life mutual fund advisor will take some time and effort. . Getting the right professionals hired is not easy. Doing a good bit of research can help a person to get all of the information they need to get the right financial advisor hired. Here are a few of the reasons why getting this type of professional help is beneficial.

Help with Narrowing the Field

The biggest reason to hire one of these professionals is that they will be able to help you narrow down the field of available options in regards to the investments out there. There are so many different ways a person can invest their money and finding the right one is not easy. The professionals will have no problem helping you narrow the field due to their overwhelming amount of expertise.

Get Advice on What to Invest

The next reason that you can benefit from this type of hire is that it will help them figure out how much money to invest. Taking the time to look at your finances can help you but it will take professional guidance to get the right answers. The professionals will be able to tell you where your money can be best spent and how much you will need to get the right results. Taking this advice will be very beneficial and can save you a lot of stress in the end.

No Rookie Mistakes

Another very important thing that you will be able to gain when choosing to get professional help with investments is fewer mistakes. Without the right guidance, you will be at risk of losing money due to your high level of inexperience. The last thing that a person wants to do when trying to make money on their investments is to make mistakes due to their unwillingness to hire a professional. The money that is paid to a professional is worth it when considering just how much money it will make you in the end.

Taking the time to do thorough research on the financial advisors in your area will make all of the difference. Be sure to schedule some consolations in order to get a firsthand feel for the advisors in the area.

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There are so many different things that a business owner will have to figure out when trying to become successful. The first major decision that a business owner will have to figure out is where they will setup shop. One of the best ways to get a business up and going with minimal effort is by using a Montreal virtual office. While using this type of office can be very beneficial, there are also a number of things you will have to figure out. Here are some of the things that you can do when trying to create a company culture in your virtual office.

Communication is Very Important

One of the first things that a business owner will need to figure out when trying to have success with a remote team is how to stay in communication with them. In order for a company culture to be built up, you will have to take the time to schedule calls with your workers on a daily basis. This will allow you to get the right information relayed to them and make sure everyone is on the same page. The time that is put into this process will more than pay off in the end.

Use the Right Software

The next thing that you need to do when trying to manage a virtual workforce is find the right programs and software to use. There are a number of programs out there that will allow you to collaborate with anyone regardless of their location. Getting crafty with your software solutions is important when trying to build a digital workforce. Doing a good bit of research is vital when trying to have success with this type of working situation. The last thing you want to do is to leave workers without direction due to negative consequences it can present.

Finding the Right Team Members

Another important thing that a business owner will need to do when trying to have success with a virtual office is to pick the right team members. The more you are able to find out about what you need in an employee, the easier you will find it to have the level of success that you are looking for. The best part about using this type of office space is that it will allow you to pick the right candidate regardless of where they live.

The time you invest into getting a virtual office setup will be well worth it in the end. Be sure to research the virtual office suppliers in the area before making a decision on which one to use.

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Do you have a great idea for a new business but don’t have the amount of money you think it’ll need to succeed? If so, don’t do what too many would-be entrepreneurs do and assume that your idea will never get going unless you have a ton of money behind you.

Read more: Startups, Startup, Starting a Business, UK News

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In today’s world of constant stimuli and distraction millennials are experiencing the highest levels of any generation. This demographic is known for its drive, a stronger sense of purpose in the workplace, and high expectations, and it is reportedly paying for it in stress. We all need to take a minute to step back and relax – and new app QuietKit wants to help us.

The American Psychological Association’s ‘Stress in America’ report revealed in 2015 an average stress level of 5.1 out of 10 in the U.S. The millennial demographic recorded the highest stress levels, at 6 out of 10. Furthermore, 45 percent of Millennials claim their stress levels have risen in the last year.

The report also claims that more than 1 in 4 young adults (Millennials and Gen Xers) say they do not feel they are doing enough to manage their stress. Experts recommend combatting stress through exercise, reducing work, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle and talking to others. They also point to relaxation techniques such as yoga, massage or meditation.

QuietKit founder John Turner believes that by providing free guided meditation for beginners people can reduce their stress levels. Here, he explains his personal journey and how he aims to help others, with the transformative power of meditation.

What is QuietKit, and how does it work?

QuietKit provides guided meditation for beginners for free. The tool starts with the basics, clearly explaining to users how they can get the most out of meditation and mindfulness, with a simple guide.

Users simply visit the site, select the length of meditation they’d like to start with, close their eyes, and listen to the guided meditation, as they focus on their breathing. No sign ups, nothing to install, and no payment needed; the website is designed to be straightforward and simple, so users may begin practicing immediately, and start to build a meditation habit.

What was your personal story behind the creation of QuietKit?

I had been dealing with a lot of stress at my other company, UsersThink, and I was looking for ways to reduce this. I became more aware of meditation and mindfulness, and wanted to try it, but I struggled to find good resources for the beginner level. 

Much of the information available was incredibly dense, or you had to pay to use a website or app, before really understanding the benefits of the practice. I saw a large opportunity to create a tailored tool, for free, that many people could use to understand the basics, and QuietKit was born.

What trends in this industry excite you?

It’s exciting to see a growing amount of support for mindfulness and meditation as more and more people become aware of it. That’s in addition to the growing amount of scientific research showing how much meditation benefits those who practice it.

QuietKit aims to help those looking to give meditation a try, and we’re hoping that audience will grow.

What are your plans for future growth and development of your product?

Trying to make connections with people interested in learning and practicing meditation, and listening to them so we can improve the product even more. We are also building longer meditation sessions that users will be able to purchase.

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