DTC in 2023: A year in review
At the outset of the year, as one of the worst cost of living crises in recent memory was quickly taking hold, many predicted less than favourable outcomes for a number of industries. Consumer, or direct-to-consumer (DTC), products were expected to be among the worst hit, as a tightening of consumers’ purse strings would no […]
Product market fit: A founder’s guide to doing it yourself
Some ideas are objectively good. Wrong. No matter how innovative or inventive your product might be, if no one wants it, it’s pointless. One of the biggest moments in starting a business is finding product market fit. It’s a phrase tossed around in startupland—except unlike some of the watery jargon you’ll come across as a […]
What is a functional organisational structure?
Ever felt the buzz from watching a live orchestra? Strings, percussion, brass, and woodwind sections, each playing their unique tune, yet together creating a mesmerising symphony. This is a great analogy for how a functional organisation works. Embraced by many larger companies and fast-growing scaleups, functional organisational structures are designed for maximum efficiency across potentially […]
WeWork’s failure—what can founders learn?
Private festivals, free-flowing Don Julio tequila, performances from chart-topping rappers. That the stories about WeWork’s heyday resemble the last days of Rome now seems fitting, judging by the reports of WeWork’s protracted demise and now impending bankruptcy. The co-working monolith may be shutting its doors for good. In a recent timeline that’s included nearly two […]
Onboarding and integrating your CMO into the company
So you’ve hired your dream CMO—here’s how to set them up for success at the company Given the seniority of their position, correctly onboarding your CMO is so important. Different companies will have different approaches, from the ‘sink or swim’ approach of launching them straight into the role to see how they’re doing, to more […]
How to hire a CMO
In the first of this series of hiring top talent for your C-suite, we dive into the best ways to define, find and hire, a Chief Marketing Officer. In the early days of a startup, as a founder, you’ll likely take on much of the responsibility for early growth and marketing efforts of a startup. […]
Is startup culture dead?
Working at a startup in 2023 is a far cry from the wild west of the early Silicon Valley tech boom. So what does startup culture look like now? “Move fast and break things.” Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook directive-turned-motto has gained notoriety over the years. It speaks volumes for the work hard play hard culture that […]
Job-hunting in 2023: How to stand out amid the AI apocalypse
Worried about the machines coming for your job? Embrace these characteristics and you’ll be fine—for now The end is nigh. Throughout centuries of science fiction, we’ve consistently been reminded that the machines are coming for our jobs. And this time, they just may be right. The last six months has, in many ways, felt like […]
Sneak Energy makes key hires from Gymshark, Weiden + Kennedy & Boohoo
Sneak Energy isn’t just an energy drinks company for gamers; the Manchester-based company is also a textbook example of the growing trend toward “fractional executives”. Let’s rewind a bit here: Sneak was founded by Jonny Teeling and Will Peirce in 2018, with the aim of creating both a healthy energy drink and a “culturally relevant brand […]
Leaders from Just Eat, TripAdvisor, Deliveroo & Revolut join Dija’s growth team
The hires come soon after the early-stage venture, founded by Alberto & Yusuf successfully raised Europe’s biggest ever seed round and is also in anticipation of a rumoured series a on the horizon. The growth division will be led up by Federico Paullier (ex Deliveroo, Grover), who partnered with Vine Talent to help build out […]