Aristotle's idea that man is a “Zóon politikon”, or a “social animal”, has pretty much come into its full meaning in the 21st century. We can agree with Aristotle that the individual can only fulfill his true potential in a society that nourishes the feeling of belonging. Loneliness will drive us insane, therefore, individuals who do not need to live in a society are either … [Read more...]
Crowdfunding in Spain: New Regulations But A Long Way To Go
Crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, micropatronage, microsponsorship; no matter the name, the idea is all the same: small amounts of money from the public are donated or pledged to a project to help raise money. For all of you who are new to the concept of crowdfunding, based on Investopedia's definition, it relates to the use of small amounts of capital from a large number of … [Read more...]
The Best (And The Not So Great) Of The 2014 Mobile World Congress
Finally! Take a deep breath and relax. One of the most hectic weeks of the year has come to an end. And no, I am not talking about Christmas gatherings with different sides of the family; I am talking about the Mobile World Congress. Yes, 85.000 people crowned with VIP passes, 5.000 people making sure everything runs smoothly, and the fantastic city of Barcelona ready to … [Read more...]
Are Hedge Funds The Next Pot Of Gold For Startup Investment?
Entrepreneurship. Isn’t it hard enough to find a good idea, to make it a reality and scale it without having to spend countless hours courting investors? We’ve all heard the heartbreaking stories of great ideas that failed to materialize due to lack of funds. For those of us without a “sugar daddy” to keep filling our entrepreneurial pockets, we are all too often obliged to … [Read more...]
The Tyranny Of The Small Spanish “VCs”
Start-ups will do anything for money. And by anything, I mean give up huge percentages of equity, board seats, hey, even some close relatives if they could! Investors know this and too many to count are taking advantage of it in Spain. What's the real issue here? Let's take a look at the bigger picture. Of course we all have a price; there is a number for everyone out … [Read more...]