Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s newsletter. The clocks have changed, the afternoons are dark and the radiators are working overtime...This week we have been talking about staying warm, staying organised and watching one founder’s business change and grow, so here is what you may have missed.
The best time to start keeping evidence was day one
Here is a question worth asking yourself. If someone asked you tomorrow to prove how your business has progressed, how quickly could you do it? Founders often tell us, with real conviction, that things are going well, and often they are. But at a checkpoint or a settlement application, what counts is what you can show, not what you can say. The founders who find this stage easiest are the ones who have been building a record all along.
Our new article walks through what to keep and how to make it painless. Think bank statements, invoices and a cloud accounting tool from the very start, alongside proof of commercial activity such as customer emails, quotes, contracts and letters of intent. Add short dated notes whenever you make a big decision, so a pivot comes with a clear story rather than a hazy memory. Our favourite tip is also the simplest: when something good happens, take thirty seconds to save the proof before you move on.
Set up one folder with a few sub-folders, add a monthly or quarterly reminder to tidy it, and your future self will be very grateful.
Innovator International
Where are they now? Fusion Kitchen
Welcome to our new series launched this week - “Where Are They Now?” with our first revisit story from Hari Sekar. In 2019 he set out to give independent restaurants a fairer deal, launching Fusion Kitchen UK with a bold promise of zero percent commission, always.
Fast forward, and that single idea has grown into Fusion My Business, a full technology platform for hospitality that covers everything from EPOS and online ordering to payments, kiosks and kitchen systems. The business now has a presence in Ireland, a growing team and its sights set on Europe and the US.
What we loved most is Hari’s honesty about the journey. His advice to his 2019 self is to build the right people and processes as seriously as the product, and to keep listening and adapting. It is a lovely read for anyone at any stage.
Harriet Fuller
Winter in Britain: it’s not the cold, it’s the damp
If you have arrived from somewhere with a proper winter, you might expect a British one to be a walk in the park. It is a little more sneaky than that. The UK rarely gets dramatically cold. What it does instead is grey, damp and dark, and that slow, soggy chill gets into your bones in a way that dry cold simply doesn’t. By December, parts of the country see barely eight hours of daylight, so planning around the light matters as much as planning around the temperature.
Our new guide covers the practical stuff. A properly waterproof, windproof coat is the best money you can spend, and thermal layers and good wool socks come a close second. It also has simple ways to keep your home warm without the bills spiralling, from draught excluders to thick curtains to the humble hot water bottle. Charity shops are brilliant for winter coats and knitwear too, since everyone here already owns plenty.
There is also a tip we are particularly fond of. When your flat is chilly and the day feels long, take your laptop somewhere warm and invite another founder or two along.
Innovator International
Upcoming events this November
We have a few dates for you over the next couple of weeks.
On Monday 16 November at 3pm UK time, we are running a free session called “Thinking about the Innovator Founder Visa? What you need to know”. It is for anyone considering the route, covering what it is, how to prepare and how to apply, with the chance to ask our experts your questions directly. It is open to all registered members, you will need to register through Zoom, and please note that it will not be recorded.
On Thursday 19 November at 10am UK time, we are hosting our Welcome Session for newly endorsed entrepreneurs. It is a friendly hour to meet other founders, hear how our team and community can support you, and find out what comes next. If you have been endorsed, your booking link is in your welcome email or welcome pack.
And a reminder that on Wednesday 25 November at 10am UK time, Richard hosts “Can you believe what you read about the IFV?”, our one-off session in place of the November AI webinar. Bring any headline that has made you wonder.
Innovator International
Plans for the weeks ahead
Remember that tip about turning a cold, grey day into something social? Our community WhatsApp group is the perfect place to find someone to share a table, a coffee and a few hours of work with. And if you are planning a meet up or co-working session of your own, send us the details (location and timings) and we will gladly share them in next week’s newsletter.
Thank you, as always, for being part of our community. Stay warm, and see you next week!
